U.S.A. IN OPEN, AUSTRIA IN WOMEN AND POLAND IN SENIORS
Words from the Championship website

The United States of America’s finest, Jeff Meckstroth & Eric Rodwell, are the first European Open Pairs Champions. They resisted every challenge and were well clear of the field at the end. Israel’s David Birman & Amir Levin were second and France’s Paul Chemla & Phillipe Cronier third.

When the last session of the Women’s and Senior events got under way less than one match point separated the pairs in first and second positions. In the Women’s event the pair who survived this test of nerves best was Austria’s Maria Erhart & Jovanka Smederevac. They were followed home by the French pairs, Bénédicte Cronier & Sylvie Willard and Catherine d’Ovidio & Danielle Allouche.

Poland collected two medals in the Senior Championship, with Gold going to Kazimierz Omenik & Jozef Pochron. The long time leaders, François Leenhardt & Patrick Sussel of France, had to settle for Silver while Poland’s second medal was collected by Aleksander Jezioro & Jerzy Russyan.

The 1st EUROPEAN OPEN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS took place in Menton, on France's celebrated south coast on the Mediterranean, well known as Côte d'Azur. The competition began with an opening ceremony on the evening of Saturday 14 June and extended through the closing festivities and prize giving ceremony on Saturday 28 June 2003.

This is an entirely new competition that introduces many innovations. For the first time, the EBL opens the way to European medals and distinctions to all players, irrespective of level. Everybody can play in the European Open Championships, without advanced qualification. There were tournaments for every taste: Pairs and Teams, Open to all players or restricted to Women, Seniors and Mixed - and one could choose which to contest.

The offical Menton website has participant lists, schedule of events and other interesting info. When the tournament is underway, you will be able to find Bulletins as well. We will mirror the PDF version of the bulletins here.