Wimbledon Bridge Club
Release 2.19r
BULLETIN

Special events for March are now open for booking

WIMBLEDON BRIDGE CLUB
WIMBLEDON BRIDGE CLUB

Welcome to Wimbledon Bridge Club, one of the best bridge clubs in the UK, catering for players of all abilities. Visiting players are most welcome, please do join us for a session.  There is generally a host to make up numbers, so visitors don't need a partner to come along, but please check on the calendar.   Click here to see the regular playing schedule for our session times and descriptions, including sessions for beginners and novices, so you can select a session appropriate to your level.  The club no longer accepts cash so visitors should bring a debit card for payments.  We use Bridgemates and computer scoring so the results are available immediately after the session finishes.  We are affiliated to the English Bridge Union and Master Points are awarded for all duplicate sessions.  Special events are held throughout the year.

We offer a complete learning programme for all levels from complete beginners to intermediate players.  Our team of experienced teachers will guide you through the fundamentals of this endlessly fascinating game.  Please click here if you would like to register interest in learning, Or scroll down for current courses available.

SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR

The Calendar of Special Events for September 2024 to August 2025 is available.  Click here to view online.  Printed copies can be collected from the club.  Please make a note of club competitions and other special events in your diary.

CONTACT US

For general enquiries:
Email manager@wimbledonbridgeclub.co.uk
Phone the club on 020 8947 0147 during opening hours (see calendar below)
For urgent matters only outside opening hours:
Phone Janet on 07890 024 172

For Learning Bridge enquiries:
Email teaching@wimbledonbridgeclub.co.uk
Phone the club on 020 8947 0147 during opening hours

Or phone Hilary on 07816 982 030

Weekly updates are sent by email to all members. If you don’t receive these updates, please check we have your correct email address on the membership database

Results
Saturday pm Duplicate
Dir: Alan Wakenshaw
Host: Alistair Brown
Friday am Duplicate - 18 boards
Dir: Harriet Chappell
Host: Charles Dixon
Friday pm Duplicate
Dir: Jane Carpenter
Host: Meeka Burke
Friday pm Online Duplicate
Dir: Stefan
Thursday am Supervised Duplicate
Dir: David Korman
Host: Dave/Ann
Thursday pm Duplicate
Dir: Calum Stewart
Host: Martin Lee
Mini Duplicate
Dir: Calum Stewart
Wednesday am Duplicate - Ploughmans
Dir: Shirley
Host: Guy Boden
Martin Warner Cup Week 2
Dir: Calum Stewart
Host: Pramila Muthiah
Tuesday eve Duplicate
Dir: Alan Wakenshaw
Host: Dolly Ahmed
Calendar
Sat 22nd Feb 2025
Supervised Play
14:00
Dir: Shirley and Graham
Sun 23rd Feb 2025
EBU Masters Pairs (Green Pointed)
13:00
Dir: Steve Foster
  (Partner?)
Mon 24th Feb 2025
Monday pm Supervised Play
12:30
Dir: Martha
Mon 24th Feb 2025
Monday pm Online Duplicate
14:00
Dir: Stefan
Tue 25th Feb 2025
Tuesday am Duplicate - 18 boards
10:30
Dir: Calum
Host: Yvonne Harty
Tue 25th Feb 2025
Tuesday eve Duplicate
19:30
Dir: Alan
Host: Wanted NGS 6+
Wed 26th Feb 2025
Wednesday am Duplicate - Ploughmans
11:00
Dir: Shirley
Host: Jane Turner
Thu 27th Feb 2025
Thursday am Supervised Duplicate
10:30
Dir: Ann/Dave
Host: Dave/Ann
Thu 27th Feb 2025
Thursday pm Duplicate
13:30
Dir: Vaughan
Host: Sue Perin
Thu 27th Feb 2025
Mini Duplicate
19:30
Dir: Calum
Visitors and Members welcome at all sessions - Please call 020 8947 0147 for any queries
SPECIAL EVENTS - COMING SOON

Save the Dates!

