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In just over two weeks, we will all be getting ready for the first round of the JLT New Zealand Open and Restricted Open Pairs. The big day will be here very soon. The good news is that numbers coming look like being up there with the high numbers of the last couple of years.

In 2016, we had 678 register for all or part of the week while the equivalent number last year was 657. The total so far this year is 634 and is growing every day. 2016 was the largest NZ Congress ever. So, this year stands a chance of beating that number. These figures exclude The National Youth Teams and Bridge New Zealand Novice Pairs.

The number who have attended the whole Congress in the last two years, plus current year to date are:

2016	381
2017	357
2018 to date	349

 

We are expecting at least 72 players coming from overseas. This is the same number as we had in 2017.

A great place to be.

So, numbers are good. The hotel is almost fully booked out… and there is a good spread of players coming. Most players do not enter some of the events until Congress Week but here is a comparative update of some of the events:

                                                            2017                          2018 to date

JLT New Zealand Open Pairs                150 pairs                   138 pairs

JLT Restricted Open Pairs                      62 pairs                     59 pairs

Hamilton City N Z Open Teams              110 teams                 104 teams

New Zealand Intermediate Pairs              68 pairs                     50 pairs

Pianola Intermediate Teams                    28 teams                   26 teams

Restricted Open Swiss Pairs                   58  pairs                    36 pairs

Intermediate Swiss Pairs                         64 pairs                     44 pairs

It’s great to see the Intermediate/Junior events filling up..and hopefully we will see a good number of new pairs come along to the Bridge New Zealand Novice Pairs during the afternoon of Sunday September 30^th (you do not need to pre-enter for that event.)

                                  
Can Julie Atkinson and Patrick Carter                                      They will all be back helping to run the event:
 repeat their feat of winning The New Zealand                           directors Tony Morcom, Allan Joseph, Matthew McManus along
 Open Pairs?                                                                               with scoring guru, Peter Busch.
Rubber Bridge Contestants

All seven regions have found the pair(s) to represent them in the finals of the National Rubber Bridge competition. Wellington had by far the most pairs taking part and so qualified for the extra pair. Here then are the eight pairs who will be playing the National title..and the decent sum of prize money which goes with it. The quarter-finals will be played on the evening of Friday September 28^th at 7.30pm:

Auckland- Northland	Michael Curry – Malcolm Mayer
Waikato Bays	Nick Whitten – Janice Bell
Central Districts	Robyn and Don Nightingale
Wellington	Johnny Davidson – Susan Laurenson
	Peter Newell – Martin Reid
Top of The South	Sita Monaghan – Carol Minchin
Canterbury	Jane Lennon – Jan Alabaster
Otago - Southland	Ann Cosgrove – Marilyn Jackson

 

You can still enter:

Any event…except, of course, the Rubber Bridge! If you are still to register, just follow this link and make your entry. We would appreciate it if you paid in advance as well.

And you just cannot be there?

Then follow the results and read the Daily Bulletins.

Enjoy…..

Richard Solomon

 

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