Bridge

The English Ladies Team is one of the best in the world, winning numerous world and European titles. For the past 20 years, there has been a core group of extremely good, experienced players who continued to do brilliantly on the world stage. But for the somewhat lesser tournaments, most of the leading professionals are sponsored by a bridge-lover who wants to improve her game and perhaps earn an invitation to play for England in the Lady Milne Trophy (the women’s home internationals).

Last weekend, the trials for the Lady Milne were held in London. Fourteen pairs took part, playing 130 boards, hoping to finish in the top three. Top of the pile, and ahead of all the ‘usual suspects’, were Dido Coley and Lily Kearney – both still students!

Watch how beautifully they cooperated here to bring down a game.

Lily was West and naturally led the ♦️K, winning, and continuing with the ♦️J.

Dido, in the East seat, could see that there was nothing to be had from either Hearts or Clubs, so she did the only thing that seemed reasonable: she overtook with the Ace to play a third round, attacking dummy’s trumps. Declarer ruffed the third round and played a trump. Lily grabbed this with the Ace and continued with a small Diamond – a very thoughtful play, forcing partner to ruff as high as she can.

Dido smacked the Spade nine on that, and when declarer overruffed, Lily’s eight had grown into the setting trick.

Congratulations also to Helen Erichsen and Fiona Brown, who came second, and mother and daughter partnership Heather and Jasmine Bakhshi, who came third.

Well done ladies, and good luck in the LM.