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Ann Ring - A Tribute to A Great Lady

We were sad to hear that Matamata Life Member, Ann Ring, passed away last night. She was over 90 and was still playing regularly at the bridge club ... including last week.

Ann joined the club in the 1960’s and served on the committee from 1972 – 1975 before taking a break before serving on the committee for another 13 years. This included 2 years as Vice-President and 2 years as President. She then took another break before serving for another 5 years from 2008.

Lucille and Ann RingLucille and Ann Ring
Ann Ring (on the right) with friend Lucille Hughes

A total of 22 years of service to the bridge club on the committee.

During her time with the club, she has been a marker (before the advent of the computer) a partner steward and a handicapper. She attended to the flowers and cooked chickens for the tournaments.

Ann was not one to make decisions lightly. She researched things and consulted others before making a decision.

Her name has figured 8 times on the Championship Board and on the Billy Graham Trophy.

This information was taken from her Life Membership citation in 2012 and Ann has continued to feature regularly on the trophies since that time.

For the last 60 years Ann has been gracious, loyal, faithful, generous member of the Matamata Bridge Club and she will be sorely missed by us all.

Life Members: From L-R our life members in 2019, Sonia, Lesley and Ann RingLife Members: From L-R our life members in 2019, Sonia, Lesley and Ann Ring

Te Aroha news - October

sorry late posting it albeit Richard distributed it in October!

Richard's Te Aroha Newsletter for September

If your picture doesn't appear in the newsletter - then you weren't playing at the club this month .... with the exception of Ross Stewart who was there but somehow managed to avoid the camera lens!

$2100 raised for the Cancer Society

What a great night - I can't thank you enough!

Matamata Bridge Club held their annual Benefit Night last night (Thursday 22nd September)

This year our organisation of choice was the Cancer Society.
Through the generosity of our members and the support that we received from our local sister bridge clubs we are absolutely delighted with the amount that we have raised for this good cause that touches so many of us in our own lives.

I would like to thank all our members that donated all the “In the Bag” prizes and all the many and varied Raffles. These same members then supported all these raffles by buying up large. A raffle donated by Hermanna and run at Te Aroha the week before also raised $150. Several individuals from our club also gave cash donations to this cause. I would like to thank all the visitors for coming and supporting us. We had 16 visitors come along on the night from 4 different clubs.

Thank you all very much!!!!!!

There are two people I would like to thank personally.
Beth Vosper – Beth suggested “In the Bag” and then we tossed around ideas on how to run it on the night

She also provided all the super and all the prizes. She was always ready to give me advise and support when I didn’t know what to do.
Colin LeQuesne – Colin spent hours down at the bridge club with me working out how we would run the night and helping to gift wrap the bags. I needed his considerable help on the night to make the evening run smoothly. He then must have spent hours counting the money!!!!

I am so Proud of our Club and our Members – You Are Amazing

Judith Howard
Matamata Club President

Benefit Night - Thursday 22nd September

update: Some members are having dinner at the RSA next door prior to Thursday bridge - non bridge playing partners invited to come along - from 5.15pm. Please let Judith know if you are keen to join them (details below).

Matamata Bridge club is running a Benefit Night for the Cancer Society.

Thursday Night 22nd September 2022

Come and join us for a fun night of Bridge. We are running an “In the Bag” evening.

Please advise approximate numbers for catering purposes

Starts 7pm includes supper

Clubrooms 1 Ngaio Street, Matamata

Table money will be $15 including in the Bag entry

Raffles will be sold at $2 tickets

Enquiries: Judith Howard 0272267731
j.howard@xtra.co.nz

NZBridge Congress - 5 weeks away!

It is only about 5 weeks until the NZ Bridge Congress - 8 days of bridge from the 1- 8th October. We are lucky to have the event on our doorstep (well over the hill) at Bay Park in Mt Maunganui.

The event hosts around 15 different events for all levels of players - from an afternoon session for novices (those who learnt in the last 2 years), junior, intermediate, seniors, open restricted through to the 'expert' open.

There is an update today on the NZBridge website; see below

https://www.nzbridge.co.nz/blog/8634/National-Congress-Update-August-2022

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Early Bird discounts finish up at the end of August for those who register and pay ... talk to Richard Solomon or somebody at the club if you want to find out more about the event. Richard is the overall manager of the event and in charge in organising partners/team mates for anybody interested in attending.

Te Aroha News ...August

A novelty to bring you the monthly newsletter in the actual month that it relates to.

News is mainly regarding all of our club's success at the bridge table this month!

Richard's July Newsletter

Attached is the Te Aroha's July newsletter.

Sorry a bit tardy in posting it to the website.

Also note that the club reverts to social bridge this week (week beginning the 8th August) ... we have had a number of covid cases come to light.

Just come along and we will pair you up if you aren't isolating or feel compromised attending f2f bridge.

Thank You for Helping With the Matamata Open

This is a big thank you to all of those that help organize this tournament and who helped on the day with both food and hands on deck at the club. Lyn Ryan oversaw the morning and afternoon tea as well as organizing the soups at lunchtime. It was so nice to know that everything was under control and that I could just let Lyn get on with the job. I know that Lyn has contacted everyone that helped and thanked them.I would like to add my thanks for your help as well.

I would like to thank J Swap Contractors for their generous support of our Open Tournament. Their generosity allows us to show the Open players just what Matamata Bridge Club can provide.

Julie and Rachel together with Kimberly and Ruby excelled themselves with the lunch that they provided. The entrée, main course and then the yummy dessert should have fully satisfied everyone’s hunger. If anyone was still hungry the 3 soups were there to fill any gaps. Beth’s shrimp chowder disappeared in minutes, and they were asking if there was more.

I would like to thank all our own players that entered and played in this tournament. Without your support this tournament would have probably been cancelled. Colin and John, Moya, and Berna, Hermanna and Henk, Judith and Joy, Neil and Mary, Ian and Lynette, Lesley and Noel, Ken and Mike Curry and Kathy and Liz Fisher. That is 4.5 tables out of the total of 10 tables. We needed you and you supported us.

Special thanks to Beth Vosper and Heather Kneebone that came and played in the afternoon after Neil became unwell. He is now feeling better.

From my viewpoint this was the best tournament yet. It felt like everyone was working together. They knew what they were doing and got on with the job. It was so lovely for me and reduced my stress levels greatly.

If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me. Some people say I give to much praise. Well, I don’t care you deserve it. Thank you all!
Cheers
Judith Howard

PS The results are on our website, and I will add results and pictures to our Matamata Bridge Club Facebook page and KiwiBridge. Of course congratulations go to all the prize winners on the day. Well done!

June Newsletter from Richard

This month we see some tournament successes including our home tournament the Spa Town Teams.

Thanks to all the club who helped out on the day - was a really successful event.