| DEVONSHIRE PLATE 2022 |
|
| Last updated : 23rd Jun 2022 10:59 BST |
|
|
|
| RAC v AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE FRANCE |
|
Move "mouse" over thumbnail to change
|
The RAC sent its two teams to Paris: Marina, Terry, Andrew, David Glass, Lester, Robin, Pralab and Brigitte, the other team consisted of Michael, David Mannooch, Sally and Paul to represent the Club on its 40th annual 40 board bridge match against the Automobile Club de France.
The match took place in the splendid Club rooms located overlooking La Place de La Concorde with views of the Eiffel Tower in the near distance. The hosts entertained the teams to dinner to welcome us on our arrival and again the next day after playing the match.
Delighted to report that both RAC teams won their matches by 31 and 45 imps respectively, following an excellent set of opening round results requiring our hosts to play catch-up in the next 3 rounds. Two professional tournament directors were employed to organise the board distributions and monitor the scoring on bridge mates.
The annual matches in 2020 and 2021 did not happen, despite 3 attempts, due to the covid pandemic so it was vital that 2022 took place and that there was an opportunity for the two sides to meet to recreate the spirit of comradeship and friendship enjoyed in past years. Our team members worked hard to achieve this, Michael provided his own special brand of after dinner speeches in Google translated French! These were received more politely by the French hosts who applauded the effort than the gentle barracking of certain London team members after 7 minutes who struggled to keep up!
The Club’s chairman was briefly introduced to celebrate the longstanding nature of our annual match which seemed to go down well, particularly with the French team members.
Michael
|
|
| Last updated : 20th Jun 2022 14:14 BST |
|
|
|
| RAC v ROEHAMPTON 21ST JUNE *POSTPONED* |
Due to the railways and tube strike the match versus Roehampton, scheduled for 21st June, has been postponed to Tuesday 12thJuly.
As soon as I have examined all the relative correspondence I’ll post the team.
Sorry guys!!
Marina
|
|
| Last updated : 20th Jun 2022 14:13 BST |
|
|
|
| BRIDGE UPDATE JUNE 2022 |
Hello Everyone,
June is upon us and what a special month this year, the Queen will be celebrating her Platinum Jubilee. What a special event for us all to witness and a joyous occasion.
Due to the Clubs position in Pall Mall and its closeness to Buckingham Palace, we have decided to postpone Bridge on Thursday 2 June (Bank Holiday) which is usually our Mentor/Mentee evening. The Mentor evening will now take place on the Thursday 9 June.
We played the Cumberland Club in the Terrace Room on the Wednesday 11 May. The last time we played the Cumberland face-to-face was three years ago in May 2019. According to Marina’s records, the Club team lost by 6 IMPs. So, what happened this time? I am sorry to say that we lost again! 16 IMPs down at the halfway point and finally down 21 IMPs. Although not a great result, we had a great evening. Delightful guests, excellent food and wine, and lots of enjoyable bridge. The Club Team was John C and Pascale, Lester and Robin, David W and Pearse, and Paul M and Charito.
The first round of the Cotton Cup will take place on Tuesday 28 June in the St James's Room at Pall Mall at 6.30pm for 6.45pm. There will be sandwiches and refreshments provided free of charge. Please email Robin Kilborn at robinkilborn@aol.com with your name and that of your partner by Thursday 23 June since the first round draw will take place during bridge that evening. If you cannot play on Tuesday 28 June you can still enter but you will need to organise and play your first round match by the end of July and should let Robin know that you will not be playing on Tuesday 28 June.
More than 60 exceptional scientists from around the world have been elected Fellow of the Royal Society this year. Their work spans multiple disciplines, from using AI to better detect strokes to developing new technologies for improved energy storage and expanding our understanding of genetic cancer risk factors in non-European populations.
I bet you are all wondering why I am telling you this!
Well, one of my RAC Bristol team mates and a good friend Professor Yvonne Rogers (known as “Prof” to her Bridge buddies), is in fact one of these recipients Yvonne is elected a Fellow for her pioneering contributions to the field of Ubiquitous Computing – interactive technologies and objects which can enhance our daily work and activities. Prof is one of only two woman scientists to receive this huge accolade, I am so pleased and proud of her that I had to share this wonderful news with the Pall Mall Bridge Circle.
Following on from last month I would like to tell you about two more members of our Bridge committee.
John Craggs and David Wilson: John and David are now looking after our students. It is very important to our Bridge Circle that we nurture our students as they are the future of Bridge at the Club. To that end they have come up with some useful new initiatives. Each member of the Committee is going to visit the Beginners’ class and talk to the students about their “journey” through learning and joining the Thursday evening Duplicate games. The Upstairs/Downstairs matches are going to be played twice a year so that we all get a better chance to meet each other. We have a wonderful new teacher coming to teach our Beginners in October, and John and David have arranged a great Beginners’ Weekend in September. There are other initiatives in the pipeline, and I am really pleased as a former student that John and David are taking their welfare so seriously.
