December Bulletin 2014
Welcome to our December Bulletin.
As reported in the November Bulletin your Committee 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.
But first …….
An important reminder from our Treasurer:
Rugby Bridge Club is affiliated to the English Bridge Union and is therefore subject to the laws and rules of Duplicate Bridge 2007(as amended)
Table fees
I The Tournament Director shall not pay a table fee provided there are at least SIX full tables at the session.
Ii The winners of each session shall not pay table fees provided that at least SIX full tables were played at the session, the next time they play on the same session day.
Iii A host shall not pay a table fee if they play. If a host did not play they shall not pay the next time they play on the same session day.
Members’ News
Club Web Site
In the November bulletin we reported on the fact that Liz Edwards after 4 years of looking after the Club Website had decided to stand down from this role.
We are delighted to announce that Maria Smyth has very kindly offered to take on the role, is now doing so and has been well supported by Liz in the hand over process. Thank you to you both.
Keeping in Touch
From time to time members are unwell and at such times your Committee like to keep in touch and to send them a get well card and flowers when seen as appropriate.. Janet Chappell does this on behalf of the Committee and if you are aware that a friend or colleague is not well please let Janet or Wendy know.
New Members
We are happy to welcome Shelagh Moore, Lee Robinson and Heidi and Dave Thomas to the club. We hope you are enjoying learning ‘the greatest card game.
Christmas
The last session before Christmas will be on Saturday 20th December ‘Troughers’ and mince pies will be on offer on Tuesday 16th December, on Thursday and Friday.
The Saturday morning meeting, Beginners and Improvers, will take place on Saturday 20th December.
The first session after Christmas will be on Friday 2nd January.
Saturday Teaching Program
Improvers Beginners
Saturday 6th December Escape from 1NT doubled Opening 2NT
Saturday 13th December More NT bidding Strong Bids
Saturday 20th December and more More strong bids
Revision
The Spring 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.
Troughers’
On the 3rd Saturday in the month we have what we call ‘Troughers’. It is an evening of bridge commencing at 7pm, preceded by a buffet provided by those attending, at 6pm. Members not wishing to partake of the buffet can join the others at 7pm 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.
Saturday Morning Beginners
It is with some trepidation that we approach a new round of beginners’ teaching. Will anyone actually turn up? The high hopes that our August demonstration and recruitment session in the Clock Towers Shopping Centre engenders are apt to dwindle away as the leaves turn brown. Even if people do come, will they have a serious interest in learning a challenging game like bridge, or would they be better suited to Snap or Snakes and Ladders?
A new teaching round began in September and we need not have worried. True there are ‘only’ four students, but quality is far more important than quantity and all four are showing an interest in and aptitude for the game which augurs very well.
It helps considerably that David and Heidi, Shelagh and Lee are two married couples so the mutual support networks are already strong. It’s nice to know that the ‘homework’ we throw at them from time to time is being tackled jointly rather than individually. If one forgets something, the other may remember, or at least know where to find the answer.
Teaching Stayman, overcalls and take-out doubles makes one realise how difficult it must be to encounter for the first time the ‘foreign language’ of bridge. As with learning to drive, fierce concentration is needed to master elements of the bidding which later on we take for granted.
Sue Osborne has moved over to join Chris Malthouse with the Improvers, so Wendy Pattinson and Peter Langley (with help from David Owen) are a new team teaching the beginners. If you ever want to come along to Clifton at 10am on a Saturday morning and join in this rewarding, sometimes exciting process you would be more than welcome.
Seminars
Regrettably the Wednesday Seminars have been cancelled because there was insufficient interest and attendance to justify their continuance. This is a disappointment to those who originally came up with the idea, who were prepared to put their time and effort into making them a success.
Wednesday Afternoon
The Management Committee have decided to hold a new session on Wednesday afternoons. It will take place at the Roger’s Hall, Deerings Road, Hillmorton from 2pm to 4pm starting on 14th January. The session is aimed at players of all standards from Improvers to experienced players. There will be opportunities to analyse hands, look at different systems and experienced players will be on hand to help if required. It will be a friendly and informal afternoon of bridge (sorry no Master Points), so please support this new venture.
The Wednesday evenings will continue but will now be held in players’ homes, not at the Townsend Memorial Hall.