February 2025
Tue 18 10:30 Martin Warner Cup Week 2
Sun 23 13:00 EBU Master Pairs (Green Pointed Event)  Bookings closed.   If you would like to be on a wait list for a cancellation please Click here

March 2025
Tue 4 19:00 Cheese and Wine Tuesday and EBU Club Stratified Sims
Thu 6 13:30 EBU Club Stratified Sims
Sat 8 18:30 Marietta Curry Night Click here to book
Wed 12 19:00 Gwyneth Sather Cup (Novice Championship) Click here to enter
Sun 23 11:00 Peel Bowl (Ladies’ Pairs Championship)  Click here to enter
Sun 23 11:00 Jim Ratcliffe Cup (Men’s Pairs Championship)  Click here to enter
Fri 28 18:30 Play with a Club Expert (Extra event, not in original calendar)
Mon 31 Autumn/Winter Ladders Finish

April 2025
Tue 1 Summer Ladders Start
Tue 1 19:00 Cheese and Wine Tuesday
Wed 2 19:00 Hilary Stewart Cup (Improvers Championship)
Fri 18 11:00 Hetty Van Os Trophy (Individual Championship) with lunch
Sun 27 13:00 Blue Pointed Swiss Pairs

Click HERE for the Calendar of Special Events to August 2025

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2025
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2025

Save the dates for the members' only Championships:

Tue 11 and 18 February 10:30 Martin Warner Cup (NGS <9) No booking required.  All welcome to play in the session but only those meeting the entry requirements are eligible to win the Championship.
Wed 12 March 19:00 Gwyneth Sather Cup (Novice Championship) (<500 MPs and NGS <4)
Sun 23 March 11:00 Peel Bowl (Ladies’ Pairs Championship) (Open to all lady members)
Sun 23 March 11:00 Jim Ratcliffe Cup (Men’s Pairs Championship) (Open to all gentlemen members)
Wed 2 April 19:00 Hilary Stewart Cup (Improvers Championship) (<5,000 MPs and NGS <6)

Fri 18 April 11:00 Hetty Van Os Trophy (Individual Championship) with lunch (Open to all members)
Tue 6 May 19:30 Bartlett Bowl (Mixed Pairs Championship) (Open to all members, partnerships must consist of one lady and one gentleman) No booking required.  All welcome to play in the session but only those meeting the entry requirements are eligible to win the Championship. 
Tue 13 May 19:30 Karlsen Cup (Pivot Teams Championship) (Open to all members)

* To enter a members’ only competition, both players must have been members of the club for at least three months prior to the date of the event.

EBU MASTERS PAIRS 23 February 2025
EBU MASTERS PAIRS 23 February 2025

WBC are delighted to be holding a heat of the EBU Masters pairs at 1pm on Sunday 23 February 2025.  This is a national green pointed event exclusively for less experienced players.  It's a great opportunity to play in a national event in the familiar surroundings of your local club, with the chance of earning enhanced masterpoints.  Cost is just £8 pp.

To enter, you and your partner must both have a master point ranking of below Regional Master (this means: Unranked, Local Masters, Club Masters, Area Masters, District Masters, County Masters, Masters, Advanced Masters, Star Masters, Tournament Masters, Premier Masters and Premier Tournament Masters)  In addition, the event will be stratified so that approximately 50% of the National field qualifies for the B stratification and 25% for the C stratification. No players with hidden NGS will be able to be in the B or C strat group.

Bookings closed.   If you would like to be on a wait list for a cancellation please Click here

Please click here for more details (EBU competition page)

Marietta Curry Night Sat 8th March 6pm for 6:30pm

Booking is open for the annual curry night, in memory of Marietta Andree, who was manager of the club for many years.  Marietta was from Sri Lanka and loved fiery curries, though we have chosen a menu to appeal to a range of tastes, extra chilli sambal is provided!

Doors will open on Saturday 8th March at 6pm, to allow you to get a drink from the bar before the buffet service begins at 6:30pm.  Bridge will start as soon as dinner is cleared away and we plan to finish by 10/10:15pm.  There will be separate sections for duplicate bridge (18-20 boards) and supervised play with Terry.

Please click here for menu and booking.

LEARN AND PLAY SESSIONS
LEARN AND PLAY SESSIONS

FACE TO FACE LEARNING SESSIONS:

WBC offer a range of face to face play sessions suitable for all levels.  We encourage beginners and improvers to attend at least one play session a week to practice and consolidate what has been covered in lessons.
Monday afternoons 12:30pm -
 Supervised Play  Bid and play at your own pace with guidance if wanted.  All levels

Thursday mornings 10:30am -  
Supervised Duplicate  12 to 15 boards are played in a competitive format with guidance if wanted.  Improvers/Intermediate
Thursday evenings 7:30pm -
Mini Duplicate Introduction to duplicate. 10 to 12 boards in a competitive format with guidance and review of selected hands.  Beginners/Improvers
Saturday afternoons 2pm -
Supervised Play  Bid and play at your own pace with guidance if wanted.  All levels
Hosts are available at all sessions so you do not need to come with a partner
No booking required.
When you are ready, our shorter 18-Board Duplicate sessions on Tuesday and Friday mornings are suitable for novice pairs.

