Secondary schools bridge

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33962, 1 October 1975, Page 10

Secondary schools bridge

Not so long ago chess and contract bridge, together with bowls, were regarded as pastimes of the old. In recent years, however, there has been a considerable upsurge of interest in chess in secondary schools and locally this has been encouraged to substantial degree by “The Press” inter-schools chess championship.

This is widely known. What lis not so well known, howlever, is that alongside interest in its older cousin, the popularity of contract bridge has gradually and quietly been rising. About 10 Christchurch secondary schools have a number of pupils keenly interested in the game. Recognising the need for a bridge competition among Christchurch secondary schools “The Press” last week-end sponsored a teams competition run by the Christchurch Contract Bridge Club. Though the attendance at this inaugural championship was rather disappointing, generally because of the appeal of other sports and a sense of priorities by a number of potential participants who put their University Entrance accrediting examinations ahead of their inclinations. the general standard of play was certainly high.

In fact several observers were very impressed at the obvious ability shown by those taking part. These were

not beginners or novices going through the motions of a game they barely understood. but rather players who jhad studied the game and [were lacking only in maturity of outlook.

| Certainly, there was no lack [of imagination or enterprise. One pair called a grand ■ slam in splendid style on [about the fourth board they played and any experienced ■tournament player will tell 'you this requires considerable confidence. ■ As' is common with the young, experimentation was obviously the order of the day with several partnerships using home-made systems. Half way through the event it was clear that the eventual outcome would be close between Christ’s College and Christchurch Boys’ High School and at that stage in the crucial match between these teams the former held a small lead. In the second half of the match, however, Boys’ High School took control and with sound aggressive bridge ran out reasonably comfortable winners. The members of the winning team who won for their school library' a parcel of bridge books given by “The Press" were: P. A. Dewar, C. D. W. Jenkins, R. D Palmer and M. J. Dineen. Christ’s College were the runners-up with Riccarton High School a little way back lin third place.—J.R.W.