Newsletter 24 February 2023
In this week’s newsletter...
- President's Message
- Vale Peg Dyson
- Whoa Baby - Friday Night Bridge Trial!
- Hugh Hudson Pairs
- BFACT Women's Team - enter via MyABF
- BFACT Senior's Teams Qualifiying
- BFACT Open Teams Qualifying - entries close today
- Results from the Gold Coast
- Tony Bembroke Travel Insurance
- Ian Morison: Saving Entries Early
- Lighter Moments
President's Message
Doesn’t the club feel a little quieter this week? Our teams of representatives attending the Gold Coast have decreased our numbers playing within the club but that hasn’t curbed the enthusiasm of those who enjoyed pizzas on Wednesday evening. Thank you John Pike for organising this and we look forward to joining you again next month on the last Wednesday of the month for more fun and food.
Talking of which, don’t forget the return of Friday night bridge on 3rd March. Bruce Chapman is hosting a social night of bridge on a four week trial basis for those who work or wish to enjoy a relaxed evening of chat, chew and swallow, while playing the great game we all enjoy.
I hope all players sitting East/West are enjoying not having to carry around the bidding boxes as you move from table to table. There is no plan to return to using paper bidding sheets now that you are all trained in the use of the bidding boxes.
Remember to leave all your bids on the table until the first lead has been made by the defenders.
Tim Mather
Vale Margaret (Peg) Dyson
Peg Dyson joined up to CBC in 1980 and partnered many people over her 40+ years of membership. A service celebrating her life will be held at 1.30pm on Saturday 25 February at St Christopher's Cathedral in Manuka ACT. All welcome. There is a livestream if you cannot attend https://attnd.com.au/margaret-dyson
Upcoming Sessions
Our weekly sessions are almost the same as last week.
Bridge Announcement for Friday Night Trials
Bored, uninspired, in need of a lift, worried about that knee and hip replacement operation? The answer ain’t singles bars, it ain’t computer dating, it ain’t the advice of your maiden aunt/uncle, and it sure ain’t macrame or 10 pin bowling. It is, instead, Friday Night Bridge (FNB) coming to you soon right here at the Canberra Bridge Club. There is a trial beginning on the 3rd of March, at 7pm for 4 Fridays. The bridge will be serious, of course, but it will end early (maximum 20 boards) and then a swinging party begins.
This will be the sort of event that you can’t tell your children about, and that you hope your grandchildren and social media will never get wind of. That is, it will be undisciplined fun. Glow with pleasure and amusement as you crunch your fourth hot party pie, light up with ecstasy and elation as you throw down your second glass of Sauvignon Blanc, drool with malice and contempt at the unethical tactics and ill-manners of your bridge opponents and partner. Throw caution to the wind as you explain, passionately, why your 5-club bid was actually brilliant even if you went down 4 tricks, doubled, redoubled, vulnerable; yes you just needed 2 more aces to get this home.
Don’t miss FNB. A life changing and affirming experience.
Supervised Lessons
Supervised Lessons are on Wednesday nights or Friday mornings. A 15 minute lesson commences at 7pm and 9.30am respectively followed by up to 20 boards. Please just turn up if interested.
The lessons for March are:
3 March: System card
8/10 March: Transition to duplicates
15/17 March: Etiquette, Duplicate play, Bridgemates & Scoring
22/24 March:Doubles and overcalls
29/31 March:Opening leads and signals.
The new beginner graduates will join supervised in the week of 15/17 March. We are now offering a “supervised lesson only” option. If you would like to come for the lesson but not supervised play the cost is $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Please advise your teacher on arrival.
No need to have a partner - just come along.
Master the Basics
Master the Basics virtual lessons are on Thursdays at 9.00am. Please email Barb Toohey if you want to be added to the Zoom class. It's $6 for members and $8 for non-members. The lessons run for 30 minutes.
Competitive Bidding & Play - wraps up Tuesday 28 February
Each week is a 2-hour lesson on a Tuesday morning from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon and will cover an aspect of bidding or play when the opponents have opened or are playing the contract. Notes and practice hands will be included. Next week is
- Signals - 28 Feb
Costs are $15 each week or $55 for 4 weeks paid in advance. Charges will be deducted from relevant CBC Pay accounts next Tuesday.
Upcoming Events
CBC Hugh Hudson Pairs
As President of the ACTBA, Hugh Hudson presided over the rationalisation of bridge administration in Canberra. This annual competition acknowledges Hugh Hudson's contribution. This year the 3 week competition will run from 2 March 2023
Thursday evenings - 7:15pm, 2, 9 & 16 March 2023
Location: Canberra Bridge Club, Deakin
- Major Butler Honour Board Event - run in accordance with CBC Supplementary Regulations
- 2 night qualifying and 1 night final and consolation
- RED Masterpoints, B4c GW 2.5 (3 Sessions)
- Butler scoring
- Entries close Wednesday, 1 March, 12pm midday
- Late entries accepted only if convenient
Australian National Congress - ACT Qualification Events
BFACT has recently advised us of the Womens, Seniors and Open selection events for 2023. These events are generally a little earlier in the year as the National Congress is in Perth in July this year.
The BFACT Womens team will be decided by a Friday night and weekend event on 17, 18 and 19 March; eligible BFACT affiliated players can enter via MyABF with a link to appear shortly or by emailing “
The BFACT Senior team selection will involve a qualifying event held on 27 March and 3 April to qualify 12 pairs to a weekend final on Fri., Sat., Sun. 14, 15, 16 April. If less than 12 pairs enter the qualifying event by 24 March, the qualifier will be cancelled with all pairs playing in the final.
Open team selection will have a Stage 1 event to select 9 pairs to a final, and a Stage 2 event to select 3 additional pairs to the final:
Open Stage 1 – 27 February, 6 and 20 March
Open Stage 2 – Sunday 2 April
Open Final – 21, 22 and 23 April
For all enquiries regarding the tournaments please see the fact/entry pages or email
Tasmanian Festival of Bridge
After a tree change? The Tasmanian Festival of Bridge will be held in Hobart on 23-26th March 2023 at the new MyState Bank Arena in Glenorchy, 15 minutes north west of the Hobart city centre.
Information and entries are on: https://www.myabf.com.au/events/congress/view/424. New this year: a Rookies’ event and a very reasonably priced onsite Saturday evening dinner – a great chance to relax with fellow players.
March is a lovely time to be in Tasmania so if you want to experience Tassie, this is a great way to do it.
Save the Date: Illawarra Chris Diment Pairs and Teams - 17 and 18 June 2023
For more information visit Illawarra.bridgeaustralia.org or email Jill MacRae. Online entry www.nswba.com.au.
Results from the Gold Coast
Congratulations to Elizabeth Havas and partner who came second in the Weekend Matchpoint Swiss Pairs
Congratulations to:
- Andrew Spooner and partner who came second in the A final of the Bobby Richman Pairs Championship
- Richard Brighting and David Hoffmann took out the B final of the Bobby Richman Pairs Championship
Congratulations to all others who participated! Don't forget to email the office if there's a noteworthy result we need to acknowledge.
Tony Bembroke Travel Insurance
The ABF and Tony Bembroke Insurance Brokers have competitive rates for ABF members' needs and needs. See https://abfinsurance.com.au/
Ian Morison: Throwing High Cards Early
To read Ian's regular column please press here.
Lighter Moments
I just got an email and it asked if I wanted to read maps backwards. Turns out it was just spam.
Thanks to Spohn Jooner for all his valuable help this week!
Be kind in all things
Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)
