Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville Clubs

Good turn out of 8 teams representing a mix of hippies, farmers, tourists, rock chicks, royalty, fairytales and pirates turned out for the final night of the teams in Te Aroha.

Some more pics

teams: peter pan and pochahontas pair up for some magic bridge

farmers: Milking the cards for all its worth

Te Aroha Teams: the girl band (oh and Henk on the air guitar)

Te Aroha Teams: far out dudes (the Matamata committee)

Te Aroha Teams: The Scary Godmother

Te Aroha Teams: June, our Chinese pirate.

Te Aroha Teams: this wasn't the best photo of our Queen and fisherfolk

Te Aroha Teams: ahoy there maties

Te Aroha Teams: another rock chick

Te Aroha Teams: tourists vs rock chicks

Players at both ends of the spectrum were podium winners at recent competitions - from our most experienced to our newest club members.
Sonia and Ann

Winners of the Championship Pairs were our life members Ann Ring and Sonia Crawford who bettered the rest of the Monday night field with an average score of 57%. Lynette Morgan and Ian Bond were second 55%.

Donna
The Thursday night President's Trophy was won by Donna Gaskell (63.44% average) with Shirley Townsend (63.22%) coming second. Both of these players are recently out of lessons and performed consistently well over the six nights to top the field.

Fantastic results!

Good to see 5 and a half tables competing at the Waikato Bays Novice Tournament.

Novice

Congratulations to Jol and Catherine Glyde who won the Novice with a magnificent 77.50% in the afternoon session to take the title ahead of Liz Clayton and Peter Vincent.

Attached is information regarding the special one session Novice Pairs event that takes place at Congress this year. Those that played today get a half price entry to the event.

Here are some photos from the second round of the Mini Moos held at Morrinsville Bridge Club today. Eight beginners from lessons at Matamata took part.

Sherie and Maeleen

Mike and Sandra
Austin and Pamela
Michele, Austin, Pamela and Barb
Mike relieved to be dummy!

Sherie and Maeleen in action
Moos 2 in Morrinsville
For those interested in what the Mini Moos is all about there is an article in the NZ Bridge Magazine this month ... not subscribed? It is free ... go to http://www.nzcba.co.nz/ and sign up today. The mini moos noosletter, Moos Noos is attached below.

Help Matamata! Te Aroha are looking for an extra team (or even two) to join the 7 teams who are registered to play in an upcoming local club competition.

The Teams event takes place over three Tuesday nights on the 9th, 16th & 23rd of September.

Of course - any competitors who play in a competition at Te Aroha over the year are entitled to attend our famous end of year Christmas Party ... a highlight on the bridge calendar!

Talk to or email Anna Kalma to register (anna_kalma@hotmail.com)

After great performances in the two junior tournaments held so far this year, Raewyn Richards and Barbara Keys are currently lying in joint 3 place on the Waikato Bays League Ladder.

The next event on the calendar is the Junior and Intermediate Tournament in Tauranga on the 30th August.

Attached are the league table to date for both the Intermediate and Junior Sections.

A concerted effort by members selling raffle tickets in town and a great turn out for the annual Benefit night at Matamata saw $1500 raised for the Matamata Health Shuttle Service last Thursday.

Sandra Hunter gratefully received the cheque from President Lawrence Teaz and explained how popular the service was with over 2500 user trips over the past year.

There was 16 tables on the night with visitors from our neighbouring clubs of Morrinsville and Te Aroha also competing and enjoying the supper.

The winners on the night were Dorothy Stubbins & Alex Randrup (North South) and a great result from newly graduated player Maeleen Borkin who partnered Helen Reid for top East West.

Perhaps the happiest player on the night could have been Sherie Gill ... another new player who not only performed admirably to come second North South but also took home the coveted raffle.

The recipe for Jane's slice is attached here.

In the final round of the WAPS held in Hamilton there was success for Matamata and Te Aroha competitors. Well done to Anna and Jacob who finished the top non-open pair in the competition. Supersub Judith Howard stood in for Jacob in the final round which placed the junior junior pairing top of the non-open field.
Meanwhile Sonia and Lesley were having a grand day out, finishing second in the final heat. Ian Bond and Lynette Morgan have had a great season at the WAPs and finished a determined 3rd overall in the competition with Lynette still battling her cold. Well done Piako!
Ed's final round up report can be viewed on the WAP 2014 tab to the left.

