Page 5 - Hunstanton Town & Around - July 2013

Tel: 01485 533422 email: editor@townandaround.net Hunstanton Town & Around July 2013 5

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Hunstanton Bridge Club apparent that tuition was too academic unless leave for home by 10.30. and has eased the
augmented by actual play at the club. Our first load on the Director of the night considerably
John Savidge step therefore was to introduce new members (we have four directors and the least
at a very early stage and our regulars have had experienced welcome every aid available!).
In a catchment area formed by water on three to adapt to players with a very hazy Our fourth step was to introduce a Dealing
sides and a population of 4,800, Hunstanton knowledge of conventions! Machine. We found it difficult to justify the
would not seem to be an encouraging area in Our second step has been the successful expenditure initially, eg: (i) “members don't
which to introduce duplicate bridge. Social introduction over the last two years, by our mind dealing the hands (providing someone
bridge and charity events yes, but duplicate coach Mark Keightley, of Thursday evening else will come early enough),(ii) the machine
bridge with the disciplines involved? Robert sessions, later converted to Friday afternoon deal isn't random (despite all the published
Smith had other ideas and three years after sessions (for those who dislike winter papers refuting this), (iii) members aren’t
settling in, formed a group in 1979 of like- evenings!) for bridge players interested in interested in receiving details of hands to
minded friends who had migrated into the converting to duplicate bridge. This has compare results”. With regard to this last point
area. They met in Robert's front room and increased the intake of beginners who again we were disappointed with the lack of interest
quite soon found it necessary to hire a room have been thrown in at the deep end! in printouts of hands in the early days but we
in a local church. The club joined the E.B.U. Although aimed at players who come from a have been pleased to see this grow as time
in 1982. background of social bridge we are finding goes by, not confined to the experienced
Robert's good start soon identified that the that experienced members from the main members. It obviously has massive potential
area had natural limitations, particular when section are quite happy to join in! for coaching.
clubs nationally found numbers were Our third step, aimed at both experienced We realise that our catchment area will
dropping. The club has continued with and inexperienced members, was to introduce never provide a much larger membership (we
enthusiastic regulars to this day but have timing and Scorebridge scoring, showing now have at least 4 tables on Mondays and up
found it necessary to take special measures to results on our website. The laptop timer to 7 tables on Wednesdays. A considerable
maintain numbers/achieve growth. It is still introduced by Mark (our computer wizard as improvement on recent years. We have found
difficult to recruit ready-made “duplicate” well as coach) in the form of a clock face that with the provision of good facilities and
fans and at the same time, we needed to cater which is set automatically according to the our policy of a friendly mix of learners and
for the interests of the experienced members. number of boards, and announced by Big Ben experienced players will ensure a successful
In the past coaching has been provided Chimes (!) initially caused a few ruffled future for duplicate bridge in the area for a
spasmodically by members at home. Although feathers but has proved to be an excellent long time to come. Our President is very
successful to a degree it soon became discipline for all. It ensures that members pleased too – guess who? - Robert Smith!