Budding card sharps from West Hill Primary School held their nerve when they went head-to-head with veteran bridge players 70 years their senior.
Friday’s inaugural ‘SC’ event – school children versus senior citizens - represented a culmination of more than six months’ work by the pupils, aged eight and nine, who have been learning to play Minibridge for an hour a week.
Lessons in the simplified version of the full game have been organised by West Hill Bridge Club members Sid Brissenden and Hazel Exon, who offered to teach the youngsters after learning the primary school was losing its chess group.
Club chairman Sid said: “The headmistress jumped at the opportunity.
“The game teaches them team work, the ability to lose, the maths aspect and the etiquette and courtesy that goes with bridge.
“We thought we would pit them against the experts, and it was fantastic. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and there was a great response from the children.”
Sid added that 12 more pupils were signed up for the lessons after summer, and his next aim was to get another school involved.
“It would be great to get to the point where the children play pupils from other schools,” he said.
Anyone interested in learning to play can contact the club on 01404 814249.
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