Thursday morning competitive play now starts promptly at 9.15am. This session is aimed at introducing members to bridge without assistance, and to play within a reasonable timeframe. Unfriendly or unduly aggressive playing will not be permitted. Informal, untimed, assisted play will continue as normal in the other rooms at Wesley Hall, starting at 9.30am.  Meanwhile, Tuesday evening Lesson & Play sessions are now at 6.45 for a 7pm prompt start. Everyone welcome. 

More than 40 players enjoyed an afternoon of fun but competitive bridge at Wesley Hall, Frome, on Saturday 14 March for the Somerset 9 High Pairs event. The 22 pairs were also treated a delicious tea. 

Frome Bridge Club is celebrating its first pair of Ace graded players. Club Chair Ray Nicholson and Committee member David Clayton reached the exalted English Bridge Union rank of Ace within a fortnight of each other in January. First to the post was David when a Monday night Club Pairs score of 76.3% with his bridge partner Richard King lifted his NGS (National Grading Scheme) rank over the Ace of Clubs threshold of 61%; two Mondays later it was Ray’s turn, playing with his regular bridge partner Margaret Donkin. This is the first time in the Club’s history to have two concurrent Ace level players, and their ranking means they are among the top 10 Bridge players in Somerset. David Alsford is the only other Frome player to have previously reached the rank of Ace. David Clayton and Ray both learnt to play bridge in their youth before stopping for many years and then taking it up again. Their key tip for all aspiring Ace level players is to play regularly, with a regular and reliable partner.