Ben Cadge started playing Minibridge in his Primary School, Boxgrove Primary, Guildford when he was 9 years old.
Ben and his grandmother came to a Youth Taster session, run by Douglas Wright, 3 Counties Bridge, at the Bourne Club in Farnham.
Following the success of the Youth Taster Session, Douglas ran a similar taster session in the local school, Boxgrove Primary, which then became a Minibridge Club for Years 5 & 6 (9 and 10 year-olds). When the pupils from the club headed to the George Abbott Secondary School, Douglas was asked to run a Taster Session for the Year 7 intake. A bridge club was formed, and two superb bridge teachers, Derek Ridyard and Julia Davies, volunteered to help Douglas run the club. However, the key to the success of the Bridge Club even during Covid, was the continual encouragement of Mr Griffin-Smith, a teacher in the school. He is what is known as the "School Champion" who facilitates all the necessary organisation. Ben even attended one of Douglas's "How to Teach Bridge in Schools" courses, which was held in Sussex. Mr Griffin-Smith continued to run the bridge club and also with Ben’s grandfather’s encouragement, Ben joined the England U16 Squad in early 2020, later transitioning to the U21 Squad He has since represented England at U16 level at the Leszek Nowak Memorial Trophy in 2020 and the Junior Channel Trophy in 2021. Ben has also represented England in numerous friendly competitions at both U16 and U21 level.
Ben as a 17-year-old has now attended another "How to Teach Bridge in Schools" courses, and as an EBTA teacher, is now helping to teach 23 pupils; 9 and 10 year olds in his original Primary School, Boxgrove. We are also hoping that he will become the new "School Champion" in George Abbot Secondary, where Ben is in 2nd Year VI taking his A levels.