| RAC v Portland Club |
The Portland Club have been regular players in the Devonshire Cup but have never previously enjoyed an inter club 8 aside match with the RAC. We extended an invitation last February which was readily accepted and resulted in our inaugural match played in the St James Room on 17 September. Portland have a fierce reputation as strong rubber bridge players and we were unsure how their experience would translate in an imp scored 24 board teams match. We found out. Perhaps the most challenging moment was one of their pairs bidding a small slam without 2 aces which was a lay down due to their void in one of the suits. All the more exciting as the void was not conveyed in the bidding so I guess a bit of a punt which totally worked.
Victor had unusually provided a higher than average selection of slam potential boards which resulted in 10+ imp swings all over the place. However as good play, or was it good fortune, would have it overall the RAC ran out winners by a net 17 imps, 113v96. Dinner overran due to the bonhomie and friendly chat and everyone considered it a successful evening and are looking forward to the return match in 2025.
Thank you to the team who helped lay out the boards, score sheets and pencils and collected them at the end of play and to the banqueting team who, as usual, did a first class job.
The RAC Team consisted of Michael B/David M, Paul W/Lester P, Pralab B/John C, Paul F/Sally F,
Michael - Team Captain
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| Last updated : 18th Sep 2024 13:29 BST |
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| RAC v House of Lords |
On a rather chilly Wednesday afternoon we had the pleasure to meeting the House of Lords Bridge team at the RAC in Pall Mall for the first time in a number of years. Clearly our match had faltered during the pandemic, but I am very please to announce this it is now a firm fixture on both our calendars moving forward. We had a few last minute team changes but as usual our RAC players stepped in to support us! In fact Andrew Kisiel very kindly came along with only a couple of hours notice, and I know Brigitte was pleased to have her best partner with her - her life partner !!! I must thank Lester for helping with the movements and the technical side of things, and at halftime we were 3 imps up! Sadly the second half didn’t go so well and we ended up conceding the match, now I had the imps written down and now just can’t find them but I fear it was in the 30’s, maybe it’s just as well I can’t lay my hands on the exact details! Anyway we had a very convivial dinner and look forward to seeing our esteemed friends at the Palace of Westminster next year. The RAC team consisted of: Fiona Mc/Henry Mc, Howard S/Lester Andrew K/Brigitte K, Jeremy W/Isobel PH
Match report submitted by RAC Captain - Fiona McWatters
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| Last updated : 12th Sep 2024 11:50 BST |
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| Colin Freeman |
| It is with the greatest sadness I have to report to Club Bridge players and our wider circle of St James’s friends the death of Colin Freeman. |
| Strangely enough Colin had been in my thoughts over the last week. When I saw him at Bridge two weeks ago, I said we were off Elounda in Crete. Colin told me with great joy that he had spent his honeymoon in the same resort. Every time we passed the lovely hotel he stayed in I thought of a young handsome Colin with his lovely new wife on a romantic holiday! |
| Colin really made the most of life, he often told me about various concerts and restaurants he’d enjoyed. Up to his midnight hour Colin enjoyed every moment of life. |
| I didn’t know Colin as well as his long time Bridge partner, Howard Salter. |
| When Howard wrote to many of us yesterday he wrote very beautifully about Colin and, with Howard’s agreement, I would like to share his thoughts with you all now: |
| 'Colin has been my partner in Bridge for decades and it is a sign of his vibrant personality that I cannot feel that he has gone. He has been far more than just a bridge friend, (although he was skilled at the game and I learned much from him), but, more importantly, I had the privilege of sharing his wider experience of life and, through him, a deeper insight into my thought, behaviour and conduct. He has been one of the last of the characters of our group who carved his name with us as a larger than life individual and personality, warts and all, and who I will always remember with fondness and a smiling shake of my head at behaviour which, perhaps, has been unique in our circle. |
| May God bless him and accept his membership into His Club.' |
| Colin, rest in peace and adieu until we meet again. |
| Fiona McWatters |
| Chair Pall Mall Bridge Committee |
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| Last updated : 6th Sep 2024 15:51 BST |
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| FIXTURE LIST SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 2024 |
