European Championships 2003

Question: How often does an ordinary, Scottish club player get the opportunity to play against such opposition as Zia Mahmood, Benito Garozzo, Rodwell, Chagas, Meckstroth, Harasimowicz, Fallenius, Auken...???

Answer: Every 2nd year from 2003 onwards.

2003 saw the 1st Open European Championships take place in Menton near Monte Carlo. The event was held in the Palais de L'Europe - formerly a casino - and entry was open to any player "in good standing" with his/her National Bridge Organisation (quite what one had to do in order to fail this qualification evades me). I had arranged to have a holiday based at the home of a former Aberdeen bridge partner who now lives close to Lourdes and within sight of the Pyrenees and we decided to drive the 600 or so miles across France and play in the Mixed Pairs event which took place over a 3-day period within the 2 weeks of championship events. Accommodation was found - at the cost of an arm (or 2) and a leg - via the syndicate that was dealing with bridge bookings but, as it was only about 5 minutes' leisurely walk from the Palais, it turned out to be worth its exorbitant but air-conditioned price...especially when we discovered that there was an unexpected heatwave and the temperature only fell below 80-something between 3 and 3.05 a.m. each night!

We had to play with screens. They are actually very easy to cope with - the screen divides N and E from S and W and there is a trolley on which the bidding cards are laid before they get shoved back to the other side. One has to self-alert bids as well as alert any of partner's bids, but that was simple once one got the hang of the logic of it all. We were fortunate in that we had a couple of days for spectating before we started to play, and we had the opportunity to work out what was what.

The temperatures in the cardrooms were horrific - no air-conditioning...even some of those players from hot climates were visibly suffering from the heat. There was a plentiful supply of water or Lavazzo coffee (all free). Fans would have been appreciated!

After the bridge each evening we enjoyed the company of some of our Scottish and Irish friends and sampled the gastronomic delights of the area while occasionally sitting adjacent to tables from where we could hear conversations such as "I hold AKJxx..." etc. These bridge players are everywhere! Even when we took a trip into Italy for dinner one evening we discovered fellow players at the next table...

Despite the heat it was a wonderful experience to play in such a high standard event and I'd recommend it to anyone who wishes to combine a holiday with a game of bridge. We didn't come last in any of the sessions...in fact we had one cracking session in which we made nearly 60%...shame we couldn't maintain that level...if we had, we'd be Local Heroes - and European Champions!!! The next such event will be in 2005. We'll be there - I hope you will be there too.

Anne Reid