Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville Clubs

FIFTY YEARS 1976-2026 MORRINSVILLE CONTRACT BRIDGE CLUB

Feb 24 1976, marked the beginnings of Morrinsville Bridge Club.
Fifty years ago, back in 1976, a casual conversation between Phillipa Kilpatrick and Jim Crawford, led to the establishment of Morrinsville Bridge Club.
After advertising for interest, a meeting was called with 71 attending. It was a fine endorsement for progress to form a club.
On opening night there were nineteen tables. The annual subscription was eight dollars and thirty cents table money.
Phillipa and Jim are still active members of the Morrinsville club.
Life Members:
Claire Wilson 1986
Jim Crawford 1987
Mildred Seavill 1989
Enid Trower 1989
Phillipa Kilpatrick 2023
The first President was Owen Hetherington, whose daughter Gail Arnold is a current club member.
Harold Sherson who attended the first lessons in 1976 is another active club member.
President Grant is organising a 50 year birthday cake to be shared around members this coming Tuesday night, fifty years to the day since the Club had it’s first Club night.

For those wanting to learn the game, Morrinsville Bridge Club offers its annual lessons starting on Wednesday March 4th at the Morrinsville Bowling Club rooms. Ideal timing for those wanting to start this interesting game. (or perhaps just refresh your skills )
Enquiries to Lesley @ 027 208 8533 E. richdalelesley@gmail.co.nz

On other subjects, the new tablets and computer are performing well. Our existing Compass scoring program is about to be replaced with a new version that Bob Fearn is working on at the moment. Hopefully that will all slot in with no hassles.

And don’t forget our Wednesday night session, 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7pm start. No partner required. Just come along and you’re guaranteed a game. No table money for members, $4 non members. Where else could you go to have such a cheap night out!

Good Bridging everyone.
Maureen & Rex.

There’s news about the new way of paying table money at the club.

Who has been bringing home the bacon.. well, the ham!

Talking of food and drink, there’s a strange sound when someone called for for quiet at the club

and “The King” is revealed... with a major birthday coming up.

Some wise words (maybe) from “The Wisdom of Solomon”

and not just “green fingers” or even matching green clothes but plenty of greens all round (and a bit of orange!)

Family time in Canberra

How you can help the club at Domain Day

and how to concede –1700 and yet score very very big.

It’s all here in January.

Enjoy

Richard

Dear all

The Chair of NZ Bridge, Peter Newell, has offered to facilitate a proposed constructive way forward for our future. Please read his letter attached.

We have agreed that:
- Both Special General Meetings that have recently been called are withdrawn;
- Meeting/s of members and parties will be mediated by Allan Morris, the recently retired NZ Bridge Board Chair, over the next few weeks;
- Allan is a well known and highly respected member of our NZ Bridge community who will act as an independent confidential mediator; and
- The group will work together to develop a proposal for a positive future, in consultation with you all.

We are very happy to accept Peter’s suggested way forward and will endeavour to communicate with you regularly while we work through this.

In the meantime, the bridge club will continue to operate as normal, so we look forward to seeing you all here enjoying your cards.

Noel Grigg and Anna Kalma

A look back at the Christmas Party...

prize winners, our caterer and a fine group of musicians

What our new President gets up to in some of his spare time

Remembering Arie Rigter

Happy Birthday, Pat

and some “Wisdom of Solomon

Happy Reading

Richard

Hi all,

With year’s end approaching faster than the sound of pounding reindeer feet, I take this opportunity to wish everyone the best for the festive season and New Year.

Last night we had our end of year club prize-giving and Xmas dinner. What a great spread of food and treats we had!

Congratulations to those who received a prize and a full list of trophy winners is below. Check out the photos on the Matamata Bridge Club Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/897714290370809

Monday bridge still has two sessions to go and will wrap up on the 22nd December as Beth will still run a session on that day for those keen to rock up for some card play.

Wednesday Bridge will finish on the 17th December. Xmas nibbles and bubbles will be available at the end of play for those who wish to take part in some Christmas socializing. All welcome.

2026 will start again on Monday 5th January and Wednesday 7th January. This is social bridge starting at 1pm every Monday & Wednesday afternoon throughout January before the season proper starts in February. Just turn up, no partner required and all welcome.

Hot off the press the 2026 programme booklets are available at the clubrooms now.

Have a great Christmas and see you all in 2026.

Xmas Cheers

Colin

Most importantly, we salute our new Life Members.

Some words of thanks to retiring Committee members......and welcome to those newly elected

“Palmy Days... and nights” revealing all (well, nearly all,) that happened at the National Congress

Recent Te Aroha winners...and Certificate achievers...

and welcome back to “The Wisdom of Solomon” Boy, I really need to read my own advice this time!

Enjoy

Richard

Attached Colin's newsletter about what's happening at Matamata ... Teams, AGM and prizegiving coming up...

It’s been a while and it’s back with plenty of pictures of you, our players this time.

You can see where I spent a couple of evenings on my trip away from bridge....

The dangers bridge players endure

A Te Aroha Bridge Club story from 1977, remembered in 2025

News of club events, a tournament success and some inter-club events..

and some news of what Tyrel has been up to

Saxon Teams in colour

and what one club member is smiling about

Cheers Richard

Attached the latest news and results from Matamata

The club August newsletter is attached

Lots of good news this month including:

good tournament results from both sides of the Tasman
what our players are really good at when it comes to the Cambridge 6’s
birthday celebrations at the club
a pair who did not get a game but really did not mind
travellers

...and best news of all at the end.

Enjoy

Richard