Card sharps emerged from their summer hiatus last week to enjoy the start of the new Cambridge Bridge Club year.
Helping guide new learners Mathew Chestnut and Anne Tankard is bridge club teacher Pam Moore. Photo: supplied
With a barbecue meal behind them, some 60 club members filled 15 tables for the first official games of the year.
“It was brilliant to have so many members here on our opening night,” declared newly-minted club president Clare Coles. Despite having been in the club for over 20 years and being a life member, Clare hasn’t held the top slot before and is looking forward to a full year of bridge ahead.
“Our club is in great heart. We have about 180 members here … not very many bridge clubs are doing as well,” she said. “Cambridge is fabulous. There are so many ‘do-ers’ here, people who are willing to pitch in and help when needed.”
Members for a year, Ian and Raelene Taylor, seen here with bridge teacher Kim Grounds after they received a sponsor’s prize during last year’s lessons. Photo: supplied
The club’s full diary means those ‘do-ers’ are needed frequently. There are generally four bridge sessions a week – lessons and practices – for members at all levels of ability.
On top of that there are games with neighbouring clubs and around three tournaments a year, the biggest one of which is the Cambridge Sixes.
That was started by the Cambridge Bridge Club in 2013 and has become one of the biggest bridge events in the country, attracting well over 100 players to town each year.
New club president Clare Coles enjoying the Cambridge Bridge Club opening night barbecue last week. Photo: supplied
Newish members Ian Taylor and his wife Raelene have enjoyed the club’s ‘friendly and supportive atmosphere’ since joining early last year.
“During Covid, Raelene and I had developed a habit of playing a card game after lunch to pass the time,” he explained. “…when a maildrop inviting us to learn bridge appeared in our letterbox in early 2024, we decided to explore what bridge was about.
“Many people outside the bridge community seem to think of bridge as an elitist game, or one where extreme levels of cunning are needed. But the learner group that has been coached through the first year have been amazed at the coaching team’s professional and structured approach.
“We quickly realised that while we were far from ‘grandmaster’ level, our learned skills enabled us to fully participate and enjoy the game.”
Robyn Pell enjoyed a similar experience, saying: “I didn’t know anything about bridge prior to joining the lessons, and had no idea what I was signing up for. However, I am so glad that I did.”
Members kept the Cambridge Bridge Club rooms pumping on their opening night. Playing the table at front are Tony Davidson, Keira Griffiths, Jo Griffiths and Hugh Morton. Photo: supplied
