Patrick Jourdain
Patrick Jourdain | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Woking, England |
| Died | July 28, 2016 (aged 73) Cardiff, Wales |
| Occupation(s) | Bridge player, bridge journalist, bridge educator |
| Known for | Representing Wales in international bridge contests; bridge correspondent for the Daily Telegraph; President of the International Bridge Press Association; author |
Patrick David Jourdain (1 November 1942 – 28 July 2016) was a distinguished British figure in the world of bridge, known as a player, educator, and journalist. Throughout a career spanning more than sixty years, he represented Wales in upwards of seventy international contests, holding the record for the most appearances by any Welsh player. From 1992 until his passing, he served as the bridge correspondent for the Daily Telegraph. The World Bridge Federation honored him with the description "the bridge-journalist’s journalist".[1] The English Bridge Union noted that he had written his own obituary to guarantee prompt media attention.[2]
Life
Jourdain was born in Woking and pursued his education at St Edward's School, Oxford followed by Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he completed a degree in Physics and Natural Sciences.[3]
Upon graduating, he began working with GKN in Cardiff as an operational researcher. The company was soon nationalized and became part of British Steel. By 1973, he advanced to lead a Glasgow-based team responsible for designing computer systems. Four years later, Jourdain made the decision to leave his corporate role to focus entirely on bridge playing, writing, and teaching—a move that surprised British Steel, which had earmarked him as a prospective senior manager.[3]
Outside of bridge, he enjoyed golf and tennis and maintained a strong Christian faith. He remained unmarried throughout his life.[3] Jourdain passed away in Cardiff following a brief illness caused by pancreatic cancer.[4][5]
Bridge
During his time at Peterhouse, Jourdain held the position of secretary for the Cambridge University Bridge Club and participated in the 1964 contest against Oxford. In 1965, while residing in Wales due to his employment with GKN, he was called up as a substitute during Welsh team trials and emerged victorious with his partner. This success led to his first international appearance against Northern Ireland in Belfast in early 1966 at just 23 years old—the youngest player ever to represent Wales. He continued to be a mainstay on the Welsh national team for six decades.[3]
While living in Glasgow in 1976, he secured victory in the esteemed Gold Cup and subsequently played two matches representing Scotland in 1977, contributing to their capture of the Camrose Trophy. The annual Scotland-Wales fixture now awards a trophy bearing his name.[3]
Following his departure from British Steel, Jourdain returned to Cardiff where he took charge of the local bridge club and began working as the bridge correspondent for the Western Mail. Additionally, he contributed content for Channel 4's teletext bridge segment.[3]
In 1982, he assumed the role of editor for the International Bridge Press Association (IBPA) bulletin, a position he held for two decades; this publication is recognized globally for its featured hands. That same year marked his apprenticeship under G. C. H. Fox at the Daily Telegraph, covering major World and European Championships before succeeding Fox as chief bridge correspondent in 1992.[1][3]
Among his notable experiences was playing bridge with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, about whom he also authored an obituary for the Telegraph.[1]
Jourdain wrote several prominent stories for the Telegraph, including investigative coverage that exposed Tony Haworth's cheating scandal in 1999—a probe to which he made significant contributions—and an article highlighting a computer program outperforming elite players on bridge problems.[3]
At the 2002 World Championships held in Montreal, he revealed that player Disa Eythorsdottir had been stripped of her medal after refusing a drug test—an event that attracted worldwide attention and was featured on the front page of the Telegraph. During this championship, he also competed against Bill Gates and received IBPA's Bridge Personality of the Year award.[3]
In 2003, Jourdain was elected President of IBPA,[1] and in 2010 he organised the Buffett Cup contest between Europe and USA hosted in Cardiff—a prestigious event preceding the Ryder Cup, showcasing two top British teams; ultimately won by the USA.[3] In 2014, he was part of the Welsh team that claimed gold at the Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship.[3]
His leadership roles included serving as President and Honorary Life Member of the Welsh Bridge Union (WBU), competing in seven World Championships and three European Championships, presiding over the British Bridge League from 1995 to 1996, and chairing Bridge Great Britain starting in 2001.[6]
As head of the Cardiff School of Bridge, Jourdain instructed over a thousand students throughout his career.[3]
Publications
- Squeeze Play Made Simple authored by Terence Reese and Patrick Jourdain, published by Allen & Unwin in 1980, ISBN 978-0047930478
- Mastering Bridge: Play the Game written by Patrick Jourdain, released by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 1990, ISBN 978-0706368543
- The Daily Telegraph's Beginner's Guide to Acol Bridge by Patrick Jourdain, issued by Batsford Books in 2005, ISBN 978-0713489712
- Patrick Jourdain's Challenge Column authored by Patrick Jourdain, published by Master Point Press in 2009, ISBN 978-1897106471
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs nameddtobit - ↑ "Patrick Jourdain passed away". Bridge Winners. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ↑ Sally Brock (November 2016). "Catching Up". Bridge. Mr Bridge: 14.
- ↑ "Bridge Players and Personalities". ECatsBridge. Retrieved 31 July 2016.