Pairs League November 10th
Another enjoyable evening of Pairs League Bridge played in good spirit and pace.
In Division 1 John and Craig still lead the way but their lead has been narrowed to 3 by Sue and Wendy but a considerable gap has emerged between Debbie and Peter in 3rd place.
In Division 2 there was quite a turn around on the night with Marion and Clare jumping from 3rd to 1st place but very closely followed by Pam and Phil who retained their 2nd position.
In Division 3 Maria and Dave continue to score heavily but Robert and Stuart have leapt from 4th place to 2nd place.
And finally thank you to those who cover for people who could not make it on the night and to Clare for providing the boards for the evening.
Coventry Bridge League
Rugby Bridge Club has two bridge teams playing in Division 2 of the Coventry League. This is a very competitive league in which Internationals, Grand Masters, and County players compete. Rugby A captained by Chris Malthouse has recorded 2 wins and 2 losses and lie 5th in the league. Rugby Gambits captained by Graham Lightfoot have had a draw and 3 losses and lie at the bottom of the league at the moment but hope to improve on their current position
Novice Event
On the 29th November we held our first Novice Event at The Townsend Memorial Hall. The event was exclusively for those with less than 1000 Masterpoints which meant that about fifty friends were eligible to play. The evening started with a Bring and Share Supper and then 5 tables sat down for an enjoyable evening of Bridge.
We were particularly pleased to see Carol and Maxine who have not played regularly for a while and also to welcome Pauline and Robert who had not played at RBC before. They have promised to be back, having survived the stress of mastering the new experiences of the Bidding Boxes and the Bridgemates all in one go.
The competition was played at a leisurely pace in a very friendly atmosphere.
All pairs managed to get 100% on at least one board but Wilma and Ann managed an amazing 7 top scores throughout the evening. Maureen and Theo also deserve congratulations for being the only pair to bid and make a small slam.
The final results were: 3rd Peter Augustus and David Hicks 53%
2nd Ann Evans and Wilma Kiernan 58%
1st Terry Leary and John Leaviss 63%
The final results were in no way influenced by the very yummy Birthday cake that John had plied us with. Many Happy Returns John.
Thank you to all who contributed to make this event a great success.
Hosting
The host system on the whole is working well. However sometimes it is difficult fill the rota.
It has been decided that members who do not host should not expect to use the host system and if it is necessary for this player or the host to go home it will be that player not the host in future.
Search for New Premises
As a certain learned member of your Committee said ‘you wait for an hour for as bus to arrive and two turn at the same time. In our case it is three.
The club have now been approached by the Hillmorton and Rugby Town Football clubs who are both interested in Rugby Bridge Club entering into a tenancy agreement with them to use their premises.
Preliminary talks have taken place and we await further developments.
Discussions with the Laurentian Sports Club continue and the latest meeting took place on the 2nd December where they produced a preferred plan for the changes they wish to make to their facilities, which includes a new function room. Following the discussions they are intending to make some slight changes to the plan and will hope to be in a position to submit a planning application shortly.
Tournament Directors
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 and there will be training courses arranged next year at a West Midlands venue..
The club pay for the training involved and if anyone is interested please let the Committee know.
Rugby and District Bridge League
Although less than half way through the 2014/15 league season there have been some great results to date.
Division one – Currently leading the pack are Rugby Gambit’s being closely chased by Rugby Eroe’s.
Division two – Clifton Clubs are storming ahead having yet to be beaten, winning all of their matches so far.
In the Open Cup the Daventry Dragons, Daventry Donuts, Rugby Eroes and Dunchurch Diamonds will all be fighting for a place in the final.
The Handicap matches will start beginning of January 2015.
The Bridge League has mentioned that having accumulated 12 years on the committee between them:
Debbie Welch, Jane Carrington and Liz Edwards will be stepping down at the end of this season.
The league have made the point that it does not run on its own and they very much hope that there will be some willing volunteers from the teams to join the committee so that the league can continue as it has for many years.
If you are interested in any of these roles (Chairman, Fixtures Secretary and Secretary) please contact a member of the current committee, thank you.
A reminder
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 (024-7654-0211) or Wendy (01788-842-258) 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.
Many thanks to all who have contributed this Bulletin, I think you will agree it is full of interesting and useful information.
And finally a very Happy Christmas and New Year to all our members
Wendy
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