Sport & Leisure
![Archers Appreciation Group](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/archers-Screenshot-2023-10-10-132345.png)
Arlene Sabatini
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
Second Wednesday of each month
10:00 to 11:30am
What do we do?
We are a friendly social group bonding over a radio programme that’s been woven into British culture for over 70 years and continues in popularity.
There is an abundance of contemporary and relevant topics to discuss in a coffee morning format. We laugh, speculate where plot lines are going and spot new themes early.
We reminisce about the comfort given when we listened from abroad or from a topic that has touched our own lives.
The group is now full. A waiting list will be maintained.
![Badminton](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/badminton-2-scaled.jpg)
Alan Hewson
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
Every Friday afternoon 2.15 – 3.45pm at Bury Leisure Centre
What do we do?
Maybe you used to play badminton many moons ago and feel you would like the chance to take it up again.
You do not need to be county standard as the emphasis is on enjoyable social sport.
We meet at the Leisure Centre on Friday afternoons where four courts are available to us. In a typical session, we have 16-20 players.
![Bowls (Lawn Bowling)](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/flat-green-bowls-1.jpg)
Christina Stubbs
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
We will be meeting on Friday evenings at 5.45pm at Risbygate Sports Club from 19th July through until end August. The sessions run from 6pm to 8pm and the bar will be available throughout and after the session. There is no necessity to attend every session but please contact the group leaders so they can make arrangements for enough helpers at each session.
What do we do?
Members do not need any experience and are not required to buy their own bowls as the club have a supply of these. Flat shoes are essential. Some experienced bowlers will be on hand to offer advice and assistance. Free parking, cafe and bar facilities are available at the club.
These initial sessions will be offered as free taster sessions for the rest of this season (end of August) but if members wish to continue next season or take part in other sessions at Risbygate then it is possible to join the club.
There is also indoor bowling available at Risbygate all year round with the main season starting in September. Joining the club will enable you to use some of the other facilities and to attend their social functions.
Please contact group leaders, Christina & Michael, for more information.
Bridge : Beginners & Improvers
![Bridge : Beginners & Improvers](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bridge-2.jpeg)
Chris Park
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
The Bridge group meets every Thursday in The Apex between 10-12pm.
What do we do?
The group is only suitable for those people who have some experience of the game. There is no formal teaching but the sessions take the form of Duplicate Bridge and are supported by Chris Park as our tutor.
We are a friendly mixed ability group with about 24 people attending each week. We can accommodate a few more people and there is no need to bring a partner as everyone will get a game. Hand sanitiser is available on entry and face masks are optional.
There is no charge but members are encouraged to buy a drink from The Apex Coffee Shop.
The Group is currently full, if you would like to go on the waiting list please contact the Group Leader.
Alternatively, waiting list members could start a second Bridge Group – please fill in the form, section 1 https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/joining-a-group/
![Canasta](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/canasta.png)
Trudy Roberts
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
We meet on a Friday, fortnightly at 1:45pm for a 2.00pm start to 4.30pm upstairs in the Apex
Please contact Trudy, Group Leader for details.
What do we do?
Canasta originated in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1939.
Initially, you make melds of 3 cards of the same value which you build on to make a Canasta (7 cards). Cards have different values according to their face value. The purpose of the game is to reach 5,000 points. The more points you score, the more card values you need to put in an initial meld – in other words, you are handicapped. This is what makes the game interesting.
I have a copy of the Canasta card game that we would follow because I know that there are several different ways to play.
Beginners and new members are always welcome.
![Chess](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/chess.jpeg)
Greg Hart
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
every Monday 10.00 am- 12.00pm upstairs at The Apex
What do we do?
The chess group is for people of all abilities; from absolute beginners to Russian 12 year olds!
We’re a friendly bunch who don’t take chess too seriously. Instruction/guidance provided if required.
Boards and pieces provided. No fees.
Why not come along and check us out? Just turn up if that suits you.
![Cribbage](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Cribbage-1-4.jpg)
Peter Keen
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
12 noon on Wednesdays, fortnightly. (Please contact me for actual dates)
The Manger at Bradfield Combust
What do we do?
Meet up, have a coffee, play several hands of crib (cards and boards provided), have lunch and then go home.
Games can comprise of 2, 3 or 4 players.
We are a convivial group of people who enjoy playing Crib, with life stories to tell/ exchange.
The morning starts with coffee before playing groups sort themselves out, arranging in tables of 3 or 4 players.
Play is much fun and very lively, interrupted only by ample lunch served in quality and quantity.
Never had a dull session yet.
This group is now full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list please email the Group Leader.
![Cribbage Tuesday Group](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Cribbage-Tuesday.jpg)
Richard Sabatini
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
Monthly at 13:00 at the Manger, Bradfield Combust on the second Tuesday.
Please contact the organiser to confirm dates and availability.
What do we do?
An oversubscription of this popular interest group triggered the creation of this new Cribbage: Tuesday group.
We meet in the same venue and follow a similar format. organising into groups of 2,3 or 4 to play rounds of cribbage over good food with friendly people. Boards are provided. All are welcome whether novice or veteran.
![Cryptic Crosswords](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Crossword-Book.jpg)
John Moody
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
We meet at 2:00pm on the last Monday of the month upstairs at The APEX.
