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Central Districts News with George McLachlan
Taradale on the move.
"In June last year the Taradale Bridge Club was advised that the lease of the room they had used for the past ten years would not be renewed, contrary to previous discussions and the drawing up of a yet to be signed contract. The Club had four months to find new premises. An extensive search failed to find a suitable venue and the Club realised they would have to build their own facility. Fortunately, as an interim measure, the Napier Bridge Club very generously offered to lease their rooms to Taradale as none of their sessions clashed with Taradale’s. Taradale moved in there in October and the sharing arrangement is working very well.
Taradale Bridge Club continues to pursue a permanent home. The Club is applying to the Napier City Council for a piece of Council Reserve land on which to build new clubrooms and is confident of success. Supported by a large number of members, three of the committee made a presentation to the Council at their January meeting. The Council response was positive. Formal approval is yet to be received and the Council has advised the Club that it will be 12-18 months before building can begin.
As soon as land is available the Club is well positioned to start building. The Club has good financial reserves and is working with the Lotteries Commission and the local Eastern and Central Community Trust about the possibility of additional funding. Plans for the new building are in progress. The Club has a number of recent models to look at thanks to assistance from Rangiora, Orewa and Havelock North Bridge Clubs.
In the meantime session numbers have held up remarkably well and members are enjoying their Bridge. The Club is optimistic and looking forward to welcoming members of the wider Bridge community to a smart new facility in the future."
thanks to club co-president, Jo Hayes, for the above report.
Picnic Time out West
The New Plymouth, Wanganui and Hawera clubs each run a picnic tournament during January and February under handicap conditions as encouragement for intermediate and junior graded players. There is an incentive for all grades to take part in all three tournaments, thanks to the generosity of Alan and Kevin Upson (Hawera) who donated an impressive trophy for the pair with the best net score and who played in all three tournaments. Effie and Kevin are multiple winners of the Upson Cup and in recent years have decided to avoid the expense of engraving and use a rubber stamp instead.
Effie Gallie and Kevin Upson
At New Plymouth on 26th January 40 pairs took part, the winners being Gallia Therin and Lynda Couper from Lalith Mendis – Coby Slager and Mike Brewer- Steve Baron.
The Wanganui Picnic Tournament on 2nd February was won on handicap by Clare Veltman and Pam Mason from Bruce Annear and John Botting and Jan Hawkins and Pam Livingston. Peter Ramsey and Steve Baron had the highest score of the day off scratch with 62.48%. 43 pairs took part.
The Hawera Picnic Tournament was held on February 9th. There were 20.5 tables. The winners, by a comfortable 6%, were Sarah Green and John Rutten from New Plymouth.
Hawera winner, Sarah Green 2nd placed Penny and Steven Needham
Second were husband and wife pair of Steven and Penny Needham from Stratford and third Diane Werder (a past President) and Pauline Fensom from Hawera. Sandie Pryor who is a Hawera club member and who on the day had plenty to do with the organising of the tournament finished a close 4th with her partner, Vincent Lim.
3rd at Hawera, Diane Werder and 4th placed Sandie Pryor
Pauline Fensom
Meanwhile, winners of the Napier Restricted Pairs were Neil McDonald-Jan Davis who beat Barrie Russell- Yvonne Whittle and Jenny Peters- Diana Lees narrowly.
coming up...
The very popular Gold Coast Congress has attracted the usual flood of players from the Central Districts region. To those people we extend good wishes for a happy and successful week.
and in the future...
Our regional tournaments are so well supported these days that for those who are slow to enter there will be disappointment. The upcoming Feilding Open and the Marton Picnic tournaments were filled long before the advertised closing dates. Also only a couple of weeks away is the ever-popular Taranaki Congress at New Plymouth (March 7th-10th).
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