Getting back to Bridge

Your Bridge Committee is considering holding a “Getting back to Bridge” refresher training course for those who may have forgotten some of their skills.  This can also be considered an improvers class.  Thursday mornings in the “Six Counties” starting at 10:00 a.m. is the planned time.  The course will consist of some instruction followed by supervised play.  If you are interested in taking this course please email bridge@castlegc.ie

Autumn Teams

Last night our first team competition of the season was held under the watchful eye of Tournament Director Bernard Higgins.  Twelve teams, each consisting of four players, took part.  Matches consisted of four boards per match with each team playing six matches.  The winning margin was 0.77 Victory Points.  Put it another way, that is one trick from a total of 312 tricks played during the evening.

1^ST Bernadette Murray, Sheila Williams, Tom Woulfe, Paul Williams                          

2^nd Connie Keogh, Pauline Ussher, Frank Kennedy, Philip Robinson (guest)

Centenary Trophy

The Centenary Trophy is our first major competition of the season.  It will be held on two successive Mondays beginning on 7 November.

It is a team event with each team consisting of four players.  Pre-entry is required. Further details can be found on Castle Bridgewebs.

Tournament Directing

We recently held a training course for Tournament Directors.  Eight people took part and next week we will begin our new TD Rota.  Please make sure you are seated by 7:20 p.m. as the TD has to set up the game, decide on the movement, hand out the boards, table numbers and Bridgemate devices before play can commence.

Numbers are growing

Last night we had fifty-four players, the highest number so far this season.  Our beginners continued their class guided by Valarie Burke-Moran.  The growing numbers make for a very nice atmosphere in the room.

The new dining room layout is proving to be very convivial.  No round tables, the dining room is laid out in fifteen tables of four, well-spaced out.  There are an additional nine tables on the dance floor when we need them.

Next Monday – Autumn Teams

A reminder that next Monday we are having our Autumn Teams.  Each team consists of two pairs who play a match against another team, just like hockey or football. Each team will play six matches on the night.  Make a few phone calls to line up your team.  If you are having difficult contact bridge@castlegc.ie or call Paul and we will try to find you a team or another pair.  Bernard Higgins will be our TD and the boards will be pre-dealt.  This will be a good run out for the Centenary Trophy in November which is also a team event.

Mis-boarding

Last evening we had a few incidents of mis-boarding.  This simply should not happen.  North is responsible for “minding” the board at the table.  Do not change its orientation, do not put it on your lap.  Return the cards to the board immediately after play and do not remove them for a post mortem.  Post mortems are a common cause of mis-boarding.  All players are equally responsible for mis-boardings.

Recent Castle Success

Castle players have been spreading their wings for a long time.  Many play on other nights in other clubs around South Dublin, and some further afield.  We are happy to report some recent Castle success in Regent Bridge Club.

On Tuesday of last week Martha Jones and Eleanor Fitzgerald won the Regent Academy semi-open pairs.  This was followed on Thursday by Bernadette Murray and Blanaid Nally winning the weekly Academy Pairs.

Then on Friday, playing in the annual Noreen O’Grady Pairs, Vivienne Cosgrave was runner-up playing with Helen Holman.  Fifty pairs played in the competition.  This popular event where pairs comprise a player from the Regent Academy playing with a master player from the Regent has an interesting Castle connection.  Noreen O’Grady is the mother of past Lady Captain Miriam Brien and the competition is named in her honour.  Miriam’s father was also a prominent player in both Castle and Regent and is mentioned on the first press cutting in the history on Castle Bridgewebs.

Pictured below are Helen Holman, Maire O’Connor (Regent President), Miriam Brien and Vivienne Cosgrave.

We have had two successful games in the past eight days.  On Monday 5 September we had 9.5 tables and last evening there were 10.5 tables.  The new bridge season is now getting into full swing.

On next Monday 19 September we are holding a welcome back to the table wine reception from 6:30 p.m.  

This wil be followed by our Annual General Meeting at 7:15 p.m.  We will play bridge after the AGM concludes.

Your Bridge Committee cordially invites all Castle Bridge Players to join us for the wine reception, the AGM and the bridge game.

We look forward to seeing you there.

A team comprising of four Castle members, all ladies, finished third in the Bankers Trophy on Saturday 24 April. The Bankers Trophy is the National Intermediate A Teams Championship. 

Returning to the table

The Bridge Committee have considered what is the appropriate course of action in relation to the playing of the game in the immediate future.  The views of those players who wrote to the committee were very much to the forefront of the considerations.

The decision made is that we will remain playing online on BBO up to and including 28 February.

Towards the end of February the committee will seek updated views and will then consider the matter again bearing in mind the then prevailing public health considerations.

4 December 2021

Castle's Siobhán Mccarthy and her partner Austin Leahy win Duffy Cup, Dublin South Region

Intermediate B & Novice qualifier for Civil Service Cup and JJ Murphy Trophy, National Pairs Championship.