New image on cards for bridge
It is a game most often associated with elderly ladies whiling away
their afternoons.
-
bridge
But the international competitive world of bridge arrived in Bath with a
tournament at the Roman Baths and Pump Room this weekend.
The England under-26 men's team took on the England women's team during
an exhibition event consisting of three matches.
Ed Jones, 22, from Leicester, and Mike Bell, 24, from Manchester, were
paired for the game and explained why they enjoyed bridge despite their
young ages.
Mr Jones, who started playing six years ago when his maths teacher
introduced him to it, said: "It is quite interesting and good fun.
"Some of my friends think it is silly but I get to travel all over the
world."
The pair have played in tournaments in China, Italy and Holland and are
about to go to Romania for the European Championships.
Mr Bell said there was a need for more young people to get involved.
He said: "We are trying to promote it because there aren't really many
schools that have got a lot of people playing. It just doesn't seem to
be happening any more."
The men's team's non-playing captain Chris Dixon, who is from Peasedown
St John is passionate about opening bridge up to a wider audience.
He said: "I think it is extremely important that more young people start
playing.
"One of the reasons is because not everybody is good at football, tennis
or cricket and this is a true mind sport.
"There is a perception that it is a game for little old ladies and
retired army colonels, but it is a real sport of skill."
Mr Dixon has been playing for 45 years and first represented his country
at the game in 1971.
The 64-year-old said he had been pleased with the number of people
stopping to watch the tournament today.
He said: "There has been a lot of curiosity about it because it is
challenging people's perceptions of what bridge is like."
One of the competitors playing on the women's team was Nicola Smith, who
has won the European Championships five times and the World
Championships three times.
She has been made an MBE for her success and is the only person in the
country to be decorated for services to bridge.
The women's team were gold medallists in the World Mind Sports Games in
Beijing last summer and the men's under 26s will be going to the
European Championships on Tuesday.
For more information about bridge in the area go to
www.bathbridgeclub.org or contact the English Bridge Union on 01296
317200 or visit www.ebu.co.uk.
3 Comments
by Kirsten, Bath
Sunday, July 05 2009, 7:20PM
“Thanks Sam - yes I learnt bridge, like lots of other people, at college - and that was donkey's years ago - another sign of a misspent youth, like getting pretty adept at bar billiards. So goodness knows where the dear old Chronnie got this bizarre idea that it was associated with old ladies. Come Monday, perhaps they'll explain.
As for real ale - yes, that's a good pastime too. I'll go along with that!”
by Sam, Bath
Sunday, July 05 2009, 6:17AM
“I agree with you Kirsten.
There was a bridge club in my secondary school and I went every lunch break for about 5 years. We also had tournaments.
I wasn't very good at bridge but it certainly isn't played just by "elderly ladies whiling away
their afternoons".
I also went to chess club at school and did archery. I was rubbish at both of those too but I gave it a go!
My new hobby, now that I'm an adult, is drinking real ale - which I think Kirsten will also agree is a very good pastime! ;)”
by Kirsten, Bath
Saturday, July 04 2009, 4:17PM
“"It is a game most often associated with elderly ladies whiling away their afternoons." I don't know who wrote this, but that's a very out-dated view. Anyone who knows anything at all about bridge knows it's a very silly statement indeed. Please Chron - if you're going to write on a subject about which you know nothing, do a little research before coming up with this sort of nonsense.”