The second term of classes which began in September 2024 will resume in January 2025. Catering for complete beginners and those with a little more knowledge, our classes are the perfect way to start the new year.

The Beginners' Course commences on Wednesday 8 January and the Intermediate Course commences on Tuesday 28 January. Both courses consist of 11 classes and will start at 5.00pm and finish at 7.00pm. Se your email for the exact dates.

The Course Tutor is Sue Jackson. Sue teaches ACOL Bridge and has taught at Woodcote Park for many years. You can be assured of plenty of notes and practice along the way.

Member: £132.00 including VAT

If you require further information or would like to book your place, please email Klaudia Szakal.

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.

Monday night results. 

Commentary on Monday's hands

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

Join Us For Our Winter Social

As I am typing this autumn newsletter I wonder just what happened to our summer! It seemed to go by in a flash. Regardless of the weather we have had a busy time with a fun Summer Social, golf and bridge matches and our normal bridge matches both home and away. We also had a ‘kick off’ lunch to launch a new season of afternoon Chicago bridge during the autumn and spring periods.

The results of the various club matches and competitions will be announced at the Winter Social on Monday 9 December when the cups will also be presented. I hope you have booked to join in the fun. The email was sent out earlier this week. This event is the highlight of the Bridge Circle’s year, where members and their guests can put on their black tie and evening dresses! It should be a very happy social event with lots of festive fun.

Welcome To Our New Intermediate Students

I am pleased to report that we have 15 new students who have enrolled in the Autumn Beginners Bridge classes with 24 students in the Intermediate class. We have invited the new Intermediate students to join in the Bridge Winter Social . They will be able to join in the Chicago bridge after dinner and, if they wish, remain at their tables of four to play bridge. The committee wish to encourage our new players to take part and enjoy the fun of the Bridge Circle without too much pressure.

As you will be aware many of last year’s Intermediates are now very much part of our Monday duplicate bridge evenings and are doing very well. It is really important that we encourage our new players and make them quickly feel at home.

Software Update

As our regular Monday evening players will be aware, over the last three weeks we have struggled with our computer software. We are hoping that we have been able to resolve and retrieve the database and possibly therefore we may revert to our original player numbers. Nigel will let us know on Monday. 

Thanks To The Committee

As you know our Bridge Circle is run by a very supportive committee who, on a rota, share the duties of setting up and putting things away, along with arranging functions and matches. I thank them all. I am sure you do too for their continued loyalty.

That is all from me at the moment and I look forward to seeing you at Woodcote Park!

Best wishes and kindest regards to all,

With very best wishes and kindest regards.

Angela Reid

Chair, Bridge Committee

In addition to using the Bridgewebs facility, which is particularly good if you are just looking for a partner for one or two days, Heather Matthew has offered to restart her role as a coordinator to help you find you an appropriate partner, either temporarily or long term. She can be reached on 07884 182580 or at heatherkmatthew@gmail.com.

At the Chicago and Friends lunch on September 18th 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.

In January Chicago Bridge continues on fortnightly Wednesdays from the 8th January. The charge is £4 ph (£10 for guests attending with a member) including tea and biscuits. No partner required, just turn up and play.

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. 

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

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

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.

The Committee  encourage all Woodcote Park Bridge players to join this site. This will allow you to seek a Bridge partner, when required, in a password protected enviroment. For instructions on joining, click on the 'NEWS PAGE' tab.