 Club Xmas Party 2023 |
62 people attended the Club Xmas Party on 20th December at the Chute Pavilion, Sherborne St John. What a fabulous night we all had. Great food and great bridge. Thanks to everyone who contributed either with food, bringing tables, helping on the night, taking photos (Sam) or just generally contributing to the fun atmosphere. Huge thanks to Malcolm for organising all of the bridge and who had us all trying to 'fudge' our contracts to attempt to get a score that we needed on our bingo card! It was unfortunate that the band had to pull out at the last minute, but hopefully we can arrange another event next year where we can all get to hear them, the singers, and the dancers.
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| Club Weekend Away 2022 |
♠ ♥ Club Weekend Away in Bournemouth ♦ ♣
56 club members and some partners enjoyed a recent weekend of fun bridge at the Connaught Hotel, Bournemouth. It was great to meet up with so many and also enjoy the seaside town and surrounding area!
A full report of the event will be coming in the next newsletter but in the meantime thanks go to
John F, Jean, Stan, Malcolm, John G, Judi, Anne T, Ivor, Sally and Heather
who all had a hand in organising or helping towards the various events.
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 Club Hosts Corn Cairdis 2019 |
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Corn Cairdis - an annual match between teams representing the County, Club, and Officials of the English Bridge Union (EBU) and Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (CBAI). The EBU team were:
Jeremy Dhondy & Andy Hughes; Philip Mason & Peter Stocken.
Club representatives who played over the weekend: Helen & Chris Kinloch, Iain Climie, Andrew & Mary Ferguson, Tracey Adams, Steve Tearle, Richard Ray, Ann Goss.
Basingstoke Bridge Club agreed to host the 2019 Corn Cairdis match for Hampshire.
It was a successful weekend. The actual competition did not begin until Saturday, but the club hosted a social evening on the Friday in which all the Irish attended. Although the Irish took 1st & 2nd place, Richard & Christine Ray were the top club players closely followed by Tracey Adams and Steve Tearle.
There was a really lovely friendly atmosphere throughout the weekend with good food organised by Sam, Stan and Jean. Sam organised the purchasing of the food, Jean and Stan picked it up at M&S, and Jean cooked it and laid it all out.
The Tournament was opened by the Mayor of Basingstoke and a reporter from the Basingstoke Gazette took pictures. The Irish were taken to Milestones museum and had dinner on Saturday evening.
The Irish team prevailed and won back the Trophy this year which was probably fitting as they have lost in the last 2 years but the most important thing about the weekend was the firm friendships established among the competitors.
The name, Corn Cairdis, translates most appropriately as Cup of Friendship.
Our thanks to Helen who single handedly organised the event for the County and the EBU.
Also to Chris Kinloch and Keith Bennet for directing.
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| Club regains the Teams of 8 Simmons Cup 2019 |
 Our annual match against Newbury (Simmons Cup for Mixed pairs) took place recently. This year we were successful in reclaiming the trophy after it had been in Newbury's possession for the last 2 years!
Well done to our team of Chris & Helen Kinloch, Manny & Fil Navarro, Tracey Adams & Steve Tearle, Mary and Andrew Ferguson, Sandra Ruffell and Keith Bennett,
Viv Morris & George Collins and Ann Goss & Keith Williams and Jane Rutherford and John Fairhurst.
Special thanks to Newbury for again playing the match in such a friendly manner, an enjoyable day for all!
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| Fun Bridge at the Club 2018 |
This year we again held our party at the Chute Pavilion so we could all mix up together.It was good company, food, drinks and prizes.
Were these the smartest men in town?
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| Alencon visit 2016 |
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Back in 1982 bridge players were suddenly invited to participate in the annual Basingstoke/Alencon twinning Festival of Sport. Two Alencon players arrived for the weekend to stay with Chris & Helen Kinloch. Since then firm friendships have been made.
Although the other twinning visits have fallen away, the exchange between the Bridge clubs has grown and every year, each club has hosted the Bridge match along with social visits.
This year it was the French hosting the visit and although it normally takes place in May, it was an Autumn weekend this time.
The Basingstoke team, Chris & Helen Kinloch, John & Barbara Glasscock, Andrew & Mary Ferguson, Graham & Liz Bragg, David Walton & Anne James and May Lawn & Danielle Sissingh, arrived in bright sunshine in Alençon to the usual warm welcome from French friends, old and new. There were nine tables for the bridge tournament in the afternoon. Unfortunately none of our pairs came top, so we had to relinquish the Raymond Guérin trophy which we won in Basingstoke last year. However, as usual, the bridge competition was only one small part of the weekend and it was followed by several apperitifs and a delicious meal at the club.
On Sunday we visited Le Perche, an area of natural beauty situated around the town of Belleme in the south-east of the Orne department of southern Normandy. Despite the light rain and mist which continued throughout the day, everyone really enjoyed looking round the picturesque villages and trying to find answers to quiz questions about the area. After lunch at the golf club some brave souls took part in a two hole putting competition, the scores for which were added to our team's quiz totals.
Anne & David were the worthy winners of the Sunday events. Back at the Alençon bridge Club there were more apperitifs and another beautiful meal. We did manage to sing an adaptation of the well known French song "Ma Normandie" as a thank you to our hosts.
Dates are still to be arranged, but we look forward to welcoming our French friends in Basingstoke again next year.
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