I was in Romania in July 2009 to see the France Société Générale Junior team beat 22 other nations to the gold in Brasov in Romania, 21 years after the last French victory

The two other French teams also did very well:

- The Junior ladies team took the silver at their first appearance in the European championships,

- A new Under-21 team took the bronze medal in their competition.

These results confirm the renaissance of French bridge in the youth category that began in 2008 with the victory of the Under-21 team at the World Mind Sports games in Beijing.

The majority of these young champions discovered bridge at school via initiatives organised by the Fédération Française de Bridge (FFB) – with the support of our Group -, to develop the practice of this sport among children.

Key figures:

22nd European Youth Team Championships

Brasov – Romania. 8/18 July 2009

France Société Générale under 26 team (Junior)

Cédric Lorenzini, Nicolas Lhuissier, Christophe Grosset, Frédéric Volcker, Thomas Bessis, Quentin Robert.

Captain: Hervé Mouiel.

Podium: 1. France 427 – 2. Israel 418 – 3. Norway 414

France Société Générale “Girls” under 26 team (Junior)

Marion Canonne, Léa Robert, Claire Chaugny, Jessie Carbonneaux, Carole Puillet, Aurélie Thizy. Capitaine : Jérôme Rombaut.

Podium: 1. Poland 245 – 2. France 241 – 3. Netherlands 222

France Société Générale Under-21 team

Pierre Cotreau, Edouard du Corail, Clément Thizy, Fabrice Charignon, Thibault Coudert, Grégoire Lafont.

Captain: Véronique Bessis

Coach: Michel Bessis.

Podium: 1. Poland 278 – 2. Israel 275 – 3. France 208