What do we do?
We are a group exploring and developing our skills in Cryptic Crosswords. Solving abilities in the group range from the novice to more experienced solvers. Each month we cover:
- Solving a Quick Cryptic crossword of the Month together. A link to this is sent a few weeks beforehand so members can have a go on their own.
- A briefing on and then practice at cryptic clues of Clue Type of the Month. We are following the sequence of the U3A Cryptic Crossword subject adviser Henry Howarth’s online course and book Learn How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords: A Course for Beginners.
- A selection of Clues of the Month
- Practice at setting clues with Words of the Month
The group is led by John Moody, an experienced cryptic crossword solver, blogger and compiler. John is a Times Crossword Championship semi-finalist, leader of the crossword blogging site Times for The Times and founding compiler and editor of the Weekend Quick Cryptic Crossword series.
People who are keen to learn are as welcome as those who have some existing knowledge. Please contact the group organiser if you would like to join us.
![General Knowledge Quiz](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/General-Knowledge-.png)
Stephen Recaldin
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
or
Irene Dunnet
When do we meet?
Second Friday of each month 10.00am
We normally meet at the Constitutional Club, on Guildhall Street, who kindly do not charge the u3a, but the only request is we buy a coffee or tea.
What do we do?
Note – December’s Quiz: we are not able to meet at our usual venue due to circumstances beyond our control. Therefore December’s quiz will be held in Studio-2 at the Apex
This is a very sociable group which meets every month.
Ordinarily, you work in a small team. No prizes. No losers. Just light-hearted sociable fun with 10 rounds of quickfire questions and answers.
98% of all questions are answered by someone so don’t be shy; come and check us out.
If you’ve got the answers to most of the questions and you’ve had fun then I’ve done my job.
The quiz format has been changed somewhat, so you should see some improvements, it’s still all fairly light-hearted fun!
Please be sure to allow time to buy a drink before we start at 10am.
![Mah Jong](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/maxresdefault-1.jpg)
Jeff Paine
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
The venue is my home in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday mornings between 10 and 12 noon.
Course dates by arrangement.
What do we do?
A five-week introductory course followed by play and further instruction.
Preferred minimum number four players and maximum number eight players.
Any member of the u3a is welcome to attend subject to the above restrictions. I currently have four members on the waiting list for the start of the next season.
![Petanque](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/petanque.png)
Sue Hawthorn
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
We will be meeting alternate Monday and Thursday afternoons at Risbygate Sports Club.
We meet at 2pm until 4pm but we can play for longer should we wish to.
***Our first 2024 Monday session will be on 8th April at 2pm at Risbygate Sports Centre and our first Thursday session will be on 18th April same time and place ***
What do we do?
Members do not need any experience and are not required to buy their own boules sets as the club (see note below) have a supply of these, although some members do bring their own sets with them. We do have some members who do play and are kindly helping those who are novices.
All the members of the group have joined the Risbygate Sports Club in order to play as it is more cost effective to do so. The cost to join Risbygate Sports club is £24 for the year. This will enable you to use some of the other facilities and to attend their social functions. Coffee facilities are available and a bar that opens at 6pm.
New members still welcome. Please contact group leader, Sue for more information.
![Photography](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/photography-club-Screenshot-2022-06-05-095159.png)
David Daw
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
or
Mary Proctor
When do we meet?
Third Thursday of the month 2:30-4:30pm at the Thomas Clarkson Centre.
There is a small cost to each member to cover the cost of the room hire at £10 per 3-month term (£3.33/month).
New members are welcome to come along and check us at at no cost.
Plus a field trip once a month – usually the first Thursday of the month. Please contact the Group Leader for details.
What do we do?
Open to all levels of experience. The desire to improve your photography skills could range from the desire to capture memories through to learning more artistic or creative techniques.
Are you interested to learn along side each other or have an interest in a particular form of photography, whether it be for your holiday snaps, or landscape, portrait, family occasions, animals, pets, wildlife, insects, buildings, objects, flowers, street, sport, black & white, macro, or just to feel more confident taking photos?
Come along regardless of the type of camera you have whether it is on your mobile phone, instant, bridge or SLR camera.
There is no expectation that anyone is an expert who has to teach the others, the philosophy behind u3a is that we learn from each other – and preferably have fun too.
Each month a photo theme and technical topic selection will be based as far as possible on members’ suggestions. For example: Shutter speed as technical topic and photo theme ‘fill the frame with colour’
Our aim is to be an inclusive group and encourage shared learning.
New members with any level of experience are welcome and should contact Mary Proctor.
Browse through a selection of our member’s photos here member’s photos
![Racketball](https://www.u3aburystedmunds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/RacketballDunlop.jpg)
Michael Hood
The group organiser details are only available to logged in members
When do we meet?
Every Thursday at Moreton Hall Health Club. Sessions run from 2.10-3.30pm. Cost-£5.00/session
There is some space for new members, please contact the group leader for further information.
What do we do?
A great way to exercise with like-minded people, Racketball is played indoors, on a squash court, so the weather need not keep you away.
You do not need to have your own equipment as English Squash and Racketball have supported us in the development of this Group and provided all we need. All you need is your own sportswear!
There is a limit to the number of possible players per session and our numbers can vary. Please send an email to the group leader if you would like to join us.