mmg.com.au

Derek Poulton has been playing bridge for about 30 years.

The Shepparton Bridge Club member started playing back in university, but has only become ‘‘serious’’ about the game during the past five years.

But serious as he may be about the popular card game, it’s not all about the competition, he’s made some great friends along the way.

‘‘We have a really good community,’’ Mr Poulton said.

‘‘We’re quite a social club as well as enjoying our cards and we have three or four social nights during the year.’’

Players already come from across the region to compete, but Mr Poulton and the club are hoping to share the love of the game with even more people.

For the fourth year in a row they’re offering beginner’s classes to teach card novices the tricks of the trade.

‘‘We’re looking for anybody in the community that is interested in cards and has wanted to play bridge or has played bridge previously and needs a refresher course,’’ Mr Poulton said.

‘‘Or people who have played card games like canasta and euchre and want to improve their skills in other areas.’’

More than 20 people turned up to the first class of the season, but Mr Poulton, who doubles as the club’s publicity officer, said they were looking for even more keen card players to swell their ranks.

‘‘We’re looking to grow the bridge club, at the moment we have six or seven tables on a fairly regular basis, (but) we would like at least 10 going forward.’’

The classes are held each week as part of the curriculum at the Goulburn Valley University of the Third Age (U3A).

‘‘It’s important to keep both mentally and physically active in retirement and in the Goulburn Valley, the U3A is an organisation to do just that,’’ Mr Poulton said.

‘‘Bridge is the most popular card game in the world and it’s enjoyed in just about every nation in the world but it’s quite difficult to go along to a bridge club without any knowledge and just start playing.

‘‘It’s certainly a good idea to do a simple course before you begin.’’

Beginners classes are held from 1 pm to 4 pm each Wednesday at the U3A building at 14 Esson St, Shepparton, with competition nights each Monday from 7 pm to 11 pm.

■ For more information, phone 5825 4112.