Starting on Monday 6th January, Rutland and Oakham Bridge Club will launch its Bridge Beginners Course to welcome new players to learn the game. 

With fourteen people already enrolled in the course, the club hopes that through the 10-week course, new players will learn everything they need to know to play against their regular players at their social sessions. 

In the last few months, the number of players registered to the club has increased by two thirds, reaching over 100 members. They hope to continue this trajectory, with the goal of 2025 becoming a year of growth for the club. 

Rutland and Oakham Bridge Club welcomes members of all ages and abilities to join their courses, social and competitive sessions (Photo: Rutland and Oakham Bridge Club)

A key part of the club is their focus on providing a specific social purpose within the community. Bridge is proven to slow cognitive decline in an ageing population by maintaining cognitive agility and reducing social isolation.  

They currently cater to a wide range of players, with meetings both in the daytime and evening as well as offering competitive and social settings to ensure there is a group to suit everyone's needs. Their meetings are hosted at the King Centre in Oakham which has an onsite café, making the venue social, welcoming and comfortable. 

Looking to the future, the club will re-run Improver Course One and Two, which are designed to take beginners and novices respectively to their next level. From April, they will also be launching their 'Fortnightly Hot Topics' for all levels of experience which will focus into specific bidding conventions and card-play strategy. 

To keep up to date with the club's meeting times, courses and other goings on, visit their website.