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Athenaeum members who wish to discuss playing bridge at the Club should contact John Neilson at johnneilson@blueyonder.co.uk. 
Duplicate bridge on is played on Tuesday evenings to which members are able to invite guests. Dinner (optional) is at 6.30pm and play starts promptly at 7.15pm.   
 
 
 
Club Matches
 
MCC
 
We entertained the Marylebone Cricket Club on 5 November for our first teams match of the season. Fortunately there were no fireworks, just a keenly contested match played in a convivial spirit throughout. The MCC edged into a 2IMP lead by the end of the first half but after a protracted dinner they built on their lead and finished the match 12 IMPs ahead. Congratulations to them. We find them to be one of our most difficult opponents to beat and they do us the honour of always fielding a strong team against us.
The Athenaeum was represented by John Neilson and Nita Wheeler, Catherine Rice-Evans and Rex Goad, Gregory Stone and Howard Salter and James Cooper and Geoffrey Lloyd.
 
RAC
 
Another match, another narrow defeat. That was the outcome when an experienced team from the Royal Automobile Club visited us on 11 February 2026. It was what a football pundit might have described as 'a game of two halves, Gary' with the Athenaeum team having a sluggish first half but, suitably fortified, coming back strongly after the interval to fall  short by the small margin of 4 IMPs. It was otherwise an enjoyable evening and we could say that the sociability of the occasion is what matters, with the result being of lesser significance. At least, that's the official line.
Our team was: John Neilson and Howard Salter, Andrew Harris and Charles King-Farlow, Catherine Rice-Evans and Rex Goad, James Cooper and Geoffrey Lloyd.
 
Hurlingham Club
 
Our losing run continued when we were visited the Hurlingham Club on 27 March 2026. On this occasion we could not claim the result to be a close shave, the winning margin for the Hurlingham being 25 IMPs. We take solace in the fact that there is no relegation and nobody is facing the sack. Apart from the result everything else was perfect. We were well entertained by our hosts and we were able to admire the Hurlingham's  lawns in splendid condition for the start of the croquet season. We were represented by John Neilson and Nita Wheeler, Charles King-Farlow and Andrew Harris, Lucy Nutt and Elena Lurie-Luke and James Cooper and Geoffrey Lloyd.
 
Devonshire Cup
 
The Athenaeum team was drawn against Reform Finesse in the first round of the Devonshire Cup and managed to get off to a good start, establishing a comfortable lead by the interval. The second half was more evenly balanced but consistent play enabled our team to win by a margin of 840 points. Unfortunately we were unable to repeat our victory in the second round, losing to RAC Elite by a narrow margin.We were represented by John Neilson, Howard Salter, James Cooper and Geoffrey Lloyd.
 
Welcome to Bridge at The Athenaeum
Inter-Club Duplicate at the Athenaeum
Inter-Club Duplicate at the Athenaeum

This is the website for inter-club duplicate tournaments, held with a 6.35pm prompt start on the 3rd Tuesday of most months at the Athenaeum Club in London's Pall Mall.  Dinner is held at around 8.30pm, shortly after the mid-point for the evening's hands.

Members of a St James's or other kindred club wishing to play in these sessions should contact Christina Hemmett at Christina@hellenist.org.uk. Players are requested not to invite professionals as partners.

Sir Basil Hall Trophy

The Sir Basil Hall Challenge Trophy is awarded to the player with the highest average percentage score over their best five Interclub appearances during the season, not more than three of which are with the same partner and subject to a minimum of five appearances. The winner must be a current member of a St James's or kindred club. A list of previous winners is available on this website. 

 

Geoffrey Lloyd and Howard Salter won the June Interclub event with a score of 66.67 per cent. Michael Oppenheimer retains his lead in the race for the Trophy, a fraction ahead of his regular partner Bill Shanahan. It's all to play for when the last event of the season takes place on 21 July.

 

Pivot Teams

Eleven teams from four different St James's clubs competed in this annual event on 16 December 2025. There was little to separate the top teams when dinner was taken but in the second half the Oxford and Cambridge quartet romped home to win by a clear margin. Athenaeum teams finished in second and third places. Congratulations to Malcolm McIvor, Andrea Geser, Gary Stevens and Philip Meats who went away with the champagne prizes. Our thanks, as aways, go to  Gitte  who coped admirably with a complicated movement and to the Club catering staff who provided a splendid festive dinner.

 

St James's Bridge Drive

It was the Carlton Club's turn to host the 2025 Bridge Drive, organised with aplomb, as usual, by Victor Lesk. From a full complement of forty pairs the winners were  Paul Weston and Lester Pereira of the RAC.  Four Athenaeum members finished in the top ten places. The evening concluded with a fine dinner in the Churchill Room.

 

Regular Tuesday bridge

These events are now consistently well attended  by members and their guests. The score of 78.41 per cent achieved  by Catherine Rice-Evans and Rex Goad in March 2024 remains the record but several other pairs have come close to matching it. Who will be the pair to beat it? Watch this space.

 

 

 

 
Results
23rd Jun 2026
Athen
16th Jun 2026
Athenaeum Interclub Pairs
Director: Gitte
9th Jun 2026
Athen
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