Finally, I can believe that spring has at last sprung!  The sun has been shining, the bulbs are now flowering, the trees are bursting their buds, the clocks have gone forwards and, at last, we can all enjoy the wonderful fresh spring views from the Cedar Room across the fairways!   Oh great joy, my favourite time of year and my absolute favourite seasonal view at the club.  How fortunate we are to be able to play bridge in such a splendid room with fantastic views across the Cedar Lawn and golf courses beyond. 

Woodcote Bridge Circle have had a busy time since Christmas, lots has gone on.  The ever-popular Andrew Robson Day event took place in February.  I am pleased to report that this was a very well supported and happy day which was spent amongst friends, members and their guests.  Andrew Robson OBE who, with his lovely sense of humour, ensured that everyone went home having learnt something new.  This a not-for-profit event and the Club through the Woodcote Bridge Circle’s efforts was able to donate the amazing sum of £4,368.45 to The Royal Marsden Hospital.  This is a record amount raised.  The club over the last 12 years has raised over £40,000 for this worthy charity.  Well done everyone, especially Sue Forbes-Wilson and Jill Namey who so efficiently organised this event.  My personal thanks to you all for your generous support for this very deserving charity.  The Woodcote Bridge Committee truly do appreciate you all.  

Amanda Miles, one of our committee members, has prepared a short video of our bridge circle members in action.  It is fun and captures the mood of our bridge circle.  The clip can be found on the club’s main website for members under ‘Activities’ once you have logged in. https:www/royalautomobileclub.co.uk/activity-group/bridge/woodcote-park-bridge

So far this year we have entered bridge teams in two competitions.  In February we took part in a match hosted by the MCC at Lords.  I am delighted to report that Woodcote Bridge Circle enjoyed an excellent evening with a delicious dinner served after the match, which we won by 35 IMPS!  Unfortunately, we were not quite so successful against The Dell (an away match) and lost by 112 IMPS, bad luck team, better luck next time!  We can’t win them all……… The April match against Pall Mall at home was postponed until later in the year as one of Pall Mall’s team was unwell at the last minute.  There are further matches planned for later in the year, both home and away,  sign up sheets will be displayed on our Notice board at Woodcote in due course so do keep an eye out and take part if you can.  

BRIDGE CLASSES

As you may be aware, Sue Jackson our Bridge Teacher at Woodcote for many years, is retiring this Easter.  We thank Sue for her skill and patience over the years and wish her a happy retirement, I understand she plans to travel further and enjoy her grandchildren.   Our bridge circle has grown thanks to Sue’s splendid encouragement to many of our bridge circle members.    

The committee carried out a detailed search for a suitable new teacher.  Luckily for Woodcote Bridge Circle, Amanda Miles, a committee member, knew of Natasha Clarke who has been trained by non-other than Andrew Robson and who has taught at his school.  Natasha is an eminently capable and suitable candidate for us.  So I am really pleased to report that  Amanda has persuaded Natasha to join us at Woodcote. We are therefore thrilled to be able to offer new bridge classes commencing in the autumn of this year.  We are offering Beginners, Intermediates and Advanced Classes.  In addition, Amanda and Natasha are hoping to hold a day’s bridge course during the coming summer months.  Further details will follow.

EBU NEWS

Recently several of our bridge circle members received written congratulations from the EBU as they achieved an average in excess of 51% on one particular duplicate evening earlier in the year.   The EBU extended invitations to those specific members to take part in an EBU run competition.  Particular congratulations should also go to Stewart Broome on gaining the highest number of EBU Master Points within our Woodcote Bridge Circle.  Stewart is invited to enter in one of the new EBU Online OneDay Green Pointed Swiss Events before 31^st December 2025 free of charge.  Brilliant Stewart! 

Duplicate Evenings at Woodcote - The new ‘EBU Pairs’ software provided by the EBU is proving to be very reliable and the club’s bridge Directors find the system far easier to use than the system previously used.  We are now looking to recruit further members to ‘work’ the laptop and to be able to set up a duplicate bridge evening.  If you would like to ‘have a go’ do volunteer and speak to one of the committee members for further information.  

EBU -  Director Training 

We are also looking to train further Bridge Directors and would like to be able to send two of our members off on a training course run by the EBU.  Initially the course would commence on-line via Zoom on - Days 0 = 4th and 5th June – mornings only, (How to run a club duplicate).  Then Day 1 = 21st June (Book Rulings) - Day 2 = 5th July (Book and Judgements rulings), and then Day 3 = 12th July (Assessment).  To take place at Woodhatch Community Centre, Whitebeam Drive, Reigate, RH2 7LS.   If you would like to take part, please let one of the committee members know.  We do need your help and for the avoidance of doubt the club budget will fund the cost.  

