Monday, 7th March, 2016 held at Drapers’ Hall
Last year, (after 38 years of not playing a hand of Bridge) I had the terror of playing for the Feltmakers’ third team in the annual Bridge competition, I was feeling well and truly “vulnerable”. But as well as the terror of playing I had the pleasure of partnering Ruthie Coombs and we happily came 51st, while Elaine Howard & Peter Cobb were ranked a very respectable 21st. This year I had the “honour” to partner Peter. We were the only Feltmakers’ pair this year and we set off determined to have some fun and to make our “bid” for glory…..Well at least we did have some fun!
The competition is held annually at the Drapers’ Hall and organised by the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards. Our thanks go to both companies for a wonderful evening. It was a splendid event and I would encourage others of all abilities to try out their “hand” another year.

2015 Master: Charles R S Fowler TD DL FCA

Every year the Makers of Playing Cards produce a Master’s edition of Cards based on a theme chosen by the Master. This year their Master’s Installation pack commemorated the 800th Anniversary of the Lord Mayor’s show.

At the half-way stage Peter and I were 30th out of 64 which for me was very encouraging, but certainly the lowest that Peter had ever been ranked in the competition. He was gracious and forbearing.
We had a wonderful meal of Drapers’ Beef Wellington and Apple Tarte Tatin and there was a plentiful supply of good wines, hot drinks and petits fours for us all. I can only surmise that Peter and I didn’t partake of the wines as much as some others did; I cannot think of any other reason as to why we slumped in the second half and ended up ranked 45th at the end of the evening. We were sure that we had played better after dinner than we had before. I guess that lots of others must have “raised” their game more than we did.
In all honesty, during the course of the evening I felt that Peter came up “trumps” while I sadly too often “went under”. The “finesse” was all Peter’s while the “dummy” was yours truly.

Andrew Pritchard-Keens