BELOW ARE PROPOSED MATCH TEAM DETAILS SENT OUT BY JOHN CRAGGS TO ALL PLAYERS ON 10TH JANUARY
THERE MAY BE A FEW SMALL CHANGES IF PLAYERS ARE NOW UNAVAILABLE
Captains shown in bold
House of Lords (home), September 11, Wednesday. 16.00 for 16.30 start:- Fiona Mc/Henry Mc, Howard S/Lester P, Pralab B/Brigitte K, Jeremy W/Isobel PH, Reserve:
Portland Club (home), September 17, Tuesday. 18.00:- Michael B/David M, Paul W/Lester P, Pralab B/John C, Paul F/Sally F, Reserve:
Upstairs/Downstairs, September 30, Monday. 18.00 for 18.15:- Teams not yet chosen (by invitation)
Hurlingham Intermediates (home), October 14, Monday. 16.00 for 16.30:- Ina W/Pauli L, Paulo dR/Yuki S, Anne R/Harvey R, Susan F/Dorothy H, Reserve:
University Club NY (home) - 16October 26, Saturday: Fiona Mc/Henry Mc, Marina CP/Lester P, Michael B/David M, Pralab B/Andrea G, John C/Pascale H, David W/Pearse E, John K/Pauli L, Paul M/Yvonne R, Reserves: Andrew K/Brigitte K
Oxford & Cambridge (away), October 28, Monday. 16.00 for 16.30 start: Lester P/Steven B, Paul W/Andrew K, Robin K/Brigitte K, John C/David W, Reserve:
Carlton (away) November 6, Wednesday. 16.30 start: Michael B/David M, Paul F/Sally F, Pearse E/Pauli L, Andrea G/Martin L, Reserve:
Reform Club (home), Awaiting date Team of four not yet chosen. Ten members have shown interest.
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| Last updated : 6th Sep 2024 15:50 BST |
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| RAC PALL MALL SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER |
| Pall Mall Bridge Circle September Newsletter |
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| Hello Everyone, |
| Like children returning to school at the start of September, we to are gearing up for our autumn season of Bridge. I might add that I loathed returning to school, so thank goodness I am far more excited about Bridge in Pall Mall! I also will not be in need of a new pencil case and satchel. I am sure children today would laugh at me as I do not think they use anything like that now. |
| I don't have any pictures from matches over the last month so I thought I would just include a lovely photo of Bridge players in the sunshine! |
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| NEWS |
| Recent Communications: |
| We have sent out no less than three 'flyers' over the last four weeks with some important information: |
| Firstly, our applications to play in matches is now open on BridgeWebs. Do make sure if you are interested in playing in any of our inter-club matches you make sure you apply online. |
| Secondly, I sent a reminder of our dates through to the end of the year for Afternoon Bridge. There are three more dates for this autumn and I hope you will support this initiative. |
| Thirdly, a message was sent regarding a Swiss Teams Event at the MCC in which we have been invited to provide one or two teams from the Royal Automobile Club. We will cover the cost for each team to enter from the Pall Mall Bridge budget. Can I stress that in order for us to pay our team must be made up of Royal Automobile Club members only. |
| I do understand that I rather deluged you all with information but we are very lucky here at the Club to have such a vibrant Bridge Group! |
| Food During Duplicate: |
| Several players have asked about having sandwiches during our Duplicate. I have now had a long discussion on this topic with the Club. The Library, which some of you might not know, has a special preservation status so it is not the place for food. It is a tight fit for us in the room and it is felt that it needs to be kept a clean as possible. |
| However, when we play in either the Committee Room or the Mountbatten Room you can bring in food if you really have to do so. We are not reintroducing the ability to order food at Bridge. As the staff in the Club Room are working at full capacity, I am afraid they do not have time to bring food up to us, so our players will have to transport sandwiches themselves. |
| I know some of you will not be pleased about this but I would say do think about the very short length of our breaks, there really is not time for supper. Eating whilst playing means that the cards and tables end up covered in food which is extremely unhygienic and very unpleasant for fellow players! |
| Dates and Events: |
| Please note, there is a lot of information under Dates for your Diary and yes you will note that next year's Summer Party is in Pall Mall. This is due to popular demand and details will follow in due course. |
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| INTER-CLUB MATCHES |
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| UPCOMING MATCHES |
| We start our autumn season of inter-club matches with two very nice events. |
| On Wednesday 11 September the House of Lords will be visiting us in Pall Mall for our annual match. |
| On Tuesday 17 September we have invited the Portland Club to join us at Pall Mall for a friendly match. This is the first time we have played this venerable and very old card club. |