ONLINE LEARNING SESSIONS (with Richmond Bridge Club) Click here for the RBC website

Supervised Play sessions run weekly on Wednesday mornings, 10:30am-12:30pm on RealBridge.  There is no need to book, just click on the link on the RBC website about 10 minutes before the start of play and you’ll be taken to the RealBridge login page.  Enter your full name and EBU number to log in to the session.  Cost is £6 per session which will be charged to your WBC member’s account.

Three board reviews with Tim Chanter, Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am.  Suitable for improvers.  If you wish to attend, simply click this Zoom link from 10.20 for a 10.30 kick off (no pre booking is required).  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86037429431  If you cannot make it, but wish to be copied in on the recording and the commentaries then please let Tim know to add you to the distribution list.  The session will take about 1 hour and costs £5.  There will be a follow up of answers to the quiz.

Here are our Monday afternoon players enjoying their game!

WINTER 2025 COURSES BOOKING NOW!!
WINTER 2025 COURSES BOOKING NOW!!
We offer a complete learning programme for all levels from complete beginners to intermediate players

Don't see the course you want? CLICK HERE TO REGISTER INTEREST IN LEARNING.
For more information on our learning programme, take a look at the Learning at WBC section of the website.  If you need advice, please email teaching@wimbledonbridgeclub.co.uk 

Course Schedule January to March 2025
Classes start from 9th January, Half term w/c 17 February.  Last lessons w/c 24 March.

Open Morning

 

FREE, drop in session - come and meet the teachers and find out about what makes bridge the most brilliant card game ever.  Taster games available,  no need to book.

Tea/coffee and cake available.

"Bridge helps you think. It's a game you can play your entire life and keep getting better and better."  Bill Gates

Saturday 11 January 10am to 1pm
Beginning Bridge Term 1 with Terry Suitable for complete beginners.  Rules, card play, scoring, tactics and basic bidding.

Mondays 19:00
starts 13th Jan

Click HERE to Book
Beginning Bridge Term 2  with Terry

Continue learning bidding sequences, declarer play and defence techniques

Mondays 10:30
starts 13th Jan
Click HERE to book
Beginning Bridge Term 2 with Hilary

Thursdays 19:00
starts 16th Jan

Click HERE to book
Refresh your Bridge with Lis Bingham Refresh your basic bidding and play.  Suitable for anyone who has completed the Beginners Course (1-3), returners, anyone who would like a revision of the basics.  See booking form for lesson schedule. Tuesdays 10:00
Starts 14th Jan
Click HERE to book
5 and Strong for Acol Players with Elisabeth Mathison 6-week course covering strong no trump, 5-card majors and associated conventions.  Suitable for Acol players wishing to move to "5 and strong" or seeking an understanding of the system to help in defence.  Not suitable for beginners. not running Click HERE TO register interest for a future 5 and strong course
Improve your Bridge 1 with Hilary Set 1 of the Year 2 course - planning the play, hand evaluation techniques, transfers, fourth suit forcing, defensive cards plays, more about doubles.  Improver courses are modular and can be taken in any order.  Mondays 19:00
Starts 13th Jan
Click HERE to book

Intermediate 1 with Tim and Naomi

Advance your bridge with our brand-new course designed specifically for WBC players.  Learn conventions commonly played at the club plus develop your play and defence techniques.  Suitable for club duplicate players. Fridays 10:30
Starts 17th Jan

FULL. Click HERE to go on waiting list

Intermediate 2
with Tim and Naomi
NEW COURSE

Advance your bridge with our brand-new course designed specifically for WBC players.  Learn conventions commonly played at the club plus develop your play and defence techniques. Suitable for club duplicate players.

Mondays 13:30
starts 13th Jan

FULL.  Click HERE to go on waiting list

Many games provide fun, but Bridge grips you. It exercises your mind. Your mind can rust, you know, but Bridge prevents the rust from forming.”  – Omar Sharif

Members' Account Balances
Members' Account Balances

To receive an Email of your balance and statement of activity, please enter your EBU number and click.
Payments into your account do not appear immediately, so recent payments may not show for a week or so.



 

 

PIANOLA

Login to Pianola

Get more information about your game: Personal results history; Your average score with different partners; Your score as declarer, defender - even dummy(!).
Find partners and play more bridge using our innovative partner-finder.
Share your contact details with other people in the club.

