RAC defeated In & Out in our annual match of 15 July. A half time lead of just 7 Imps was converted to a 20 point win for RAC. An excellent dinner and a most friendly atmosphere contributed to a good evening. The team was Tony (Captain), Paul, Michael, Lester, John K., Mark, Terry and Marina.

At last, on 26^th June  we managed to chase away the goblins and beat the Lords Taverners, most appropriately  by the cricket score of 61 IMPs, winning all 4 sections of the game. The opposition very kindly agreed to play their away match at the RAC for which we were grateful. Well done team – I.e. Andrew, David G., Colin, Isabelle, Dorette, Robin, Terry and Marina (Captain).

RAC won both cups in this year’s encounter. The T8 by 17imps and the T4 by just 9imps. These margins over 40 boards are very small and reflect the competitive nature of the match throughout. Our guests were gracious as always but made no secret of their disappointment at the outcome! A curious feature was the lack of slam hands. There were two 50/50 which were not bid, and this one missed only once in both matches by ACF. 

Board 32 West deals and is vulnerable.

                      S.A10954                   S.KQ876

                      H.A72                         H.10

                      D.J5                             D.AK84

                       C.AK3                        C.872

Paul and I got there in just 5 bids. 1S – 4H (splinter agrees S, H shortage) – 5C (not minimum, club control, slam try). – 5D (control, any help?) 6S (yes!). on a trump lead Paul drew trumps, took the red suit cross ruff, losing a club at the end. Great fun, played in the right spirit and a pleasing end.  

The Centenary Cup for invited teams of 8 was played at the RAC on 13 May. It was won by Roehampton with 131 IMPS from RAC Blue with 122 Imps. The only two teams with positive scores. 

This was the decisive board between the two teams. It featured the Circles old weakness slam bidding.

                       S.KQJ82             S.A973

                       H.42                    H……

                       D.Q96                  D.AJ1054

                       C.AK2                  C.QJ95

South dealt and passed at Game All. The board was played 16 times and the cold slam on just three of those tables. Roehampton showed Paul and me how it should be done. West opened 1S and North bid 3H (weak) East 4H (splinter agrees S) - 4NT – 5H (two aces) and West 5S fearing a single H opposite. East with three first round controls bid the slam. All the tricks were there when the D finesse was taken. This cost 13 Imps effectively their winning margin.

It was as usual most enjoyable, with lots of old friends from the other clubs and a good dinner. Congratulations to Roehampton their first invitation and win.     

We played our annual match against the MCC in the pavilion at Lords and lost by 33 imps. The MCC have a strong contingent of regular duplicate players and no matter whom they select to face us have always managed to come out on top in their match against us. Perhaps this year it is reasonable revenge for RAC members doing so well in winning and coming second in their prestigious mixed teams competition. The MCC are excellent hosts and it is a delight to walk into Lords and make our way to the top floor room overlooking the pitch. This year dinner took place in a refurbished room where the photos of past MCC Presidents, which had adorned the walls for decades, were moved aside and replaced by an assortment of interesting cricket paintings and drawings.

The 2018 Ros and Bob Bowman Championship Pairs event went to the wire and any of the leading 5 pairs going into the final round could have won. We are delighted to report that Marina Chaning Pearce, our committee match secretary, and her partner Terry Smith crossed the line as worthy winners by one victory point with Andrew Kisiel and David Glass finishing in 4^th place. The standard of play was excellent and the competition was played in the correct spirit of fierce competitiveness and good manners at the table. Marina and Terry got off to a good start by winning the first session of 24 boards. Michael Bailey, our committee chairman, and his partner Emma McCormack came from behind to win the second session and finished in 7^th place. The banqueting team provided a splendid high tea at the halfway point and Nicole did a superb job as Tournament Director.

Congratulations to the eight RAC Intermediates who won their Pairs event against Hurlingham on November 16th at Pall Mall.   The winning score for the RAC was +10 IMPs played over 24 boards.  Captained by Roger Wolf, the RAC pairs were Isobel Pollock-Hulf, Stuart Carroll, Henry and Fiona McWatters, Ina Wolf. Our team led by 23 IMPs by the half-way point and dinner, only to see Hurlingham reduce our winning margin to 10 IMPs by the end of evening.   A return match at the Hurlingham Club was kindly offered for next summer.   Special thanks to Marina Chaning-Pearce, our Match Secretary, and Anne Catchpole, our bridge instructor, who provided organisational advice prior to the match.

We played our annual match against the Hurlingham Club, with our opponents having home advantage. However this year we played as two teams of 12 and I am delighted to report that we ran out winners by 32 Imps. Both teams fielded strong partnerships and we won due to some steady play over 24 boards, supported by a couple of chunky scores in the first half, arising from overbidding by our opponents, successfully doubled.

Our team comprises 3 teams of four as follows:

Michael (Captain) – David Ma             Dorette – Robin

Andrew – Brigitte                              Terry – Barbara

David G – Lester                               Ross – Paul  W.

One of the social highlights of the Bridge Calendar is the Café Bridge played on the 8 October. Forty pairs play 30 Boards and walk to each of the five venues on Pall Mall. The Carlton, In & Out, Reform, RAC and this year’s organising club the Athenaeum. Scores are transmitted on quality software to the Organisers and results are instantly available It is sociable and ends with drinks and dinner. It was won this year by Arun Suri and our own Tony Scouller with the huge score of 69.4%, they owned up to a lot of good luck! The club, we are pleased to note had five pairs in the top ten. In 2019 the event will be run by the Reform Club. Entries are limited so when details are published get in!

Our annual match with Olgiata Golf Club was played this year at Pall Mall, with 8 player teams competing over 40 boards for a handsome cup.  RAC was represented by Marina Chaning-Pearce, Terry Smith, Paul Weston, Ross Cope, Andrew Kisiel, David Glass, Tony Scouller and Lester Pereira

Olgiata are one of the two strongest teams we play against, and had recently been promoted to Serie B in the Italian National league. (Serie A teams are all professionals). For the last five years they have beaten us soundly. However, our team had put a lot of work rehearsing for the match, and we went into the match with fingers crossed. 

Although RAC took a lead in the first session, Olgiata proved too strong in the later sessions and finished ahead by 48 imps.  However, for RAC, there were clear signs of progress:  the overall score was a major improvement over the previous three years, and one half of the squad achieved an overall positive score.  Again, the result came from a few ‘match deciders’, to use Tony Scouller’s phrase. 

Our hospitality was greatly praised by our guests, as was Nicole’s directing, which involved her using her Italian language skills to fine effect.  Overall, we will keep our fingers crossed for next year in Rome.