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SATURDAY and MONDAYRUBBER BRIDGE CANCELLED

If you have had any gastric symptoms please stay away from the club for at least 5 days. On arrival at the club all players should wash their hands with soap and hot water.

Lots of exciting news for the Club next year firstly though,

Evening Sessions

We understand the evenings are now drawing in but the committee would love to see more of you particularly to strengthen the attendance on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Evenings.

Remember there is always a warm welcome for all members.

Saturday Night Bridge

We will be reverting back to the 1st Saturday in 2026.

   Teams League Update 

Wednesday, 10th December saw the fourth and final trial event for the club's proposed teams league.

Sickness reduced the field to seven teams but a spirited and enjoyable competition took place and victory on the night went to Tricia Roberts and Linda Thompson paired with Paul Mason and Julian Porter.

Overall, the competition could not have been closer.  With 43 pts over the four sessions, the team led by Carole French edged passed Mark Hopkins and his teammates by a mere half a point!  A gap then to Mary Perkin and her squad, once again, a half point only ahead of Nigel Riley and co.

The club hopes to run a more formal competition next year but WE NEED MORE PARTICIPANTS.

The final competition demonstrated the need for reserves.  Teams need to be selected from a squad of at least six players to allow for unavailability.  So, if the league is to go ahead we require more people to enter.  If we don't have enough starters to make a viable league, then this scheme will falter. If you've not yet entered and you enjoyed the trial please don't hesitate and put your name on the list in the club, everyone is welcome with or without a partner.

Closing Times

24th December - Closed

25th December - Closed

26th December - Closed

27th December - Closed

28th December - Closed

29th December - Normal Session

30th December - Normal Session

31st December - Closed

1st January - Closed

Sessions will resume as normal from 2nd January with Saturday Night Bridge on 3rd January

New for 2026

Relaxed Sunday Afternoon Bridge

From 25^th January 2026 we will be holding Sunday afternoon bridge starting at 2.00pm

All members of all abilities will be very welcome. There will be no NGS ranking nor Master Points.

This will be something to look forward to in the New Year.

Joan Parr Competition

Sunday, 18^th January 2026 at 10.30am

This is an all day event with a light lunch provided

A list will go up nearer the time, please be sure to add your name.

As a Christmas treat, we are giving you not one but two top tips this month (I know, I know, we are spoiling you!)

Top Tip #1 If a dummy does not place cards correctly, it can lead to irregularities in the game. The dummy's role is to play the cards as directed by the declarer, and if dummy is displayed incorrectly so that all the cards are not visible or a card is in the wrong suit, this is an irregularity and if, as a result, the defenders are damaged, redress should be applied by the director.

Simply, any tricks that were won that would not have been won in normal play will be transferred because there is no responsibility in law for the defending side to count the cards in dummy. Redress is appropriate because if an irregularity damages the defenders, equity should be restored. For those interested in the detail Laws 12A1, 41D, and 64B and C apply.

Top tip #2 A player can take as long as they like when deciding whether to bid. However, if your partner hesitates for a long time and then passes, you know that he has values and is close to bidding. You must not use this information.

Any bid you make must be based solely on the cards you hold. If you bid, resulting in your opponents receiving a bad score, they can call the director.

If the director decides that the hesitation occurred and that there was a reasonable alternative (usually a pass) to the bid you made, the director will give an adjusted score. The directors decision to give an adjusted score does not imply that you were cheating, nor that your partner was at fault for hesitating.

We now have a club Facebook page. If you are a member of Facebook, please 'like', 'follow' and 'share'. This will help to promote our club and attract new members.