Friday players have been thinking of Kate and Jerry who left for Australia a couple or so years ago.  Kate and Jerry were the backbone of the session before they left and their friendliness and enthusiasim is one of the key reasons the Friday session survived at all about 10 years ago.  News from them is:

All people on holiday in the area of Kiama have been advised to return home immediately. There was a grid lock on the motorway yesterday of 200 kilometres. You have to carry water and food in case you get stuck.

Today is Sat (4.1.2020) and all local events have been cancelled due to the expected temperature of 48 degrees!  This is a very strange country but we still love it.

We would be in the pool cooling off if the surface temperature was not so hot, you burn! You can’t even drink cold water from the tap as it is disgustingly warm. Thank goodness we invested in a fridge that dispenses cold water and ice.

We do hope all the bridge players are well and a Very Happy New Year to you all.

The festive season was marked with several events, Robin's lesson group started the ball rolling on December 12th, then the Friday night session on December 13th, the afternoon players on December 16th and finally the main club party on December 19th.

The main club party on Thursday 19th December was very successful and many thanks are due to those who prepared the food, largely a new team this year led by Carol, John for laying on the drinks and Ivor for organising a fun movement where everyone had 18 different partners. Missing was the club photographer, we wish him well and hope to see him back at the bridge table very soon. Sadly only one picture taken by stand in photographer to cover all the events! 

The Committee are pleased to announce that Ivor Clarke has been invited to become an Honorary Life Member of the Club, in recognition of his 25 years as a Director and many other services to the Club, and that Ivor has accepted the Club's invitation.

Robin offered sincere thanks to Terry for all his help with the Thursday Lessons in the last year. Also, many thanks for the super food and wine/drinks brought by the pupils.  When the results are viewed you will see an "information" tab at the top  right hand end (ranking, scorecards, matrix, travellers, hands, information), click to get Robin's commentary on the hands. Please take time to read the commentary to get the most from taking part in the event, Robin has gone to great lengths to produce the commentary.  This "information" feature for an event results listing is a first time tried by the webmaster - should it be used more often?

EBED sim pairs.

The AGM took place on Tuesday 14th May followed by EBED sim pairs (click for the local results).   30 clubs with 460 pairs took part in the event, the positions of the top two pairs at Stafford were reversed in the overall results such is sometimes the way of things in sim pairs events.  Indeed the pair who were ninth at Stafford were the third placed Stafford pair in the overall results.  Thanks are due to Terry for organising and directing the event.

Annual Dinner and Prize Giving - Sunday 12th May.

The dinner and prize giving took place at the Chase Golf Club as last year.  Janet presented the prizes and David acted as club photographer.  If anyone would like a full size copy of one of the pictures please contact David meanwhile the full set of pictures can be seen by clicking here.  If viewed on a tablet rather than a computer best to enlarge the screen view itself rather than "touching" the individual thumbnails.

Following the recent club TD training course at the club the results have finally come through, 11th February, (assessment done on January 12th) 2019 and it is good news we now have 5 new directors.  Please give them a warm welcome.

Stone Match - Friday 26th April 2019

2 teams of 8 together with a team of 4 from the lessons took part in this most enjoyable friendly match laid on by Stone bridge club. The scoring and movement along the lines of the County Dawes events, new to most of those taking part, thanks to Kath, John and Nigel everything went very smoothly (Stafford players had the easy option sitting still throughout).  Each pair in each team were to play 6 boards against each pair in the opposing team and score up against both opposite numbers.  Sadly the final 6 boards had to be abandonned as time ran out.  Honours about even, one Stafford team won and one lost with the group from the lessons being won by the Stone team. Perfectly timed to coincide with the motor bike event in Stafford.  Matches against Stone were a regular event until about three years ago when a mutually convenient date could not be found.  Stafford has a lot to live up to in 2020, a wonderful "light supper" was laid on by Stone.  Many thanks to Kath and Stone members for their hospitalilty and organisation.

Away Weekend 12th - 15th April 2019

A good time was had by all at Crabwall Manor Hotel near Chester.  Very comfortable hotel (with interesting layout), great organisation for the bridge sessions (what a lot of work David puts in), many thanks to Pat and John for the initial effort in finding the hotel, and so much to see in the surrounding area.  Click here for the pictures.

