The normally genteel world of the Bermuda Bridge Club has been shattered by a blazing row at the tables which resulted in two female members being suspended.

Club members were so alarmed by the outburst during a Ladies Pairs match in February that some threatened to stop playing unless action was taken against the women.

It ended with Sally Sykes being forced to write a grovelling apology and accept a two month suspension, while her partner Vera Petty was given a one month suspension.

One bridge source told The Royal Gazette the pair exploded during a match in the club house in Pomander Road, Paget, during a dispute over a score.

Bridge Club President Joe Wakefield said there had only been two other suspensions in the previous 30 years at the club.

He told The Royal Gazette last night: "There was an altercation at the club in February and there were written complaints about their behaviour and a number of oral ones as well.

"There was a disagreement about the score on one hand, and it wasn't the nature of the scoring, it was the way the dispute was conducted.

"The committee had a hearing and it was decided they were at fault and it was unanimously voted that they should be suspended. We have to respond to the membership."

One bridge source said yesterday: "There was a dispute about the score and they lost it big time, so much so there were people down at the club who were saying they were going to have to leave or they would.

"There was some real verbal abuse and they wouldn't let it go. It was a really big deal at the bridge club."

Another source said: "I think this was the straw that broke the camel's back for many members as both had been out of line for some time.

"Bridge in many ways tends to bring out the worst in people in tense situations and it was long overdue that something was done about them.

"These are two people to whom the game is clearly important and hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call. They are both just at times out of control.

"They were taking issue with their opponents and the director when he makes a ruling, stomping off the table when something doesn't go well, and berating people after the game."

The private club had planned a special general meeting on May 1 when Mrs. Sykes planned to appeal her two month suspension, but she withdrew it. Mrs. Petty had originally planned to appeal her one month suspension but also withdrew it.

In letter to members, Mrs. Sykes wrote: "I would like to apologise for the incident in which I was involved that took place at Bridge Club during the Ladies Pairs.

"I understand that several members were upset and threatened not to play in future events. It was certainly not my intention to cause such a problem for the club and its members, but I agree that my conduct on that evening and the whole incident was unacceptable.

"I will make every effort to ensure that my behaviour at the club in the future conforms to the laws of Contract Bridge and the policies of ACBL (American Contract Bridge League).

"In order to avoid members having to attend a special general meeting, I am withdrawing my appeal and am accepting the committee's sanction of two months suspension. I hope when I return to the club, we can all put this unfortunate incident behind us."

Mrs. Petty is in the six person Bermuda team which is playing a week-long qualifying tournament in Martinique from May 24 to qualify for the Bermuda Bowl tournament in Monte Carlo.

The Royal Gazette was unable to contact either Mrs. Sykes or Mrs. Petty for comment yesterday.