English Bridge Union
A few years ago after going on an EBED teacher training course, Horsham BC started teaching bridge. Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of our teachers, our students, though still a bit reluctant to play in our regular sessions, were nevertheless keen to play and asked if we might lay on an event for them. They knew about our Sunday Swiss Pairs with afternoon tea and asked for something similar.
We knew other clubs in Sussex were teaching and wondered if their students would also enjoy an occasion tailored to suit them where they could play others of a similar standard with a similar level of experience. So it was suggested to the County Association that Horsham would host a session for those who had been playing for no more than 5 years with an NGS of no more than 5, and, as it happened, the SCCBA had already been thinking about what it could do for novice players so took up the suggestion with full support.
On Sunday 10 March 2019, 54 bridge students from different clubs came nervously to Horsham for the first SCCBA Beginners’ Welcome Pairs. Just as you would at any event, those playing were greeted warmly with a smile and made to feel welcome and before play began we stressed to all that the main point of the session was for them to enjoy playing some bridge at an easy pace together with a nice light lunch. We reminded them that the director was there to help and was happy to help them with any queries should anything go amiss.
The 12 first year students played in a field on their own, playing pre-dealt hands from the EBED Red Book syllabus and limited to the topics they had covered. Given that they had only been playing for six months I take my hat off to them, I don’t think I would have done as well at that stage of my bridge career.
The other session was for those who had been playing for between two and five years but within the field there were prizes for the top placed year two to three students as well as prizes for the overall winners. The half table worked well as it gave people a chance to get a cuppa and it was a chance for the organisers to have a chat with attendees and ask how they were getting on.
Following what was agreed by all, players and organisers alike, to be a successful event it was decided to roll the format of the event out to other clubs in other parts of Sussex where there are populations of beginners learning bridge. Detailed guidelines for other organisers have been developed to ensure consistency.
The next SCCBA Beginners’ Welcome Pairs will take place at Worthing BC on Sunday 22 September with another scheduled at Horsham in March 2020. The County Association are also now planning to introduce an annual teams’ event for the same community of players. It is worth noting that these events also give clubs, those hosting and those with students playing, the opportunity to get a piece in the local press about the event, their club and the courses they are running.
Any clubs wishing to find out more about this initiative can contact the Sussex tournament manager, Peter Clinch at peter.i.clinch@gmail.com.
Jane Handley
Horsham BC
May 2019
Above picture shows Years 2-5 field winners
Left front and back Peter & Ann Lloyd winners years 2-3
Right hand side back orange shirt Chris Brazier and front navy shirt Chris Nikolaj runners up overall (year 4-5)
Front row pink Simone Burke and back row tweed jacket Bob Cole overall winners (year 4-5)
Back row blue top and green top Alison Barkley and Sue Ladd runners up year 2-3
Back row left, 1st year winners Gill Southern and Polly Hobbs. Front Row left Sue Thompson-Hill and Vicky Glyn, two of the runners up.
