Bridge calendar 2026

On Monday 16 th and Monday 23 rd February we will be running the club pairs
competition for the Founders Trophy. As usual to be eligible to win, pairs will need to
compete with the same partner in both sessions. It will be the usual 1.30 pm start
time.
On Monday 13 April we will be running the club teams competition. It will be the
usual 1.30 pm start time.
We are planning a number of special events as part of the contribution of the Bridge
Section to the club’s 125 th anniversary celebrations.
On Monday 20 April we plan to hold a new Internal Mixed Pairs Competition with a
Rose Bowl as prize. It will have the normal start time of 1.30 pm and be run like a
normal duplicate session. Players who wish to compete for this trophy will obviously
need to enter as a mixed pair.
On Wednesday 22 April we will be holding a special 125 th Anniversary Duplicate
Invitation Tournament. We will be inviting a small number of representatives from
other clubs we play matches against, and there will be some prizes to compete for. It
will have a start time of 1.30 pm.
On Friday 19 June we will be having an event with Zia Mahmood. There will be a
bridge session with some prepared hands, drinks and a lunch during which Zia will
give a short speech. There will also be a book signing, for anyone interested to buy
an autographed copy of his book. It should be a very special occasion. Timings and
other details to follow.
For the events on Wednesday 22 April and Friday 19 June there will be a sign up
posted in due course.
As mentioned in an earlier email, we are moving the introductory Duplicate Bridge
sessions to the second Fridays of the month. These take place between 10 am and
12am and are a good way for less experienced players to improve their capabilities
to play in duplicate sessions.
The Teams sessions will continue to be on the first and third Fridays of the month (
outside of Summer) with the usual start time of 1.30 pm.
Good luck and looking forward to seeing you in the Bridge Room.
Malcolm B

Jo Thesiger, Ladies’ Golf Captain, would like to warmly invite you to support the Ladies’ Captain’s Charity Golf and Bridge Day, taking place on Tuesday 10th February. The bridge event will start at 2 pm and for Bridge players there is no requirement to take part in the golf competition as well. It will be a fundraising event for The Baked Bean Charity that she has chosen to support during her year as Captain.

Details: The Garden room is reserved as well. Signup at reception and cost is £22/head. Sign up closes on Friday 6th Feb. There will be a selection of sandwiches and cakes and tea & coffee from 3pm. People are welcome to sign up on their own, or pairs or fours, and we will do our best to accommodate everyone. This charity event is in place of the Loulou/Arnold Tuesday afternoon supervised bridge.

The Baked Bean Charity in Wandsworth is a remarkable organisation dedicated to supporting adults with learning difficulties. Through drama, creative arts, and a wide range of life‑enhancing activities, it offers a vibrant weekly timetable that often culminates in inspiring productions and performances. For many, The Baked Bean is far more than a place to learn new skills — it is a lifeline, a community, and a source of joy.

One of its students, Daniel — son of Roehampton member Deepak Dhawan — considers The Baked Bean his extended family. Daniel recently took part in The Assembly, a critically acclaimed Channel 4 series in which people with learning difficulties interview well‑known public figures. He appears in the episode featuring Stephen Fry, an experience that Deepak says “gives his son the opportunity to dream”.

New Duplicate Sessions

As discussed at the AGM, we are planning to try out an introductory Duplicate session to be run by Niall in place of one of his regular practice sessions. This will on the first Friday morning of the month from 10 am starting in December. It should be a good opportunity for intermediate players to play in a Gentle session and for less experienced players to develop Duplicate Bridge skills. As this will count as a regular session (rather than a teaching session) there will be no charge to members (but the usual guest fee would apply).