The Anguilla Bridge Club on Saturday April 21, 2012 hosted its counterparts from French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten to a Pre-OECS Bridge Tournament at the Koal Keel Bar and Restaurant. Twenty four (24) players or Twelve Pairs took part; Seven pairs from French and Dutch St. Maarten and Five (5) pairs fromAnguilla. The tournament comprised two sessions of Twenty (20) boards each. In the end, the Anguillian pair of Carol Baines and Selwyn (Roy) Horsford placed first, the French St. Martin pair of Herve Gouin and Marie Claire Keppens placed second with another Anguillian pair of Rufus Bryan and Timothy Hodge placing third.
Cash prizes totaling US$700.00 were paid to the winners. Carol Baines and Selwyn (Roy) Horsford donated their prize money of US$200.00 each back to the Club in support of the Club’s fund raising drive to promote the game of Bridge amongst the youth inAnguilla. Seventeen (17) other individuals and firms have so far contributed to this cause.
According to the Club President, Mr. Alan Gumbs, “we are facing a dilemma in Anguilla in that the youngest person playing the game is over 50 years and the young people don’t know anything about the game of Bridge which is international in nature.” “We intend to work with the Education Department on introducing the game In the High School”. he added.
The OECS Bridge Championship games, which are held annually, are to be held in St. Kitts in June this year. It is hoped that thisPre-OECS Bridge tournament will be held in Anguilla on an annual basis as well. Last year, the Anguillian Team of Alan Gumbs, Selwyn Horsford, Rufus Bryan and Timothy Hodge placed first in the Swiss Teams Competition in the OECS tournament held inDominica.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