Cream of the CountryJacob and Anna cleaned up at the Cream of the Country afternoon of bridge in Morrinsville on Sunday. They beat the field coming first in a Butler Datum scoring event. Nick Whitten's enthusiasm and the excellent afternoon tea provided by members ensured a grand time for all the competitors. Many congratulation to Anna and Jacob!
Jacob
Anna

Matamata Class of 2014
L to R Back Row: Barb Hodgkinson, Sherie Gill, Austin Brown, Adrian van Mil, Joe Keys, Mike Darragh, Maeleen Borkin, Donna Gaskell, Michele Liddle, Shirley Townsend.
Front Row: Pamela Clydesdale, Tracey Kerr, Marcia Vosper, Jane Stearns (Tutor, kneeling) Sandra Miller, Gary Rose, Patrica James. Graduates not pictured: Derek Clark, Sandra Harper-Clark, Roisin McQuillan
10 weeks of lessons, 2 weeks of Bid and Play practice, and one week of a mock up club evening saw our interpid beginners start their bridge journey at the club on Thursday night.
Meet your new members:
Tracey Kerr and Marie
Tracey came to lessons with her friend and fellow vet Roisin McQuillan. She missed a chunk of lessons whilst overseas, but with the aid of notes and Roisin helping to catch her up she has emerged a graduate of the class showing great promise in her game. Tracey's bubbliness and friendliness will be much loved by the club members and she has Marie Whaley assisting her in her first steps. Marie is quite new to bridge herself and there is nothing like a beginner aiding a beginner to show empathy as club play begins.
Anna and Donna Gaskell
As a tutor you know you have found a great potential player as well as trouble when you are asked questions at lesson 2 and you are struggling to answer! Donna has taken to the game like a duck to water and is being buddied by Anna Kalma. She got off to a flying start at her first night of club bridge finishing top of the room!
Tony and Patricia James
Patricia found a fellow countryman from the same part of the UK as herself for a buddy. With Tony Pearson partnering her they were clearly on the same wavelength finishing top NS in the nursery section on Thursday. Go Patricia!
Michele Liddle and Jan
Michele has a keen competitive streak and has already tried out some club play as well as taking an excellent third place in the recent Mini Moos tournament with fellow student Austin Brown. Showing great promise she has her buddy Jan Wills supporting her as she enters the club.
Jill and Pamela Clydesdale
Pamela quite simply has balls!!! Missing the first two lessons she came with a returnee to lessons from Te Aroha last year Shirley Townsend. Initial fears that she might find it hard to catch up and get going with her bridge were instantly dismissed. Pamela is an aggressive bidder, unafraid to leap into the auction and is clearly going to be a gambler and a force to reckon with!
Pamela's home club will be Te Aroha but she hopes to return regularly to Matamata on Thursday evenings with Shirley to consolidate and hone her bridge skills. Jill Ireland is Pamela's buddy and supporting her in the first series.
Anne and Sherie Gill
Sherie has been working hard in lessons and is showing great enthusiasm and promise in the game. Having played some cards before bridge has been a natural progression for Sherie that she has taken to easily. Anne Beetham has stepped forward to help Sherie as she progresses into club bridge.
Gary Rose and Ian
Gary has an excellent table manner. He laughs his way through his games and is sporting whether he is winning, losing or simply bewildered. Ian Martindale is taking care of Gary in his initial steps. Gary will have everyone at the club laughing with him in no time.
Helen and Maeleen Borkin
Maeleen is showing great promise as a bridge player, having previously played card games she has taken quickly to bridge. She took part in the first of the Mini Moos, is studying her bridge book and already showing her paces at the bridge table. Helen Reid is helping her on her bridge journey.
Ian and Austin Brown
Austin has been a very conscientious student, always working at his homework and taking a 3rd place with fellow student Michele Liddle at the recent Mini Moos tournament without playing a single hand of club bridge. He even postponed his holiday to be able to play with his esteemed buddy Ian Bond.
Laurie and Barb Hodgkinson
Barb is lulling people into a false sense of security at the table by acting as if uncertain. In fact she has an excellent grasp and previous card playing experience is seeing her quietly sneak up on opponents and surprise them. Definitely one to watch!! The brass band committee had to play second to bridge classes as she did not want to miss the start and any "Pearls of Wisdom". Pearls or not ... Barb is going well with her bridge with Laurie Belfield taking her on her first steps at club play.
Mike Darragh and Sandra Miller
Mike and Sandra came to bridge as a group of four friends with Derek Clark and Sandra Harper-Clark. Although Derek and Sandra graduated, they are so busy with their business currently they have had to put their entry to club play on hold. Whenever students arrive with very little knowledge or background in cards I am always amazed when they complete the course. To have a starting point of not even holding a hand of cards or sorting them into suits let alone knowing what a trump is ... a longer journey is needed. I have nothing but sheer admiration for the grit and determination shown by Mike and Sandra in sticking at it, practising at home, and coming through the lessons as graduates of the class of 2014. Needing nurturing and patience on their journey they have Judith Howard and Joanne Swannick encouraging them and helping them on their way.
A Family Affair!
With his wife and daughter already avid bridge players Joe had little choice but to succumb and take his place at the bridge table too! Joe has gone well at lessons and with the extra help available within the family he is going from strength to strength. He has both Raewyn and Barbara to buddy him so his future looks very bright!