Just over twenty years ago Roehampton Club received an invitation to join the newly formed London Clubs Backgammon League. This was the brainchild of Edward Baliszewski of the RAC. We received the invitation because Chris Bray, a Roehampton Club Member for some fifteen years, had by then been the backgammon columnist for The Independent for over ten years (he moved to The Times in 2018) and was well-known to Edward and other members of the RAC. It was hoped that Chris could devote some column inches to the new league as well as getting the Club involved.
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Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Backgammon Evening
Wednesday 3rd December 7pm
For the last ten years the Club’s backgammon section has hosted an annual Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Backgammon Evening. The evening is open to Club Members and members of other London clubs who take part in the London Backgammon League. 2024 saw us with one of our best turnouts with 55 players in attendance.
Backgammon 20th Anniversary Event
Chris and his wife, Gill, had been considering starting backgammon at Roehampton Club for some time and the invitation to the Clubs’ League provided the necessary impetus to get things started. And so, In September 2005, the first meeting of backgammon enthusiasts at the Club took place. Many of the group that gathered that day, including Marcel Bancroft, Jane Trueman and Paul Viita, are still playing for the Club.
We couldn’t quite get a team together for the 2005/6 season, but we were up and running for 2006/7. We kept coming second in the ten-team league but finally, in 2017, we were crowned champions.
On the evening of 30th September, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the backgammon group by holding a reception (generously funded by the Club) and a consulting doubles tournament for the newly created Bray Cup. As well as current Members we were also joined by past Club champions, Bora Garson and Emma Lawson. The tournament was won by Simon Edwards and Tony Taylor. The runners-up were Hassan Dajani and John Tyrwhitt.
The Bray Cup Doubles Tournament will now become an annual autumn event.
Meanwhile, the summer tournaments are reaching their concluding stages with the finals scheduled for October. On Wednesday 3rd December we will be holding our annual Mulled Wine and Mince Pies Backgammon evening. This has become a major fixture in the London backgammon calendar. The mince pies are all hand made by Gill, Judith Dyson and Danit Birn. Members of all the London League Clubs join us for a short presentation from Chris followed by multiple eight-player jackpots. It is a chance to meet old friends and enjoy some light-hearted backgammon.
For more information please contact Chris or Gill Bray at braycl@gmail.com or gillianbray18@gmail.com