The Czech Republic Junior Team
Coach:
Ine Gielkens (Dutch). Having met the
Czech team
in 2006 at the White House Juniors in Amsterdam, she
became a fan and volunteer if the team was short of Czech
volunteers to accompany them (the Czech bridge federation
is very small).
Of course the 2006 team now is too old but the ‘oldies’ will
recognize Michal Kopecky who is now the coach and
captain of the Czech youngsters.
It seems the Czechs gained a (former) Dutch player but it
was a Greek gift; Ine’s former co-coach Richard Ritmeijer
(Dutch) has been stealing the heart of one of the best Czech
players, Magdalena Ticha, who is now member of the Dutch
Girls team and even managed to become the ‘Dutch player
of the year 2011’!
If any one wonders why we all have a rabbit on our sleeves?
Kralik is the Czech word for rabbit, and since half of the
team and captains are Kraliks...