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Central Districts' News with George MacLachlan
News from the eastern side of our area features four recent tournaments. The Waipukurau Open tournament attracted a field of 26 pairs and after two sessions there was a very close finish with Bob Hurley and Deb Smith winning with an average of 60.2%, closely followed by the local Waipukurau pair of Peter and Julia Watson on 60.1%. There would have been some post mortem discussions about how the 0.2% was thrown away, but then that is bridge at its most exciting and most heart breaking.
Napier Intermediate
On the Sunday following the Waipukurau Open, the Napier Intermediate Tournament was held at the Napier club. The winners were Ron James and Yvonne Doole from Wairoa and in second place were Stephani Donald and Elizabeth Wilson. The Napier Intermediate field followed the local trend numbers wise with 24 pairs.
George Masters to the fore
The results for the remaining tournaments see the rise and rise of George Masters. It began with his team of George, John Pitts, Scott Smith and Evelyn Hurley winning the Hastings Open Teams. George and John Pitts also won the inaugural Nellie Stevenson 5A Open Pairs held over six Tuesday nights in March/April at the Hastings Bridge Club. Scott Smith and Gerry Palmer were second. The Nellie Stevenson (named after the past President and foundation Hastings Bridge Club member) attracted a field of 11 tables. The Hastings Club applied to run the tournament to help to promote participation and boost numbers on its Tuesday open night. Numbers playing certainly rose for this event and it is sure to be even more attractive next year as the club tweaks placement and length of the event.
The Dannevirke Open saw George Masters pair up with Wayne Burrows. The pair won the event convincingly with Jan Whyte and Ken Bateman coming second in a 14 table field. The event was a dress rehearsal for Wayne and George who then went on to play together in the Wellington Congress. They won the Wellington Congress Teams along with CD team mates Colin Carryer and Sandra Calvert, came third in the Open Pairs and then won the Swiss Pairs. Fittingly George Masters Motors sponsored the Swiss Pairs. So for George, the investment was really worthwhile.
Results out West
We see below winners from some other recent tournaments in the Region. As usual, the Taranaki Congress was a great success. While the Open Teams was won by Evelyn and Bob Hurley, Scott Smith and Grant Jarvis and the Swiss Pairs by Joan Smith and Kevin Upson, we see the winners of the two Pairs events:
Open Pairs winners, John Patterson and Kate Davies Intermediate/Junior Pairs winners, Margie Jones and Sandy Prior
Always remember, too, those who work to give the players such an enjoyable time.
Lorraine Stachurski manages to direct the 3 day Chrissie Bower provided the excellent catering at the Congress
Congress with a minimum of fuss but always with
good humour. Here she is wrapping up the final results.
On then to the Wanganui Intermediate/Junior Pairs where the winners were Di Haynes and Nancy Bartrum, by just 0.25% from Frank Dunlop and Graeme Donaldson.
Di Haynes and Nancy Bartrum Sue and Richard Walkinton, Junior winners at Wanganui.
They finished 3rd overall.
Farewell to Beryl Bolton
Beryl and Terence Bolton
With regret, we record the passing of a Foundation Member of the Napier Bridge Club, Beryl Bolton. She emigrated from England in 1961 and settled in Napier after living in Dunedin for a couple of years. At the 50th anniversary of the Napier Bridge Club, she was one of only three Foundation Members present.
Both Beryl and her husband Terence learnt bridge in England and carried on playing right up to their deaths. Beryl was a librarian in her early working days and on rejoining the workforce in the early 1970’s worked for an oral surgeon in Napier.
We record her passing with regret and send sympathies to her daughter, Hilary, son Michael and their families.
Rubber Bridge Revival in Taranaki
Rubber Bridge is not overly popular with our bridge population. That's a shame as it can be a very exciting version of Bridge. Thanks to Reeve Pring, it is being revived in the New Plymouth area. 16 pairs will be divided into two groups of 8 and will play 7 matches, one per month, to qualify the group winners into a final later in the year. The matches can take place at the bridge club or in players' homes and will last for 30 boards, with the same rules as per the National competition. Indeed, for those pairs playing in the national event, the first round will double for both events.
Reeve explains the reason for introducing this event; "The main reason the for introducing the competition was to foster social contacts .Many of our members don’t interact with players from other grades and often don’t even recognise them.
We pitched the competition as a game for players of all abilities. Any junior pair could beat the best players in the club if they get the cards. We were successful as we have entries from last years lessons through to our grand masters. The games are held in members homes so there is a chance to share some nibbles and a few wines."
A look through the list of entries sees grand masters and Junior players. It really is possible for the latter to win a match against their more experienced opponents over 30 boards. Reeve orgaiised a training session for those who needed it so that the rules can be understood by all competing. If the National event gains more entries as a result of this initiative, that would be good though the main benefit should accrue to the New Plymouth Club. Here's hoping this initiative is successful.
What are you doing/what should you be doing on Queens Birthday Weekend?
It’s getting close, the annual Hawke’s Bay Congress, this year 2nd- 5th June at the home of the Taradale Bridge Club, the Taradale Community Club. As usual, the programme caters for all grades of player from Novice through to Open and begins with a walk-in Pairs on the Friday evening. The entry fee for the whole week-end is only $130.00 per player, including lunches and the Anniversary Dinner. Space is limited….really…so please get your entries in by the official closing date, 26th May to Judith Boxall, either by phone (06) 842 0955 or by email to bjandjaboxall@xtra.co.nz
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