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ONLINE BRIDGE SCHEDULE
ONLINE BRIDGE SCHEDULE

Online Schedule:
Monday 14:00
Friday 14:00

The games are listed as MBC & WBC.  All games are 18-board duplicates with Master Points.  NGS calculated if sufficient players are EBU members.

Going to be LATE?
Going to be LATE?

If you are going to arrive later than 10 mins before the start of the session, it is essential that you call the club on 0208 947 0147  at least 15 minutes beforehand so that you can be included in the movement. If you don't do this you may not be able to play.

Best Behaviour at Bridge
Best Behaviour at Bridge

Regular sessions at WBC are intended to provide a friendly and enjoyable environment to play the game of Bridge, and members should conduct themselves in the spirit of this aim.  If you feel you have been affected by anything at the table that is not in the spirit of the Best Behaviour at Bridge code then the director should be called immediately.  The other players should not retaliate or enter into an argument or discussion.  Please click here to see the BB@B code.
It is hoped that most incidents can be resolved at the time.  If any player wishes to make a formal complaint, they should do so at the time so that the director can complete the appropriate report, which must be signed by all parties.  Where the incident occurs outside a play session or, if occurring at a play session is, for a valid reason not reported to the director, it must be reported in writing (or via e-mail) to the Chair or Secretary of the Club within two weeks of the incident.

Surrey County Bridge Association
Surrey County Bridge Association

SCBA supports and promotes bridge in Surrey.

Click here for the SCBA home page

In Memoriam
In Memoriam

We are very sad to report the recent deaths of two of our long standing members.

Jean Williams passed away at the end of January.  Her son, Peter wrote to tell us "Both my mother and father spent many a happy morning at the club and since covid mum played regularly on-line. After my father passed away in 2023 and my mother’s mobility reduced the on-line bridge provided her with welcome stimulation and contact with friends”.  We send our condolences to Jean's family and friends.

Pari Datta passed away unexpectedly in February after a battle with pneumonia, with his family by his side.  Pari played regularly at the club with Ali Baig, usually on Thursday afternoon.  We send our condolences to his wife Mariette, and their children Sara-Ann and Mark. 

CONGRATULATIONS
Martin Warner Cup Winners

Congratulations to Grace Bartlett and Lindsay Battison who are the winners of the Martin Warner Cup 2025.  Grace and Lindsay scored an average of 60.2% over the two Tuesday mornings sessions of the competition.  Second place were last year's winners, Sue Perin and Karen Fearon with 59.95%

Blue Pointed Swiss Pairs 16 February

Thank you to all who took part in the latest Wimbledon Blue Pointed Swiss Pairs.  It was a pleasure to see regular supporters and some new faces.  Congratulations to the winners:  joint first Eduard Malhasyan and Mobin Raman, Croz Croswell and Sharon Winton, third David Arundel and Andrew Bannock and the highest placed non experts Rodney Meredith and Claire Martin.  Thank you to Ellen and Philip for the catering, to Richard for directing.

Pictured are the winners, with TD Richard, we didn't manage to catch Andrew before he went home!  Prize money will be credited to members' accounts or by bank transfer for non-members.

 

Bochsler Cup Winners
Bochsler Cup Winners

Congratulations to Elisabeth Bingham, Richard Banbury, Malcolm and Diane Bricknell who are the winners of the Teams Championship for the Bochsler Cup, held on Sunday 2nd February.  They go forward to represent the club in the Surrey Wanborough Cup in June.

Going into the final round, the Bingham, Mathison and Chappell teams were in joint first place so there was all to play for.  Chappell (Harriet, John Brierley, Vaughan Bishop and Sandra Grossman finished third).  Elisabeth Mathison, Alan Wakenshaw, Mike Skelly and Wendy Lancaster finished in joint first place but the overall winners were decided on the split tie rules.

Gullick Cup Pairs Championship

Congratulations to Judi Lawson and Dan O'Farrell who are the winners of the Gullick Cup Club Pairs Championship held on Sunday 19th January.  We had a record number of entrants - thank you all for playing. Judi and Dan will go on to represent the club at Surrey's Mary Edwards Cup on 11 May 2025.

