The Abbey Smith Bridge Club was started in January 2012. It was primarily set up to ensure people who were being taught could play in a nice and friendly atmosphere. Since 2012 the club has grown and now has 10+tables most Thursday evenings and up to 16 on Friday afternoons. The experience of the members varies from near beginner (those who have just completed the most recent beginner course) to those who have been playing for years. Anyone wishing to play duplicate bridge is welcome.
The club started off in my local village hall in Little Horwood and had regular duplicate sessions in Mursley Village Hall also. The Bridge Club has grown so much over the last few years that in September 2016 the club moved to Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club. This has proved to be a great move. The venue is perfectly suited to a Bridge Club. It has it's own square table and comfortable chairs - so no setting up  It is light, good heating and has a lot of parking which is well lit in evenings. The Club provides tea/coffee and biscuits but now has the added bonus of a bar open during all afternoon and evening bridge club sessions.
Club sessions are now held 4 times and week and the club regularly has 11+ tables for all these sessions. Thursday and Friday sessions offer a host system so you can turn up without a partner.
The club has grown quickly and has the luxury of having a duplimator so all duplicate results are recorded with hand copies, including makeable contracts and optimum scores (although sometimes impossible to work how how to get there!!). The club also uses Bridgemates which means scores are up on the website before players arrive home.
I am very proud of how far the bridge club has come in such a short space of time. The club feels fresh and up to date and is helped by having new faces introduced regularly from lessons. The members all respect my philosophy that bridge is a game to be enjoyed and as many people should be encouraged to play in clubs as possible. This has shone through in the atmosphere and goes a long way to explaining why the club has grown so much over the last couple of years.
The Abbey Smith Bridge Club is EBU affiliated and awards masterpoints for duplicates. The club has already ventured into holding the occasional EBU Simultaneous Pairs. As the club develops over the next few years, we enter teams into the local leagues - Oxfordshire Bridge Association - and we plan to hold in house competitions.....watch this space 
The Abbey Smith Bridge Club is a friendly and relaxed club that nurtures players from beginner level onwards. Visitors are very welcome, if you would like to come and try the Abbey Smith Bridge Club then do send Abbey an email (abbeybridgelessons@hotmail.co.uk).
Weekly Duplicates
Monday afternoon - Bridge 2pm BBO only
Wednesday Evening - Bridge 7pm to 9.30pm, Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club
Thursday morning - Bridge 10am to 12.30pm Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club, host system
Thursday Evening - Bridge 7pm to 10pm, Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club, The bar is open
Friday Afternoon - Bridge 2pm to 4.30pm,Drayton Parslow Sports and Social Club, host system so you can turn up on your own. The bar is open.
Weekly Lessons (during school term time)
Sunday Evening 7 - 8.30pm - face to face beginner's lessons
Monday evening 7pm - 8.30pm - face to face lessons, intermediate
Tuesday 11.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 3pm face to face lessons
Wednesday 12 to 1.30pm and 1.45pm to 3.15pm face to face lessons
Thursday 1.15 to 2.45 pm face to face beginner's lessons
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