THE RSYC Bridge Club threw down the gauntlet to the Hythe Marina Residents Bridge Club who bravely accepted the challenge.
The Hythe team came like Vikings on their longboat across Southampton Water and on arrival at Ocean Village promptly dropped one of their members into the water. We rushed to dry him out and to reclothe him and very smart he looked to.
The evening started with drinks and a meal and then into the Admirals Room where the card tables were laid out for battle.
Then it was eyes down for a few hours of intellectual exercise. There were skilled players and novices on both sides but we all pitched in together. There were dummies, ruffs, flags, conventions and chuckles all over the place and not a raised eyebrow to be seen. That’s the way to play bridge!
Gradually the scores amassed and eventually the winners emerged which fortuitously happened to be a joint team of the Royal Southampton and Hythe namely Bob and Jackie Stevenson and Ken Oakerbee and Mac McCulloch. An appropriate conclusion to the evening. There were prizes of bottles of wine for the winners and also boxes of chocolates for the losers.
We said our farewells and the Hythe team then sailed off into the night and arrived safely and dry back at their home port.
It was a very pleasant evening and one which we all agreed should be repeated in the autumn.
Geoff Rowe