Matamata, Te Aroha, Morrinsville Clubs

With many thanks to Kristen Rigter for her work on our grant application we are delighted to announce that the Pub Charities have made a very generous donation to our club for the purchase of a dealing machine. Full details at the next committee meeting!

The first main bridge event of the Waikato Region in each calendar year is the Thames Congress. Taking part and flying the flag for Te Aroha was Jane Stearns. A respectable finish with her regular partner, co-Bridge Babe Clare Coles, and two Cambridge friends in the Saturday teams event, was then followed up with a session prize for Jane with Cambridge's Secret Weapon - their Chinese guru - Herman. After a disastrous first session the Master and his Grasshopper rallied to win the afternoon session prize outright, beating top New Zealand pairing Michael Ware and Alan Turner in the process:

Rank Pair Name Matchpts %
1 2205 He Yuan & Jane Stearns 675 59.21
2 2209 Michael Ware & Alan Turner 673 59.04

Not a sight often seen! We look forward to seeing a lot more Te Aroha names on the winners podium this year.

Nine members move up a grade in the 2013 NZCBA list

The new grades list is out for NZCBA and confirms what many of us suspected – Te Aroha is an upwardly mobile bridge club. We see moving up from Junior to the Intermediate Grade for the 2013 season:
David Hansen
Elaine Lovelock
Tim Rigter
Tim - Intermediate for 2013

Moving to the highest echelon, Club President Greg Saxon leads from the front and reaches the top grade, Open.

Melba Kerby makes a well-earned return to the intermediate grade and Joyce Heron and Jos Sonne both retired from our club having reached the intermediate grade.

Bernie and Margaret Pearson, building upon their bridge skills developed at Te Aroha, both become Intermediates for 2013

Congratulations to all our Te Aroha high flyers

AnnaThe prestigious Baden Wilson list produced by New Zealand Bridge quarterly features two of our members. All of their points awarded for 2012 have been added up, to give the final Top 10 players in the country for the year 2012. Two Te Aroha players feature in the top 10 players in the whole of New Zealand for their rank for 2012. Many congratulations to Anna Kalma, who at Certificate of Proficiency level (used to be called Junior Master) is the joint 4th highest female bridge player in New Zealand at that rank. Congratulations also to Henk Hemmes, who at the rank of Provincial Master, just snuck onto the list for his rank with an exceptional 10th place. The year also finished with Hermanna Kalma reaching the rank of Master - our most senior ranked player. Many congratulations Hermanna and to Henk and Anna for inspiring us all at Te Aroha and flying the flag for our small club and packing a punch on the nationwide bridge stage.

Thank you to everyone who entered the "Spirit of Te Aroha" Photo competition for a banner photo to use on our website. The best ones have been chosen and are appearing on our website now. The judging has taken place and after much deliberation .... drum roll ... the winner is ... further drum roll ....

Anna's winning entry

ANNA KALMA for her floral contribution shot in front of the historic and renowned Te Aroha Bath house at the top of the historic and renowned Te Aroha domain. The stunning yellow petunia and white alyssum display captured the Judge's eye, along with its supreme infinity lines which made it an excellent banner choice. Congratulations Anna.

Jacob and SadieTe Aroha regular, Jacob Kalma (14) and Sadie Swap (98) paired up on Thursday night for the Matamata Bridge Club and capped off a great year of bridge with a session win at the annual Christmas Event.

The 2012 year ended on Tuesday night with dinner for friends, guests and members of the Te Aroha Club culminating in the last bridge session for the year.

It was a wonderful turnout which could have had something to do with the beautiful buffet dinner on offer, Anne's punch or the friendly bar service. Visitors attended from the neighbouring Waihi, Matamata, Morrinsville, Cambridge and Hamilton clubs which ensured that we had a great competition for our ultimate night of the year.

A total of 9 tables stayed on to compete in the Christmas Party pairs with top honours going to N-S pairing of George Sherrell and Greg Saxon who blitzed the field with 76% while Anna Kalma and Ross Stewart topped the E-W field.

Overall a great night - congratulations and thanks to the committee for all their hard work and preparation for the event.

Click on READ MORE below to see all the photos from this special night.
Vibrant Young Te Aroha ready for 2013: Jane (Tutor), Tim (Vice-President) and Anna (Computer manager and general factotum) look forward to a renewed and invigorated Te Aroha Bridge Club in 2013

Elaine's mum and former member of the Te Aroha Bridge Club has just turned 108. The reporters were out to greet this event. Read about it at:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8030505/Woman-108-says-longevity-comes-n...
Elaine told this roving reporter (Jane at the Christmas party!) her mum played bridge up until she was 103. Clearly bridge is good for your longevity! Many Happy Returns Mrs McGruer from all of us at Te Aroha Bridge Club.

Spicing up their results at the Te Aroha Club sees this small, yet beautifully formed, bridge club joining the elite X-Club in the Waikato. Already our Te Aroha stalwarts have topped the region in their Tuesday night play. The enthusiastic pioneers are embracing change and have a new spring in their step as they brace themselves for a hectic and exciting Diamond Jubilee year in 2013.

The "Inmates" playing TeamsFormer Te Aroha stalwarts Margaret and Bernie have settled into Lauriston Park in Cambridge and are regulars at the Cambridge Bridge Club. They recently took part in the Cambridge Teams event, appropriately under the name "The Inmates" as you can see by the attached photos with team mates Alan Gooch and Margaret Mackay. They are both achieving good results with their bridge and have won series.