Devonshire Cup 2024
Having had to concede our first round match in the Devonshire Cup the Athenaeum team entered the Plate competition where we met a spirited Reform Fogg team. However we managed to overcome the opposition and ran out comfortable winners by 2210 rubber bridge points. Our winning form continued in the semi-final in which we beat RAC Spitfire by 1550 points. Sadly we were well beaten in the Plate final by a strong Hurlingham Pigeons team who won the trophy for the second consecutive year. The result was never in doubt, the Hurlingham team winning by an impressive 2340 points. Congratulations to them. Our team in the final was Pascal Ricketts and Bill Shanahan and James Cooper and Geoff Lloyd.
Athenaeum vs Royal Automobile Club
We hosted the RAC on 28 February 2024 but could not repeat last year’s victory. Although we had a lead at the halfway stage the RAC team had a strong second half and finished 12 IMPs ahead.
Athenaeum vs MCC
The Athenaeum hosted a formidable MCC team on 22 November 2023 with the result being even closer than last year's 3 IMP victory. The Athenaeum held a comfortable lead before dinner but the MCC recovered strongly during the second half. However the Athenaeum team just held on to emerge winners by 1 IMP. Our team was John Neilson & Nita Wheeler, Paul Thornton & Pascal Ricketts, Catherine Rice-Evans & Rex Goad, Mary Baker & Geoffrey Lloyd.
Athenaeum vs. House of Lords
The House of Lords continued their winning streak when the Athenaeum hosted their team on 8 March 2023, coming out on top by a comfortable margin. On this occasion the Athenaeum was represented by John Neilson and Nita Wheeler, David Morris and Richard Collins, Charles King-Farlow and Andrew Harris and Pascal Ricketts and Geoffrey Lloyd.
Athenaeum versus Hurlingham Club
We were guests of the Hurlingham on 21 March 2024 for another new fixture. Unfortunately our team got off to a bad start for which a spirited second half recovery couldn't compensate. The Hurlingham won by a comfortably by 35 IMPs. We were represented by Catherine Rice-Evans and Rex Goad, Pascal Ricketts and Michael Oppenheimer, John Neilson and Nita Wheeler and Robert Ashdown and Laurence Benson.