Dealing Machine

We have a brand-new dealing machine.  It is now working as it should with brand-new cards.  Teething problems have been overcome!  Volunteers would be welcomed to help deal the cards on a monthly basis.  A sandwich lunch is usually provided with coffee or tea so it is a sociable activity for a couple of hours whilst the cards are changed for the next month’s duplicate evenings.   Do step forward and volunteer to help the committee, we need your help. 

Etiquette and Best Practise 

In an ideal world, and certainly if taking part in a competition, we should all complete the front page of our Score Card (Bids and Conventions) giving the basic outline of the bridge system/conventions we are playing.  Ie Weak or Strong No Trump, the point count you are using.  Your strongest bid i.e. 2C or 2D, Stayman, Blackwood or RKCB etc., etc., this avoids possible misunderstandings and having to call a Director.  You may have noticed that many of our more experienced players do show a Convention Card.  We encourage everyone to complete the basics.   

Could East or West, who have just played the boards on each round, pass the boards between the tables to North.  (North or South should not collect a board to play if a board remains in play on the table from which the cards need collecting.)

We have new members playing, to be welcoming and sociable North please ensure that all players are welcomed and introduced to one another. Remember bridge is a game, smile at your partner and the opposition! 

For Dates for your Diary, Competitions, Matches and Chicago dates please see separate lists on this page.

I wish you all a very Happy Easter Holiday.  Let’s hope the sun keeps shining although, I hate to say it, I did notice the weather forecast, the gardens could do with some rain let’s hope it keeps away until after the Easter Egg hunt!  

Happy Easter everyone.  

Best wishes and kindest regards

Angela

Angela Reid

Chairperson – Woodcote Bridge Circle

Our annual teams competition was held on 28th October 2024. Congratulations to the winning team of Nigel & Heather Matthew and Dick Strattan & Chris Honeywill with an impressive winning score of 148 IMPS. All the more impressive as, at the same time, Nigel had to manage a complex movement to keep us all organised.

The Bridge Winter Social at Woodcote Park was well attended and even after an excellent meal, and a fair smattering of drink, there were still 25 tables playing Chicago bridge. Was this a record?

Chairman Angela Reid presented the various prizes and thanked Sue Forbes-Wilson for organising the event.

Monday night results. 

Commentary on Monday's hands

This was held on Monday 11th September 2024 and achieved an excellent turnout for some very worthy causes.  Altogether we raised £315 for Children in Need. 

We restarted on Tuesday 19th September with the delayed Chicago with Friends Lunch. A happy afternoon playing Chicago with Friends!  Just what Madeline and her husband, who donated the salver, enjoyed doing so much in the Cedar Room. The winners of The Dorin Salver were Julian and Elizabeth Bishop. 

Congratulations to Nigel & Heather Matthew and Sally & Paul Found on a strong win with 69 IMPS.

At the Chicago and Friends lunch on September 18th 2024 Jill Namey presented the Dorin Salver to Jo Stein and Karin Goodway. At the lunch a raffle raised £435 for Cancer Research backing the EBU’s initiative to support bridge fund raising events during September/October.  Well done RAC Woodcote Bridge Circle.

On a pleasant sunny day 28 members competed for this cup. The Golf section was won convincingly by June Hill and Jo Stein with a combined stableford score of 47 points. The Bridge winners, with 68.9%, were Nigel and Heather Matthew. When added to their golf score based on 43 stableford points they also won the overall trophy. But as we don't allow anyone to win 2 prizes, the second bridge pair, Stuart and Pauline Knee, received the bridge winners prize. 

On a cool but dry day we had an excellent turnout for our annual Golf and Bridge pairs competition in early August, with 16 pairs competing. The combined winners were Henry McWatters and Stuart Mann and with 35 points in golf and an impressive 70% in the bridge, with Dave Cowell and Katherine Kreuter winning the golf prize with 43 stableford points and Dick Stratton and Chris Honeywell winning the Bridge element (after barring Henry and Stuart from winning 2 prizes). Many thanks to Nigel for organising a most enjoyable day. The prizes will be awarded at the Winter Social.

Congratulations to Stuart Mann and Alan Torry, this year's winners of the Deeley Handicap Cup.

The Woodcote Park Bridge Circle welcomed back Andrew Robson on 23rd February 2023. Andrew has not visited Woodcote Park since prior to lock-down. 

Over 120 Members plus their Guests arrived by 10:00am to enjoy a day’s Bridge tuition where Andrew focused on conventional 2 club bids, responder bids and the increased value of "golden cards". Lunch was served at mid-day when Members were able to mingle and socialise with fellow bridge circle members and guests. The day finished around 3:30pm when we were able to confirm that we had raised over £3,060 for the Royal Marsden Hospital plus two collection buckets which have been sealed and passed on to the Marsden for them to count. Over several years Woodcote Bridge Circle has raised over £20,000 for this very worthy charity and we thank you all for your support. We have booked Andrew Robson again on 22nd February 2024.

