67
December 2016 English Bridge
C
hristmas may be a holiday for most, but for
the juniors there is only a tiny break to open
their presents. Shortly before Christmas the
U26s, U21s and the U26 Womens team will be
treated to an exotic trip to the Young Chelsea Bridge
Club in London.
This year the EBU hosts the Channel Trophy, the
annual competition between the Dutch, the
Belgians and - most importantly - our key rivals -
the French. This competition kicks off the new cycle
and often sees teams reshuffled with previous
players too old to compete, and younger players
progressing from the U21 squad. Keep your eyes
peeled for updates on how our teams are getting on
and, as with any junior competition, there can
certainly be no guarantee of any flat boards.
Meanwhile, I caught up with a few members of
the Junior Squad to ask them about their Christmas
habits. For many of them, Christmas is just a
waiting time until they can play in the Year End
Congress - or for those with more self-control - the
Manchester Congress in early January. However,
bridge never seems to escape their lives even
through the festive period. To the joy (but mostly
despair) of the juniors their love of the game
certainly makes Christmas shopping easier for their
friends and relatives!
For couple Will Roper and Alex Birchall, both
members of the U26 Squad, there is no escape from
bridge-related gifts. Will told me proudly how The
Rodwell Files was an easy choice of gift one year,
though surprisingly met with some disapproval.
Alex's requests for 'something shiny' was certainly
noted in subsequent years with a collection of
brand new books by Victor Mollo!
Bridge-related gifts among the squad are
definitely not wholly intellectual. For Toby
Nonnenmacher, the plea for a bridge book was
acknowledged and dismissed. Instead, he had to
settle for an 'I Love Bridge' teddy bear. He assures
me that the bear does not shout at him for making
ridiculous bids, roughly plays to a similar level as his
partner but is not very talkative when discussing the
hands afterwards. (An investment for the EBU shop
perhaps?)
For those present-givers with less inspiration, the
EBU shop has been a saviour in moments of crisis.
Helen Holmes proudly spoke of her Life is a Game
but Bridge is Serious' mug which she received from
her partner. It appears that combining a cup of tea
(milk no sugar) with bridge can never go too
wrong.
Finally, those hoping to bribe Squad Manager
Alan Shillitoe to increase their selection chances are
to be left disappointed. He tells me friends
nowadays avoid bridge-related paraphernalia as the
closest anyone has got to success is a bridge-themed
desk calendar. He did speak with envy about a
friend who received a bridge toilet seat for
Christmas but I am still awaiting clarification as to
whether this was purely decorative or one that gave
you declarer play problems. Whether the toilet seat
was in fact a gift from someone or a self-purchase is
apparently still contentious.
With the squad manager impossible to please, I
am certain that if all the team turn up to the
Channel Trophy, on time, without accidentally
handing their passports to a stranger, then Alan will
be more than happy. I suspect a victory will be a big
upgrade from the desk calendar. We shall see . . . and
wish them all good luck! r
A Junior Perspective
A Junior Perspective
Bridgemas Cheer!
by Kyle Lam
click
link