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 Club to your profile.
Sunday Bridge at Pall Mall, as well as our regular Thursday evening Duplicate we play Bridge on a Sunday Afternoon once a month. We start at 2.30pm and play 24 hands. Do come along and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of Bridge with Club members and non-member friends. All dates are on Bridge Webs, but as a rule of thumb we always play on the last Sunday on the month.
In addition to the above, there is a full Intermediate and Beginner Programme run by our brilliant teacher Anne Catchpole.
I advise all players to visit the Club BridgeWebs page often as any news will be put on there throughout the month, and I hope to add a list on the front page of all our forthcoming events this year.
I have been talking to a charming gentleman at the University Club in New York. When I last stayed there just before the pandemic, I happened upon one of the smartest Bridge Rooms I have ever seen. We are hoping to arrange an annual tournament with this reciprocal club, and I am very happy to say that we are close to finalising details for a team to come to London in September. This means next year 2023 we will be invited to the City That Never Sleeps to play at the really beautiful University Club! I am aware that this is over a year away but if anyone is thinking of arranging a holiday in the USA, you might want to think about joining us in Manhattan to play Bridge. I have to say I am very biased as I love New York and think I have visited the city more than 25 times, yes there is much to do there. There are many reciprocal clubs all over the States and they are very inexpensive to stay at and the ones I have visited are really special. If you are interested I would be grateful if you could let me know and I would also be happy to answer any questions you have.
Date for your Diary
Tuesday 28 June: Cotton Cup commences, details to follow.
Sunday 10 July: The Pall Mall Bridge Group Annual Lunch.
To be held at Woodcote park. I know this is some way ahead but always good to get the date into one’s diary. There will be copious amounts of really good food, great company, a large screen to watch the Men’s Final at Wimbledon - always good for non-playing long suffering partners. There will also be a few Bridge tables for anyone who feels the need to play a few hands of cards.
Sunday 30 October: Ros and Bob Bowman Championship Pairs.
Monday 7 November: The Centenary Cup will be taking place at Pall Mall.
Best wishes
Fiona McWatters
Vice Chairman
Bridge Activity Committee, Pall Mall
bridge-pmcommittee@royalautomobileclub.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last updated : 31st May 2022 10:11 BST |
|
|
|
| MATCH REPORT RAC PALL MALL v RAC WOODCOTE PARK |
On 18th May the RAC Houses met at pall Mall for their yearly friendly match. In a very convivial atmosphere and after a super lunch, Pall Mall beat Woodcote Park by a not better identified score of 90 plus.
The Pall Mall players were Marina, Terry, Colin, Pralab, Oliver, Howard W., David Ma. and Pauli.
Thank you Chef the scallops were exquisite.
Marina
|
|
| Last updated : 24th May 2022 09:19 BST |
|
|
|
| MATCH REPORT RAC v CUMBERLAND CLUB |
We played the Cumberland Club in the Terrace Room on the 11th May. The last time we played the Cumberland face-to-face was three years ago in May 2019. According to Marina’s records, the RAC team lost by 6 IMPs.
So what happened this time?
I am sorry to say that we lost again!
16 IMPs down at the halfway point and finally down 21 IMPS. Although not a great result, we had a great evening.
Delightful guests, excellent food and wine, and lots of enjoyable bridge. The RAC Team was John C and Pascale, Lester and Robin, David W and Pearse, and Paul M and Charito.
John Craggs
|
|
| Last updated : 19th May 2022 09:18 BST |
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
| Last updated : 28th Apr 2022 12:53 BST |
|
|
|
| MATCH CALENDAR |
2022
MAY:
Wednesday 11 - at Pall Mall, RAC v the Cumberland Club RAC team: John C (Captain), Pascale, Paul M. Yvonne, Robin, Lester, Pearse and David W
Wedneday 18 - at Pall Mall, RAC v Woodcote Park RAC Pall Mall team: Pralab, Colin, Howard W, Oliver, David Ma, Pauli, Terry, Marina (poss. Captain). Our friends from Woodcote Park with be: Stewart Broome, John Seiden, Sally and Paul Found, Margaret Trepant, Janette Beinart, Jill Pattison and Maggie Simmons
June:
Friday 17 - at the Automobile Club de France Paris, RAC v ACF, 1 team of 8 and 1 team of 4. No RAC players selected yet
If you are particularly interested in any of these matches please drop me a line: I would really appreciate it as I need to get 8 players for a match,
MARINA
|
|
| Last updated : 28th Apr 2022 12:52 BST |
|
|
|