For five years we have had some input into the Counties schools. To begin with all our schools were Primary but we have now managed to penetrate the Secondary ones in the South of the County.
We have a group at St Ursula's a Primary School in Wigton Last year there were 12 children but this year there are only 4, however they are keen and enjoy their bridge. They manage to fit in playing 2 boards and eating their sandwiches. The interesting thing is their diverse ages 7,8,9,and10.Their biggest problems are holding 13 cards and sorting them into suits.
In the South we run an after school club at Flookburgh Primary School and after the first year we had some excellent results in both the Schools Simultaneous Mini Bridge Competition and the Bridge Competition. An hour is so much better than trying to play two boards at lunch time with a sandwich in one hand and the cards in the other, sometimes muddled so the cards don't last long. This years group did well in the Autumn Mini Bridge Simultaneous pairs, but we have decided to stay with Mini Bridge for the second term this year and concentrate on card play. Thank you to ecats for scoring these competitions it makes a superb impact with 11 year olds if they can see their names on-line.
This term we are about to start an after school club at Cartmel Priory School (secondary). It will be interesting to see how it develops. The group did well in the Schools Sims Pairs the best pair finishing in 8th place out of 105. Keyed up by this 8 of them went to play in the under 19 heat at Manchester Bridge Club. Can you imagine going from a lunchtime 2 board session to sitting for 3 hours playing 18 boards, but they loved it and it is because of this that we feel the after school club will move them on.
At Dallam School (secondary) there are fewer players but here 2 of the boys are doing Bridge as their Skill Section for their Duke of Edinburgh Award. They too did well in the Schools Sims Pairs the best pair finishing 9th.
We are very fortunate in having a group of adults who are prepared to give up time to teaching the pupils. The County have been supportive too in helping us to purchase bidding boxes, books and finding some tables for us to use. What odd shapes school tables are these days!!!
Mrs L. Green, Mrs S. Alcock, Mr A. Payley, Mrs C Sissons, Mr G. Skene, Mrs J. Frobisher, Mr D. Hills, Mrs J. Sheppard and Mr A. Britten.