All bridge sessions are now running following a show of hands for the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day sessions to go ahead. Lessons restart on Thursday 3rd January.

Christmas events

A number of festive events were held at the club, in particular the club Christmas party on Tuesday 18th December where Janet and her helpers, Pat A, Pat M, Pam and Adrienne, provided an excellent meal. David organised a teams event with Ivor & Liz and Ann & John coming first, Garry & Terry, Mike & Robin second and Alan & Rachael and Sandra & Ernie third.  Picture shows the club party in full swing with players from all sessions present. Other parties have been the Wednesday afternoon party on the 12th, Thursday morning lessons on the 13th and the Friday evening party (picture shows the winning team) on the 14th. The Wednesday players produced a great spread for the occasion and wished Malcolm bon voyage to his new home in Yorkshire. Robin's lesson group on the 13th were a full 5 tables, played a movement with specially selected hands to reflect the lessons covered over the term, pupils laid on some lovely "eats" and a good time was had by all. On the 14th David organised a fun teams event with 9 teams for experienced masters, regular Friday players and new players moving up from the classes to a club session for the first time.

I sent £361.52 to ECats for Children in Need – with love from Stafford Bridge Club . This is the reply: “And our love to you Adrienne – that’s a marvellous amount isn’t it ! Wow Thank you very much – you will thank your members for turning up and support all so brilliantly won’t you? They are just amazing – give them all a metaphorical hug from us! With warmest best wishes Anna & Mark The ECatsBridge Team” Adrienne Jones (Treasurer)

The late Geoff Thomas made the club a generous donation in his will.  This has been used to purchase a trophy for the winners of the 65 club competition and Adrienne has had the cup engraved with the names of the past winners.

Geoff played primarily at Wolverhampton but also at Stafford on Wednesday afternoons, with Peter Tallon, Audrey Clarke, Sylvia Hilton, Polly Green and Peggie McCombie.  Geoff also played in the SSCBA league and came occasionally to the Stafford American Suppers.

Pat’s presentation for her 80^th birthday celebration.  Wednesday afternoon players enjoyed a very merry afternoon helped by Pat’s generous hospitality of cake and sherry.

The director wanted to get to grips with scoring a teams event on the tablets - did not go according to plan but was quite enjoyed none the less. More scoring practice needed!  Players popped out at odd intervals to see if the eclipse was visible, would you believe that clouds obscured it from start to finish!

Two weeks earlier Friday night players said goodbye to Gordon, a very popular member, who has moved away after several years as a regular Friday player.

The Dinner and Prize Giving 2018 was held on 6th April 2018 at The Chase Golf Club.  A very successful event attended by many club members. Michael hosted the dinner for the first time as Chairman.  David and his camera were there of course and you can click here for the pictures. Anne Smith kindly presented the prizes.  Presentations were made to President Ivor and to David Alderson, David is moving away and leaving the club after 50 years!

The booking for 2019 has already been made for the same venue on 12th May 2019!

Away Weekend 13th - 16th April 2018

26 attended the away weekend at the Samlesbury Hotel in Preston and were joined by a local for the evenings.  Aside from the most enjoyable bridge sessions players took advantage of visiting many local attractions, some just walking distance from the hotel.  Click here for photos.  David has already investigated going back to the same area next year, maybe even to the same hotel. 

Shrewsbury Open Swiss Pairs  - Sunday 4th March

Another very enjoyable blue pointed event at Radbrook Community Centre, SY3 6DZ with a superb afternoon tea.  For pictures and results click here.

Championship Pairs (Previously known as the Bearn) - Sunday 18th March.

This event at Wolverhampton, previously known as the Bearn, was badly affected by the weather, snow and ice mid-March would you believe! The winners are eligible to play in the national competition, The Corwen Trophy on 2nd and 3rd June, and well placed pairs to play in the Edgar Foster cups in September.  Two SBC members took part despite the weather.

No Fear Pairs

9 Stafford players, 8 from Robin's lessons, took part in the No Fear Pairs on Thursday 22nd February with Ann and Rose winning EW.