200 Try Their Hand at Bridge Tourney

More than 200 bridge players from around the state are in Ventura this weekend for the American Contract Bridge League Sectional Tournament.

The card players--novices and experts--gathered at the Holiday Inn on Friday and will continue through Sunday for eight-hour days of competitive bridge played in pairs and teams.

The event is put on by the league’s Unit 547, which has about 300 members in Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai and Camarillo. Most of this weekend’s visitors are from Southern California, club member Maurine Moore said.

But, Moore said, “Ventura is such a nice place that we do draw from around the country, because people will find an excuse to come down here.”

Players compete against others with similar experience, as measured by a system of points accumulated at tournaments.

Bridge “is a sport,” Moore said. “It just happens to be a sport that little old ladies can play.”