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Sophie Ashton

How did you get started in Bridge? At what age? Who do you learn from?

My father taught me on a holiday to Argentina when I was 19. We played 2 handed bridge.

What do (did) you do professionally? 

I own and manage a busy specialist and GP practice in Goulburn

Who is your partner and for how long? Longest Partnership? 

Dave Wiltshire and I have been playing for 12 years! He is definitely the longest partnership I’ve had.

If you had a choice who would you like to play with? Australia and Internationally – living or dead. 

I reckon it would be fun to play with Zia Mahmood but I might have to learn how to become the catcher in the partnership!

In your playing career, what is the bridge success that has the most meaning for you? 

Certainly winning the Australian Playoff 4 handed was my best memory.

And your worst moment in bridge? 

Losing Mixed Playoff semifinal in 2023. I was incredibly low on sleep and played absolutely horridly. I felt so bad for the team.

What do you do between sessions to put you in the best frame of mind for the following sessions? 

I try not to score up, I meditate and try not to talk about the hands.

Do you have a favourite and least favourite convention? 

I like playing that 1C (2+) (1M) 2C shows both minors, I dislike Kickback

Would your prefer to have more system or less? 

I know I should say less but the truth is more

What do you to do to improve your game? 

I try to read books and system regularly, play Bridge Master hands, do competitive bidding against other partnerships and practice bidding on cuebids.

Favourite bridge book? 

Master of Bridge Psychology, inside the remarkable mind of Peter Fredin by Jeppe Juhl with Peter Fredin

What interests or hobbies do you have besides bridge? 

I love exercise, so I swim most days or play Netball/basketball. I spend a lot of time with my family – Sartaj and I have two gorgeous girls who are 7 and 8, they are very entertaining.

What is the number one thing that bridge has done for you as a person and for your life? 

Introduced me to a whole world of like-minded people.

National Titles

I’ve won NOT, ANOT, GNOT, VCC pairs, SNOT, Women’s, Mixed and Open Playoff

State Representation

I’ve reprensented NSW open team in 2022 and we won. I’ve represented the women’s NSW team in 2017 (we won), 2018 and 2019.

National / International Representation? 

I made the Australian Women’s team for 2020 but due to covid didn’t represent. I made the Australian Mixed team in 2023 I made the Australian Open team in 2025