| I had the pleasure of playing a few hands at the Portland Club about five years ago. They are great players and charming too! |
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| BRIDGE SCHOOL |
| Our Bridge Starter Weekend will take place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September. Following the Bridge Starter Weekend, our Beginners Classwill start on Wednesday 25 September. |
| Our Intermediate Class will recommence on Thursday 5 September, hopefully some of the Intermediate students will be joining us at the Duplicate either with or without their mentors! |
| Can I just add that Intermediate students are always welcome to come along to the Duplicate. Our rate of play is usually seven minutes per hand so all you have to do is keep up with that and try us out! Can I assure you contrary to popular belief we are a really friendly lot and we want our students to join us and will do as much as we can to help you along! |
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| GENERAL INFORMATION |
| Our WhatsApp group now has 60 members, a number which I am very pleased with. I need to revise my statistics each month as they increase. |
| If you are looking for a partner on Thursday evening this is the place to find someone. Please can I stress that our WhatsApp group is only for Thursday evening or other Club matches which I advertise from time to time. Group members are kindly asked to use another form of connection for private matches or other information shared. Thank you. |
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| ST JAMES'S CLUB MEMBERS |
| We warmly welcome our St. James’s Club friends to join us on the last Thursday of every month for our regular Duplicate. We do encourage you to find a partner before coming along to the Club. |
| We have two more Teams Events in 2024 on the last Thursday of the month that are open to both Royal Automobile Club and St. James’s Club teams. The dates are as follows: |
Thursday 29 August
Thursday 28 November |
| Please also find the dates for next year: |
Thursday 25 February 2025
Thursday 29 May 2025
Thursday 28 August 2025
Thursday 27 November 2025 |
| Non-St. James' Club guests are welcome to come at play at the Club twelve times in any one year with a Royal Automobile Club member. |
| I advise all players to visit the Club’s BridgeWebs page regularly as news is posted on these pages throughout the month. |
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| IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY |
| 2024 |
Monday 16 September
Afternoon Bridge at Pall Mall, 2.15pm, Terrace Room
Monday 23 September
St James's Club Bridge Drive hosted by the Reform Club
Monday 21 October
Afternoon Bridge at Pall Mall, 2.15pm, Mall Room
Sunday 27 October
Bowman Pairs Tournament, 11.30am
Monday 18 November
Afternoon Bridge at Pall Mall, 2.15pm, Terrace Room
Thursday 12 December
Christmas Party |
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| 2025 |
Tuesday 4 February
Duke of Devonshire Cup, play is every Tuesday evening
Tuesday 25 February
Duke of Devonshire Cup Final
Thursday 27 March
Ross Cope Swiss Teams Event
Monday 19 May
Centenary Cup
Tuesday 8 July
Pall Mall Bridge Summer Party at Pall Mall |
| If you have any questions about the Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Bridge Circle, please do get in touch with me. |
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| Best Wishes |
| Fiona McWatters |
| Chair, Pall Mall Bridge Committee |
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| This email was sent by the Royal Automobile Club. |
| To change your mailing preferences please go to the My Account section of the Club website. |
| Please note that if you choose to opt out of all communications using the slider at the top of the mailing preferences page, you will no longer receive any publications, e-newsletters or information emails. You will continue to receive membership documents such as renewal letters and AGM notices. |
| You can change the email address we use by amending the information in your contact details. |
| If you require assistance please email communications@royalautomobileclub.co.uk. |
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| Last updated : 28th Aug 2024 10:47 BST |
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| PIANOLA |
We now subscribe to "Pianola", a service that gives interesting analysis and stats of your results from each session, as well as showing how they have been progressing over time. To get started, please give your Email address to Victor (brianplaysbridge@gmail.com) and you will receive a signup link next time you play duplicate at the club. Some of you may be familiar with Pianola from other clubs, and Victor will be able to add the RAC to your profile.
Victor Lesk
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| Last updated : 28th Apr 2022 12:53 BST |
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