Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville Clubs

The Waikato Team of Lesley Chubb, Judy Butler, Brian Nicholson and Alan Dawkins have finally triumphed in the Quilty Trays after competing in every event since it was opened to visiting teams.

They had an emphatic win and could have gone home at supper with an unbeatable 32 point lead at supper time on the final night. It turned out that their last match against runner-ups (and last year's winners of Lesley Quilty, Sonia Crawford, Ann Ring and Heather Kneebone)was their closest with just a 1 IMP win but meant they retained their perfect record of 9 wins from 9 matches.

Third place was the Hamilton Team consisting of MAlcolm Smith, Alison Smith, Linda Lin, Richard Fletcher and Richard Hooper!

Well done to Ari and Tim Rigter for winning the 2015 Championship Pairs. Ari and Tim are long time members of the Te Aroha club and have paired up for this competition for many years without success until this year which makes their victory all the sweeter.

Ari and Tim

Their victory was aided with a timely 70% score in the penultimate week which left a bit of breathing space between them and the chasing pack.

The winners of the Mokena Handicap Trophy which is run alongside the event was Pamela Clydesdale and Laurie Belfield. A great result for Pamela who just learnt bridge in the past year.

A stunning home win for mother and daughter combo Barbara and Raewyn at the Matamata Junior Tournament. A stunning top of the room score of 63.64% in the morning session followed by a steady 54.17% in the afternoon saw them clinch the Matamata Junior Pairs title by just 1.5%. Well done to Barbara and Raewyn who have now taken the lead in the Waikato Bays Junior League at the half way point. Runners up from Rotorua were Colleen Allen and Maureen Carter. A notable third place for a beginner from lessons last year Michele Liddle playing with her "Buddy" Jan Wills.

For results and ladder including overall ladder go to X-Club under Results to left of this page. Commentary on the day's proceedings and photos under the WAP 2015 tab, results and commentary.

Te Aroha and Matamata members created a storm over at Waihi today in the 8B Open tournament. Finishing 5th out of a field of 40 pairs were Greg Saxon and George Sherrill. Topping that were a magnificent 3rd placing for Anna and Jacob Kalma. Henk and Hermanna also came in at 9th with a very respectable score for the day. Congratulations!

Attached the latest newsletter from the Waikato Bays region.

Jane Stearns is offering the "Nesting Pairs" course at the Putaruru Bridge Club to all partnerships in the Waikato area that are interested as well as Rotorua and Taupo. Full details of the course content and registration details are available on the South Waikato website

http://www.south-waikato.bridge-club.org/

If interested, please let Jane know by Friday 17 April janelawrence50@hotmail.com

Jane will be running her Bridge-It Jane's Nesting Pairs Course at the Putaruru Club from April to July. A fortnightly, one-hour seminar, one-hour practice series of seven is designed to promote partnership understanding and tournament success.

Partnerships need to register their interest by FRIDAY 17 APRIL. The course is aimed at intermediates wishing to raise their game. Very keen juniors may enjoy Seminars 1, 2, 3 and 5 and 6. Open players that have not covered the topics on offer are welcome to register.

The Edie Schwarz Jug competition played over seven rounds has been completed. This competition is an individual scratch competition with six out of seven scores counting. It is one of the main Wednesday Bridge contests and the saying goes that “cream comes to the top.”

It certainly was the case in this competition. Sonia Crawford was the winner without even having to play the final round with all six of her scores counting. She was able to withstand a spirited challenge from Ann Ring and win by 1.1 point.

Best six scores were-
1. Sonia Crawford 367.00 av. 61.47
2.Ann Ring 365.99 av. 61.00
3.Anne Beetham 355.58 av. 59.26

Edie Schwarz: Edie Schwarz

It is fitting that one of the Matamata Bridge Club’s most revered past members is remembered with a keenly contested trophy. Edie played at the club for many many years and a number of the present bridge players were taught the game by Edie Schwarz.

The 2015 Lessons kick off next week - Tuesday 14th April at 7pm at the Matamata clubrooms.

For those who have learnt in the last couple of years, revisiting lessons is a great way to bed in your knowledge.

Or if you know of anybody that would like to learn - get in touch with the tutor Judith Howard or email the bridge club at matamatabridge@gmail.com

Monday night at Matamata saw the room facing some interesting/exciting boards. In total there was something like a staggering 12 slams available over the course of the night ... one board in particular was very unusual Board 2:

board 2

Interesting in that there was a slam available in both directions ... The discussion on facebook from people in other clubs who had played the same boards centred around whether those playing in the spades contract would have been likely to play for the drop in spades (hoping that the spades were distributed 1 each in defence) or whether to lead up to the 10D in your hand and finesse the k??

What would you have done? Playing in 7Sx against Sonia and Rita - I went for the drop in spades which meant I went two light. Unlike Joanne and Jim who obviously finessed for a top board of the night which was 6s making 7. Unfortunately my efforts brought a bottom board to me and my poor partner Heather.

Incidentally - for those with a mathematical bent - David Skipper (Christchurch Open player) advises "The drop has a 52% chance of success and the finesse has a 48% chance". Therefore those who used statistical analysis in the likely outcome would have gone for the drop going one light . . .that made me feel a bit better:)