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The World of Women

Irena Cholorowska

She played for Poland in the 1988 Olympiad and as a Mixed Team in Barcelona in 1994. They played at table 1 in the Swiss qualifying sessions almost from first to last but were beaten in the final round by the French team, Mouliel, to slip out of the top four. Mouliel finished with the bronze medal and Irena's team held on to fifth place throughout the rest of the event. Irena was glad she was sitting out for the vital match!

Irena and husband Jan won the Chino Del Duca, the tough French Pairs event and had successes in Chefalu, Sicily, 1st and 3rd in Teams and Pairs.

She told me that in Poland players are 90% men and in any league matches there are very few women. When she started women were second class citizens and not considered able to lay well. Under the old President it was impossible to get a woman onto the National team. She would have to be twice as good as a male player and still probably lose out. Poland has a new President, Ja Zak, and things are changing. He is a highly political person, a spokesman for the ruling coalition of Solidarity. The Federation decided to sponsor a Transnational team to go to Bermuda, all expenses paid, and they held trials. The winning team included a woman and there was much amazement when that was the team that was picked!

Irena told me they nor have schools' leagues and school events and it is noticeable if there is a good girl player she will be snapped up. Many of the promising youngsters are playing in mixed partnerships. There was a girl in the Polish Junior European Championship team. She was also in the Woman's Team that went to Malta. It seems that Poland has young talent coming up.

15 years ago they used to have a mixed Championship held near Moscow. Teams and Pairs and it was quite well supported. Then they started moving it from place to inaccessible place, changing the times. and the whole thing drifted out. It has now been re-instated in a central venue and last year the had 70 pairs, enough to ensure its continuation.

However, what is lacking in Poland is the 'Bridge Club'. A teacher might hold a duplicate once a week, or a group meet for a session but there are no clubs where you can go and relax, have a meal and watch or play as the mood takes you. When I asked about the older woman player Irena told me that under the Communiats, the monies that should have been for pensions was squandered on inessential grandiose schemes and the retired and widows are hard put to have enough to live on with nothing to spare to indulge in a sport like bridge.

Her generation are working hard - often with two jobs - and they should get by and she thinks and hopes that by the time her daughter's generation comes through, things will be normal as the Western world understands it.