Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville Clubs

The January update (was released on 31st January but posted late!).

Lots of things happening!

- two of our youngest members tied the knot
- some of our members doing great things in the bridge world
- the latest on covid requirements
- subs and fees due!

Attached is my first Te Aroha Newsletter. Looking forward to input from club members

bastille day

Parlez vouz Francais?

Bonjour, Sacre bleu!

Stay after bridge on Wednesday the 14th July and help celebrate Bastille Day.

Wear something French - think Coco Chanel - find that Beret you had since you were a teenager!

BYO or Champagne available at $3 a glass. Nibbles provided - escargots - fromage et biscuits etc!

spa town

Looking forward to seeing the participants on Saturday for a 9.30am start at the Silver Fern Events Centre on Stanley Street

A few other notices:

It is likely that the multigrade and open will be combined into one field - will confirm this by Friday.

Lunch isn't provided but is available to purchase at the venue (soup and rolls).

Prepayment of $120 per team appreciated to: 03-1573-0041576-000

Any queries or late changes/entries please ring Anna on 0275 183 133.

Sixteen tables rocked up for the Matamata Junior tournament.

Matamata Junior Field

Keep track of progress via the results tab.

"If you’re Irish come into the parlour”

Wednesday 17 of March is St Patricks Day at Matamata and we hope you will help celebrate it.

st pats day

Wear Green and stay on after Bridge to enjoy some fun and fellowship.
Tea,coffee nibbles (Irish) provided and we will have a Cash Bar open with wine $3 a glass.

Share your best Irish joke and there will be an Irish Raffle.

Prizes for Best dress up and Best Joke.

Great day and full field for the inaugural 8B held in Matamata on Saturday 6th March.

Locals performed well albeit it winners were Gary Foidl and Yuzhong Chen of Waikato club.

Gary and Yuzhong: Gary and Yuzhong winners at Matamata

Lynette and Ian: Best of the Matamata pairs and second overall by a smidgin were Lynette Morgan and Ian Bond

Judith and Joy: Judith and Joy punched above their weight with 58% average and top intermediates. Joy as the photographer obviously tampered with the photo! Also sponsored the event via her business Williams Jewellers and Judith and Joy helped feed the masses with fish, bread (pizza) and wine. Was sort of a biblical finale!

Noel and Lesley: Lesley and Noel also finished in the money in 6th place

Other prize winners were Jenna and Christine Gibbons in 3rd place and Karen Marteletti and Kate Terry in 5th!

Well done MAtamata for your hospitality.

Monday 25 January is Robbie Burns Birthday and Beth would like to celebrate with you so come along wearing the Tartan and enjoy an afternoon of Bridge plus neeps and Tatties,Haggis and of course a wee Dram.

No partner required but be ready to be seated at 12.50pm.

Wednesday 27th January is the official opening day for 2021. Back to the normal start time of 10 30 .No partner required

2021 Programme Booklet
The 2021 programme booklet will be available from the clubrooms on Wednesday 25th. I will also be at the clubrooms between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday if anyone wants to come and get a programme in the evening.

I will also email a copy to everyone on the same day.

Thursday Night 4th February is the official Opening Night 7.10 start No partner required. NOT THIS COMING WEEK. The 1st week in February

We hope to see everyone returning to the bridge table and enjoying playing and catching up.
Look forward to seeing you all

Directors We would like to encourage more people to participate in the running of the club by learning to direct.
There is unlimited help from the senior players while you are learning and it also helps with your own bridge so please put your hand up to help the club and further your skills. ( Just like everything in life it is not as scary as you think after the first couple of times ) There are flow charts available for the common rulings that are relatively easy to learn so please give it a go.

The WaiBays region is also hosting two director seminars this year (Rotorua 21st March and Matamata on the 27th June) aimed at those who want to do more club directing as well as those who may wish to go for the director qualifications.

Learner Lessons are just over a month away ( start on the 3rd March ) and we still need more pupils so please try and spread the word and pass any names on to me.

We have a new member at the club called Moya Young and she would like to play on Thursday nights ( her name is in the book ) so please give her a ring and give her a game if you can.

For the first time in a couple of years - NZBridge have produced the Rank reports that reviews the amount of rating points (A + B points) won in a calendar year and sorted by the different ranks.

We had several members who appeared on the list for 2020 ... a year which will be remembered for less opportunities to earn ranking points at the bridge table than uaual.

Congratulations to:

Joy Williams (6th Club Master with 25.72 A&B pts)
Peter Daffurn (17th Local Master - 34.22 pts)
Hermanna Hemmes (19th National Master - 34 pts)
Anna Kalma (5th Life Master - 109.77 pts)

The full report is on the NZBridge website:

http://www.nzbridge.co.nz/user/inline/3639/Ranks%20Report%20%202020.pdf

Holiday Bridge starts soon!

Te Aroha kicks off on Tuesday night at 7.15pm on the 5th January and Friday afternoon from 11.30am.

Matamata starts their holiday bridge on Monday 11th January at 1pm and continues on Wednesday the 13th January also at 1pm.

Look forward to seeing you all at the bridge table.