Master Point Rank Promotions and NGS Increases
Master Point Rank Promotions and NGS Increases

Congratulations to our members listed below who have attained a Master Point promotion in December:

Richard Hazell  1 Star Premier Master
Graham Long  Master
Tessa Clarke  County Master
Graham Balin  County Master
Frank Callaghan  District Master
Mark Carpenter  District Master
Brendan Doolan  District Master
Jeremy Sumeray  Area Master
Ian McDonald  Area Master
Sebastian Sinclair  Area Master
Pam Semmens  Club Master
Farida Lodhi  Club Master

Congratulations to members who achieved an increase in their NGS in December:
Top 40 NGS Increases for Surrey Members:
> Month
> Annual

Click here to see the EBU Master Point Ranks and NGS Bands

Congratulations Class of December 2024!

Congratulations to all those who completed a year's course in Beginning Bridge or Improve your Bridge in December.

Now the hard work is over, the fun can begin and for many of our graduating students, the fun began at the Christmas FunBridge Party.  After a delicious buffet, and a glass of wine, students were presented with course completion certificates and then settled down to an evening of FunBridge (with help from Terry, Calum, Tim, Naomi, Martha and Hilary).  A total of 20 tables played with many of the graduating students winning prizes (including Liza who won the bottle of processo for bidding a slam!) 
Thanks to everyone who came and we hope to see you playing at the club.  Sessions that are suitable for Beginners are Monday afternoons, Thursday mornings and evenings and Saturday afternoons and for Improving players, try a Tuesday or Friday morning.

Congratulations to:
Beginning Bridge: Alison Reilly, Kimberly Shaw, Laura Gupta, Liza Hallinan, Maurice Woolf, Pankaj Amin, , Anne Rees, Peter Rees, Agnes Carswell, Anna Smyth, Ed Coombs, Fiona Ryan, Andrew Howard-Smith, John Highwood, Louise Village, Nick Anderson, Richard Cochrane, Anne-Marie Mackinson
Improve your Bridge: 
Alison Morris, Annabelle Tym, Anneli Collins, Helen Dyson, James Whiteley, John Hicks, Boksoo Chalk, Kirsty Hill, Liz Hearle, Malcolm Allitt, Margaret Widdicombe, Mark Reece, Mike Tweedale, Richard Guest, Rima Burgess, Steve Humphries, Ved Sharma, Yolanda Sanchez

   

Championship and Ladder Winners 2025

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Championships
Gullick Cup (Blue Pointed Pairs Championship): Judi Lawson and Dan O'Farrell
Bochsler Cup (Teams Championship)Elisabeth Bingham, Richard Banbury, Malcolm and Diane Bricknell

 

Competition and Ladder Winners 2024
Competition and Ladder Winners 2024

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Championships
Gullick Cup (Blue Pointed Pairs Championship).  Lars McBride and John Edwards
Bochsler Cup (Teams Championship).  Andrew Bannock, John Dagnall, Conor Murphy and Imogen Davies
Martin Warner Cup (Tuesday morning Championship).  Sue Perin and Karen Fearon
Gwyneth Sather Cup (NGS <6 Championship). Mary Dickens and Rosemary Hickson
Peel Bowl (Ladies’ Pairs Championship).  Janet Cahm and Hilary Stewart
Jim Ratcliffe Cup (Men’s Pairs Championship).  Andrew Bannock and John Dagnall.
Hetty Van Os Trophy (Good Friday Individual Championship).  David Champion
Improvers Cup (NGS < 8 Championship).  Eric Humphrey and Veronica Kerslake
Bartlett Bowl (Mixed Pairs Championship) - Wendy Lancaster and Peter King
Karlsen Cup (Pivot Teams Championship) - Roger Pratt, Elisabeth Bingham, Henryk Klocek and Martha Jaynes
Marietta Andree Memorial Swiss Pairs Trophy.  P
eter King and Alan Wakenshaw
Marietta Andree Memorial Swiss Pairs Award (NGS <9)  Pat Brown and Penny Brown

Scott Mitchell Trophy for the Charity Pairs.  Paul Gibbons and Sharon Bayne

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023/24 Ladders (Sept to March 2024)
The Peggy Griffin Ladder (all full sessions): Calum Stewart and Janet Cahm
The Don King Ladder (Tuesday morning): Lynda Melly and Susan Michie
Norman Robson Ladder (Tuesday evening): Janet Cahm
Bill Medd Ladder (Wednesday Ploughman's): Janet Cahm
Doreen Charteris Cup (Thursday afternoon):  June Middleton
Robert Pope Ladder (Friday morning): Tanya Heasman
Winter Novice Ladder: Bozena Zegarlinska

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Summer Ladders (April to August 2024)
Summer Ladder: Janet Cahm
Summer Morning ladder: Gina Chulack
Summer Supervised Ladder: Kirsty Hill and Liz Hearle