The Woodcote Bridge Circle was well represented yesterday evening 20th May at Pall Mall’s Centenary Cup Event.  I am more than delighted to report that our team did exceptionally well and were runners up to formidable competition from teams representing the MCC, RAC Pall Mall - Blue and Red teams, The Cumberland Club, The Hurlingham Club, and The Athenaeum Club.   The successful MCC team won the cup by an amazing margin of 112 imps.  Woodcote scoring  64 imps.  Heather and Nigel Matthew were stars and named as the top pair.  Well done team Woodcote! 

Angela Reid, Chair Woodcote Park Bridge Circle

The programme of matches for 2022 

  RAC Pall Mall - Away - Wednesday 18 May - 1pm light lunch (no charge) then 24 friendly boards. Woodcote Park lost this year. 

  Guildford – Golf & Bridge Away – Friday 10 June. 4 tee times from 9.30am. RAC lost the golf and drew on the bridge.

  Roehampton – Home – Wednesday 20 July - Start time 4.30pm and Supper at 7.30pm. RAC lost.

  Burhill - Golf and Bridge Home - Friday 22nd July, 6 tee times from 9.20am, lunch 19th, Bridge  4.00-7.00pm. RAC won both the golf and bridge.

  Tandridge - Golf and Bridge Home - Thursday 4th August, 6 tee times from 9.20am, lunch 19th, Bridge in Derby Room 4.00-7.00pm - Postponed

  Effingham - Golf and Bridge Home - Friday 12 August, 4 tee times from 9.30am, late lunch 19th, Bridge in Oaks Room ending by 6.30pm. RAC won the golf and the bridge.

  Golf and Bridge Pairs Tournament - Thursday 25th August, tee times from 9.10am. The golf was rained off so the bridge was followed by a leisurely lunch.

  Roehampton – Away – Thursday 8th September – RAC again lost despite fielding a good team

  Kingswood – Home – Wednesday 21st September – RAC won two halves and lost two halves, but lost on IMPs overall.

  Royal Mid-Surrey - Away - Wednesday 12th October, after a light lunch at 1.00pm. RAC lost.

  Kingswood - Away - Wednesday 11th November, friendly league warm-up. RAC won.

We have moved from cash payments for Monday duplicate and Wednesday Chicago to charging the member’s club account. Guests will continue to be required to pay in cash. Charity events may still require cash.

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  Cup Winners 2022
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  More Winners
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  Past and present Chairmen

The Woodcote Bridge Circle held their Winter Social this week on a very wintery evening when snow and frost covered the ground.  Despite the outside conditions over 90 members of the Bridge Circle met and enjoyed a very warm and jolly evening.  We had a superb three course Christmas Dinner in the Cedar Room and were able to play Chicago bridge after coffee and mince pies were served in the Lounge.  The staff as if by magic had turned an elegant dining room, where we had been served dinner, into a room for bridge where 23 bridge tables were quickly set out for us to continue our evening playing Chicago bridge.  Altogether a happy evening in good company with lovely food and wine.

The winners of the cups were - 

Joyce Munn Pairs cup  = Jo Stein and Karin Goodway

Deeley Cup, Handicap Pairs = Mark Pattinson and John Bligh

Chicago with Friends silver salver = Sue Forbes-Wilson and John Lovesey

Centenary Pairs Cup = Marina Channing and Tony Scouller – a remarkable 62.08%

Golf and Bridge Cup = Terry Hornet and Dick Stratton 

There was a very limited programme of matches for 2021. These were:-

  Friday 14 May - Internal Golf and Bridge - won by Mike Blythe and June Hill

  Thursday 22 July -  away versus Roehampton - bridge and supper -RAC lost

  Thursday 9 September-  home versus Roehampton - bridge and supper - RAC won

  Friday 17 September - Internal Golf and Bridge - won by Stuart and Pauline Knee

  Wednesday 22 September - away versus Royal Mid Surrey - 2.00-2.15 start + afternoon tea

  Wednesday 13 October -  home versus Pall Mall - 2pm start + afternoon tea - won by Woodcote Park

Tuesday 29th October 2019 v Royal Wimbledon   Away     5pm start    Won 8 - 2

Thursday 7th November 2019 v Kingswood         Home     6pm start    Won 10 - 0

Wednesday 11th December 2019 v Epsom          Home     6pm start    Won 10 - 0

Tuesday 4th February 2020 v Woodcote Park       Away      6pm start    Won  10 - 0