Pair Go in UK

British Pair Go Championships

In the UK we held our first qualifying event for Pair Go in Hyde Park as part of the 1991 Japanese Festival. Since 1995 we have held an annual British Pair Go Championships (BPGC) which has become one the best events on the Go calendar. It is always held in a pleasant hotel, nowadays in a hotel in the Oxfordshire countryside. There is always a buffet lunch and prizes for most, including the Best Dressed Pair prize. The top eight rated pairs play for the championship, whilst others play in a handicap section. The top section players also play for points to allow them to represent the UK in both the European and World championships. The BPGC is included in the Annual Report.

Place, Results and Champions

1991 Hyde Park, Results N/A, Sue Paterson & Jim Barty
1992 London, Results N/A, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
1993 Leamington, Results N/A, Alison Jones & Andrew Jones
1994 Leamington, Results N/A, Alison Jones & Nick Webber
1995 Marlow, Results N/A , Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
1996 Weedon, Results N/A, Alison Jones & Tony Atkins
1997 Weedon, Results N/A, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
1998 Weedon, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
1999 Stokenchurch, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2000 Oxford, Results, Emma Marchant & Simon Goss
2001 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2002 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2003 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2004 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2005 Oxford, Results, Natasha Regan & Matthew Cocke
2006 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2007 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2008 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2009 Oxford, Results, Kirsty Healey & Matthew Macfadyen
2010 Oxford, Results, Natasha Regan & Matthew Cocke

Handicap Winners

1995 Hannah Ellul & France Ellul / Debbie Jones & Francis Weaver
1996 Alison Ewens & David Woodnutt / Yvonne Mao & Paul Margetts
1997 Jenifer Healey & Toby Manning / Yvonne Margetts & Paul Margetts
1998 Pauline Bailey & Steve Bailey
1999 Jini Williams & Fred Holroyd
2000 Fiona Campbell & Jim Edwards
2001 Nicola Hurden & Shawn Hearn
2002 Nicola Hurden & Shawn Hearn
2003 Elinor Brooks & Erik Hall
2004 Pauline Bailey & Steve Bailey
2005 Maria Tabor & Paul Tabor
2006 Jackie Chai & John Johnstone
2007 Lydia Feasey & Jonathan Englefield
2008 Sam McCarthy & John Collins
2009 Kelda Smith & Paul Smith
2010 Kelda Smith & Paul Smith

World Points

Players earn a point for each game won in the BPGC towards earning the right to represent UK at the International Amateur Pair Go Championships. The best Pair are selected using the combined points from each Pair and their points are reset to zero when they Go. Official Representatives at the European Pair Go Championships are similarly decided.

Partner Relationships

Pair Go has been played by all sorts of different pairings and ages of players. Pauline and Steve Bailey are mother and son; Paul and Kelda Smith are father and daughter. Pauline is over 70 and Kelda Smith became the youngest winner in 2009 aged just six. There have been club mates and pairings from oposite ends of the country. There have been a few husband and wife pairs, such as the multiple times champions Kirsty Healey and Matthew Macfadyen, but many avoid it through fear of too many marital arguements! Of course pairs usually discuss in advance what they will be wearing, so that they can stand a chance of winning the Best Dressed Pair prize.

Pair Go Reports

Each year an illustrated report of the Pair Go event is produced and circulated with the BGA Newsletter. Of course a copy is sent to the Japanese Pair Go Committee for their records.

The most recent reports are below in pdf format:

Other Pair Go events

There have been Pair Go side events at some of the longer competitions such as the London Open and three times at the Mind Sports Olympiad.

Pair Go Promotion Partners

In order to promote Pair Go in the UK, a British version of the Pair Go Promotion Partners scheme was set up. As well as supporting the ideas behind Pair Go, members of the British PGPP support the BPGC through a donation, which enables it to be held in a nice location and not be expensive for children to take part. In return they get a free entry to the BPGC.

British PGPP members:

Are enthusiastic about spreading Pair Go in Britain
Understand that Pair Go is a pair game for ladies and gentlemen who greatly value etiquette
Appreciate the pleasure of playing Go, yet believe a high level of playing ability is not necessary

Promoting Go in the UK and beyond