Rex's blog

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.

Rodney HarrisMorrinsville Contract Bridge Club members are very saddened by the sudden death of a long standing member Rodney Harris.
Rodney has been a member for nearly 40 years and many club trophies bear his name-including Club Championship, Individual Championships and Morrinsville Tournament several times.
Rodney was also a regular member of Hamilton Contract Bridge, playing regularly on Wednesday nights.
He was a very competitive and passionate Bridge player, played annually at NZ Bridge Congress and competed in tournaments throughout the Waikato. His last success was in March this year when he and his partner Lucy Armstrong successfully defended their title from the previous year when winning the Waihi All Grades Tournament.
Over the years Rodney has given back to his home club. He served three times as Club President over the years and was a current committee member and a Director of club night play. Numerous Morrinsville members have benefited from his lessons, encouragement and his sharing of a deep Bridge knowledge.
Rodney was an unassuming, friendly, respectful member and will be greatly missed by his many Bridge friends.
A memorial service for Rodney will take place at the Morrinsville Bowling Club Sunday May 5th at 11 a.m.

Morrinsville Bridge lessons will start again this year on Tuesday March 12th at the Morrinsville Bowling Club. Tutor will again be Nick Whitten and they're free. So if you want to learn to play Bridge - and it's very good for the brain - come along at 7 pm. Phone Nick at 07 8897831 or Rex at 07 8897348 if you need to know anything.

Lessons for beginners start at Morrinsville Bridge Club this coming Tuesday March 20 at the Morrinsville Bowling Club. Tutor is Nick Whitten who has taken these lessons now for several years. The Club also runs lessons for more experienced players that want to 'up their game' on the fourth Thursday of each month with Nick taking the novice/junior players and Jim Crawford the more advanced.