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. 

Pascal Ricketts and Geoffrey Lloyd surprised themselves by topping the leader board at the October Interclub event, despite egregious mistakes by both partners. At least it was an improvement on their wooden spoon in September. Popular visitors Andrea Geser (RAC) and Malcolm McIvor (O&C) were in second place with another Athenaeum pair, James Cooper and Howard Salter, in third.

Pivot Teams

Now an established event in our bridge calendar the pivot teams competition will be held on 15 December this year. We aim to assemble eleven teams, with guests from our neighbouring clubs who come by invitation and other teams composed from Athenaeum members. The calling notice has been sent out so Athenaeum members should enter their selected quartets as soon as possible. 

St James's Bridge Drive

The sixteenth version of this popular event was held at the Naval and Military on 12 October 2026. The winners were Fauzia Crockford, from the host club, and Ewa Francis. The best Athenaeum performance came from Catherine Rice-Evans, partnered by her husband, Rex Goad (O&C), who finished in the runners-up position, thus narrowly failing to repeat their 2024 victory.Two other Athenaeum members finished in the top ten.

MCC Mixed Teams

The Athenaeum  finished joint eighth out of 29 teams in this annual tournament which attracts many high quality players. This is the first time an Athenaeum team has finished in the top third. The team members, pictured above, were Geoffrey Lloyd, Catherine Rice-Evans, James Cooper and Rex Goad.