Members of bridge clubs in the Central West recently attended workshops at the Orange Bridge Club, which were run by Bruce Crossman from Canberra. The workshops focused on a new program called MyABF being built by the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF), as well as director sessions.

The first day the session focused on the introduction of MyABF for local bridge clubs. ABF Executive Officer David Fryda introduced the session and emphasised the importance of the new program which will help bridge clubs organise congresses, administration and finances. The group was joined by Julian Forster from Sydney, via Zoom. Club members were able to ask questions and about forthcoming changes.

On the second day, Bruce provided a variety of teaching strategies for directors using simulations, video clips, and whiteboard activities, to revise rulings and help directors better understand specific bridge movements.

Bruce has been a national director for 15 years and is the head director at Canberra Bridge Club which has 700+ members. He has directed at the Canberra Festival of Bridge, Gold Coast International Bridge Congress, Sydney Spring Nationals, and GNOT finals. Participants were able to draw on his expertise and practise directing techniques enabling members of clubs from Cowra, Bathurst, Parkes and Orange to benefit from attendance at the workshops, and interaction between club members.