November 2014 Bulletin
Your Committee have been giving consideration to how we disseminate information to members on the activities within the club and have decided that we will produce what we call a monthly bulletin to keep members updated and of what is happening within the Club in the next few weeks.
Teaching
Teaching continues on Saturday Morning 10am -12am at Townsend Memorial Hall Clifton
The programme is for beginners for and improvers and in November is:-
1st November Stayman
8th November Play in No Trumps
15th November Responding with weak hands
22 November Responding with strong hands. Game bids
29th November Leads, losing trick count and play
This is a flexible programme and may be subject to change
Sue and Wendy take the lead for the beginners with the Improvers being looked after by Marion and Chris. The programme will be advertised shortly although the content will be structured to meet the needs of those attending.
You are all welcome to join either of the groups if you feel you would benefit from any of the topics. Just turn up.
Regular Weekly Sessions
Our regular weekly sessions are as follows:
Tuesday Sacred Heart 7.15pm
Wednesday Clifton 7pm (other than when there are seminar sessions on that evening)
This session is aimed at beginners and improvers and has a tutorial element
Thursday Ex-Service Men’s Club 7.15pm
Friday Clifton 1.30pm
On the 3rd Saturday in the month we have what we call ‘Troughers’. It is an evening of bridge commencing at 6.0pm, preceded by a buffet provided by those attending, at 6.00pm. Members not wishing to partake of the buffet can join the others at 7.00pm if they only wish to play bridge. There are two trophies to be won from these sessions, both of which are handicap competitions so everyone has a chance to win. It is a very pleasant and enjoyable evening and the next one is on the 15th November.
Seminars
The next seminar will take place on Wednesday 29th October at 7pm at Townsend Memorial Hall, Clifton. Peter Langley will be leading a session on Elimination Play, probably one of the most satisfying aspects of the play of the cards when it comes off. Theory will be kept to a minimum. The main emphasis will be on bidding and playing a succession of hands to put the approach into practice. It should be stimulating and fun.
Novices Competition.
This is a new competition and will take place on Saturday 29th November at Clifton at 6pm as a Bring and Share Supper.
It is open to all members who have less than 1000 Master points. This will be a fun session so come along and see how you get on so please let Sue Osborne know if you are interested in taking part.
Pairs League
This year's pairs’ league has a new venue in the much more suitable surroundings of the Sacred Heart Church in Bilton and the first round commenced on the 9th September. Play was maintained at a good pace and the competition went very smoothly.
Although it is very early days in the competition John Drake and Craig Hutton have continued from where they left off in the previous competition and have a healthy lead in Division One.
Paula Cramphorn and Neil Ackerley lead in Division Two but closely followed by Pam Southern and Phil Beagley whilst in Division Three Maria Smyth and David Owen had a remarkable first round with a score of 81 and lead the Division very comfortably.
The next Pairs evening is scheduled for Monday 10th November, 7pm at the Sacred Heart.
Trip to Lytham St. Anne’s
Eight members of Rugby Bridge Club spent a very pleasant 5 days, at Lytham St Anne's, on a Bridge Holiday, in October. Results for the Tuesday evening showed that the first 3 places (North South) and 2nd place (East West) went to Rugby Bridge Club players.
If anyone is interested a group from the club will be going next year. You can contact Anne Carrington for details and there is more to the trip than simply playing bridge.
Search for New Premises
The search for new premises continues and following on from the approach to the Old Laurentian Society and Laurentian Sports Club talks continue and currently consideration is being given to a joint venture to build a Function Room on their site at Fenley Field. A detailed plan is in the process of being drawn up and we are due to meet with them again in the next three weeks.
Club Web Site
Liz Edwards after over 4 years of maintaining the Club Website has decided that she no longer wishes to carry out this role.
Maintaining our Website is important to the Club and we would ask if there is anyone who is prepared to give consideration to taking on the task. The Club will provide training as appropriate.
Tournament Directors
It is a comfort when playing that if an issue arises at the table with regard to the laws of bridge there is a Director immediately available to sort things out. Whilst there are a number of trained TDs in the club we believe it would be helpful to have some more members trained in the role. The club pay for the training involved and if anyone is interested please let the Committee know.
And finally
This club is run entirely by volunteers – the committee and a number of other members who perform specific tasks such as tournament directing, keeping the web site up to date, preparing hands and arranging events. Most of us are busy on other fronts too. In order to avoid too much weight falling on too few shoulders, we would be delighted to widen the circle of those actively involved. If you would like to help, please let Peter (02476 540211) or Wendy (01788-842258) know.
Please remember that we are a democratic club. We want to hear your views, not just at the AGM but throughout the year. If you have any comments about the way the Club is run or about priorities for the future, please contact Peter, Wendy or any other member of the Management Committee.
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