Interview with Corrine KirkhamCorinne Kirkham of San Bernadino, California is a Grand Life Master with more than 20,000 masterpoints. Corinne has served on her Unit board and as an ACBL District Director. Corinne's daughter, Adair Gellman, was Queen of Bridge in 1985. Corinne and her husband Jim, a former ACBL President and longtime member of the ACBL Board of Directors, are familiar faces at ACBL's NABCs.
How old were you when you learned to play? I was 11.
What drew you to learn bridge? My parents were both duplicate players living in Birmingham. They would take me to the games with them instead of hiring a babysitter. I didn’t want to sit around and watch... so I learned to play.
Did your parents play? Both were Life Masters.
Why do you still play? My husbands both played bridge. I’m still learning. Even though you start to recognize "I’ve seen this kind of hand before," every time you play something new presents itself.
Have you played continuously? No. I quit when I entered college, but then picked back up when I graduated.
What is your best bridge memory? When I was 13 years old, I played against Charles Goren at a Birmingham tournament. I was playing with a young soldier and when we sat down against Goren I passed three times with an opening hand, my partner bid several times. We ended up with the contract and when I laid down dummy Goren, said, "That’s alright your partner bid it (your hand) for you". I’ll never forget that.
What do you look for in a partner and/or teammates? In teammates, understanding and pleasant; no anger; realizing that things won’t always go exactly as we’d like. In a partner, Jim [her husband].
How did you balance bridge, school, dating, and other activities? I knew that school came first. I was the first college graduate in my family (Majored in math, Minored in Spanish). School was very important to my parents and me.
Words of advice to young players? Enjoy it.
Any other thoughts? It’s a wonderful game, a great way to make friends.
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