Get Involved Cherry Trees Bridge League Update on the 2019-20 Season Back in the spring, in the early days of the pandemic, we extended the season to 20th August, though many were unable to complete games due to lockdown. It would thus be very difficult to fairly allocate winners or award prizes so we are sadly proposing declaring the 2019-20 season null and void. We do hope you understand and that each of you enjoyed the games you were able to play. If are happy for your fees for the 2019-20 season to remain with Cherry Trees, there is no need to do anything further. However, if you would like to discuss your fees because you could not finish the season, please get in touch with Jane Hunnable ([email protected]). The new 2020-21 Season We anticipate the need for social distancing to continue for some time. To keep the league as a going concern we have been thinking about ways we could adapt to ensure you have the enjoyment of playing and of doing so safely. We know many of you have tried and are enjoying playing online. Gill Beaton and Carol Cook have devised a variation of Chicago style bridge to be played on BridgeBase Online on a computer or tablet. This adapted format of bridge works well online and Gill and Carol are happy to support anyone who needs help. In addition we have agreed that groups may play using Trickster. Cherry Trees will email or send a letter to previous players for whom we have contact details, with full information about the new league. Group Leaders will share information with other players who Cherry Trees have no contact information. Gill and Carol are very happy to support players by phone, their contact details are shown below in the Instructions & Rules document. This means you could still get together, socially distanced, each playing online using a phone or tablet. Or, play with your group, but each from home. We thus propose the following for the 2020-21 season: - Players switch to online play, until such time as social distancing is safely relaxed and we can all meet again safely. - We run to the usual timescales, (from September through to the last weekend of April) though you can start anytime during the season - We play Chicago instead of Rubber Bridge as this works best for online play. - Fees will for one year reduce from £30 to £20 (payment details below) to encourage people to try the new format. - You are welcome to top up your fee with a donation. There will be a prize for the overall winners, runners up and 3rd place, a prize for any grand slam bid made and a small prize for the remaining group winners. *STOP PRESS* 4th September 2020 Thank you for the supportive and positive responses we have received from many of the bridge players for the 2020/21 bridge league being played online. We propose that we will run two mini bridge leagues facilitating the groups who prefer to play Bridgebase and the groups who prefer to play Trickster. Before returning your MASTER SCORE SHEET after you have played all your games, please detail at the top, adjacent to your name, whether you have played Bridgebase or Trickster within your group. Please click the link below to download an updated version of the Master Score Sheet. We have also updated the Guidelines and Rules (see link below) to reflect this amendment. Documents to Download: Guidelines & Rules Bridge League Group Sign Up form Score Sheet Master Score Sheet If you have any issues downloading documents, please email [email protected] and we can send you a copy. The reduced fees for this year for a group of five pairs are thus £200 and for a group of four £160 (£20 each). If you would like to play, the group leader should complete your form and collect the entry fees. Payment can be made as follows • Online via www.cherrytrees.org.uk/donate (please put reference Bridge 20-21 and your name) • By cheque made payable to Cherry Trees, posted to: Cherry Trees, School Lane, East Clandon, Surrey GU4 7RS. • By bank payment - please contact us for details. Group leaders please submit scores to Cherry Trees by end April 2021. All you need is at least 4 pairs in a group of 5 or 3 in a group of 4 to return their score by that date. Thank you for your continued support of the Cherry Trees Bridge League. If you know of anyone who is interested in organising a group or learning more about the league or want to know about online play please contact us, as we would love to grow the number of players. Cover image: copyright PaulPaladin / Alamy Stock Photo no third party re-use.