How did you get started in Bridge? At what age? Who do you learn from?
I started learning at the 2018 Youth Week when I was 8. My parents both played, and the ACT Youth team only had two pairs so they were looking for a third, which is how Alexis and I ended up on the ACT youth team when we were 9. Initially I was taught by Laura, my parents, and other people in Canberra.
What do (did) you do professionally?
Student (year 12)
Who is your partner and for how long? Longest Partnership?
Taydon Gold. We started playing together in 2018, and we played in the 2020 Youth Week together. At the same time I started playing with Alexis Wilsmore, and I have continued to play with her on the ACT ANC team.
If you had a choice who would you like to play with? Australia and Internationally – living or dead.
Dorothy Haydon Truscott
In your playing career, what is the bridge success that has the most meaning for you?
Having fun, and being able to learn from each match to improve and get better.
And your worst moment in bridge?
A couple years ago when I bid slam twice in a row knowing that I was missing two keycards (both of which went down 1)
More recently, when trying to play for extra tricks and accidentally discarding my winners so that my contract went down 1
What do you do between sessions to put you in the best frame of mind for the following sessions?
I usually try to move on from the previous session, whether it was good or bad, by talking to other people about things other than bridge so that I am in a clear mind for the next session.
Do you have a favourite and least favourite convention?
Favourite convention: 3-way-2C
Least Favourite convention: OGUST
Would you prefer to have more system or less?
More system
What do you to do to improve your game?
I try to play as often as I can, with different players that are better than me so that I can improve from them. Additionally through reading different bridge books.
Favourite bridge book
“You Need Never Lose at Bridge” Victor Mollo
What interests or hobbies do you have besides bridge?
I play the flute (and the piccolo) in multiple ensembles. I also crochet and read.
What is the number one thing that bridge has done for you as a person and for your life?
Bridge has improved my social skills as I have learned to speak in front of larger groups to promote youth bridge, and fundraise for different teams.
Bridge results and awards
2023 – Hills Hurley Trophy
2025 – 1st in NSW State Youth Championship’s Teams (w. Taydon Gold)
2025 – 1st in Cooma Congress Teams (w. Alexis Wilsmore)
2025 – 1st in CBC Christmas Pairs (w. Stephen Fischer)
2026 – 3rd in Youth Week Pair’s Final (w. Taydon)
2026 – 5th in Youth Week Butler (w. Taydon)
State Representation
ACT Youth Team – 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024
National / International Representation
Australian Under-21 Team – 2025
