A brief explanation of this series of Training Sessions especially for Women. This year the first set of sessions will take place on a Wednesday – thereafter on a Monday. They start at 18.30 British Time. Your team need to be settling in from 18.00 – certainly no later than 18.15. There are usually some individual technical hitches to sort out before the off.
The format is 3 short 5 board matches against any team from other European countries, followed by a session of about an hour in which bidding and play are examined and discussed by the Expert of the Month. The lingua franca is English. Lucky us!
Typically, some teams will comprise good players seeking to improve, but some will be aspiring. The EBL has recognised that we women can be encouraged to greater strength in our game by no-pressure training sessions in which question asking is encouraged and, apart from the occasional excellent Male Expert – and who would be against him! – there are no male players to huff, puff and tut when we show our human side, no eyebrows to be raised, no gender based criticisms. Definitely NOT exactly a pink and fluffy world, because we are there to hone our skills, but one where we can all of us feel comfortable. If you think that you can continue competing at higher levels than you already do, this may be the perfect opportunity to give it a try. Speak to your Women partners, try to get a team together – maybe talk to your county players? Or maybe you don’t know where to start. That’s where I come in. As England Co-Ordinator, I am here to attempt to mix & match and enter as many teams as I can. Entries and links to play are co-ordinated through me. I hope to hear from you soon, Ros Wolfarth.
Ros can be contacted on roswolfarth4901@gmail.com.