Newsletter 12 April 2024
In our newsletter this week...
- Message from the Committee
- Saphire Coast Congress Results
- Welcome New Members
- Interim Results - Nationwide Knockout Competition Qualifier
- Pizza Night
- Tip of the Week
- A Compulsive Pastime
- Mentoring in May
- Free online Course for Young Bridge Players
- Upcoming Events
- Ian Morison
- Robyn Murphy Commemoration Service
Message from the Committee
- The Saturday Face to Face sessions at the clubrooms have been suspended. The club intends to relaunch the Saturday Duplicate session in September after the winter chill. RealBridge continues on Saturdays at 1.15pm with John and Tamara. If you don’t have a partner, just login 15 minutes before session and we will organize a game for you.
- The club has appointed Tamara Cutcliffe as it’s RealBridge Promotions officer. With winter approaching we hope that some of our members will try a RealBridge session as an adjunct to playing at the club – more details to follow.
Saphire Coast Congress Results
Congratulations to all our members who played at the Saphire Coast Congress recently.
Pairs Event winners:
- Mary & Chris Tough
- Peter Grant & David Hoffman
- Tony Marinos & Stephen Mendick
- Paul Nelson & Brian Thorp
- Janet Kahler & Nikki Riszko
The Mendick team (Tony Marinos & Peter Grant, Stephen Mendick & David Hoffman) also did well in the Teams Event, coming 3rd.
Kathleen and David Kenny ranked first in the Restricted Pairs Category.
New Members
Welcome to the Canberra Bridge Club!
- Craig Lindsay
- Lucy Stevenson
- Chris Hyman
- Ralph Edwards
- May Ann Johnston
- Jenny Howard
- Jean Dal Pozzo
- BA Daly
- Theo Von Stein
- Kate Latimer
- Kerrin McKeown
- Lachlan McKenzie
- CJ McKenzie
- Karin Kongshavn
- Peter Schlesinger
- Lyndall Kennedy
- Judy Daniels
- Catherine McLoughlin
Interim Results - Nationwide Knockout Qualifier Competition
A reminder that the final round of the qualifier competition to represent our club at the Nationwide Knockout Competition on RealBridge is coming up on the 14th May.
The interim results have now been published on our website. Click on the link below to view.
Wednesday Pizza Night
The next Wednesday night pizza will be on 24th April 2024. For those unfamiliar with the activity, the Wednesday night pizzas provide the opportunity for social interaction while enjoying a pizza sampling. It provides a great opportunity to talk to and socialise with your fellow players, which is not always the case when engaged in playing bridge. The pizzas will be available from 6:30, which provides ample time to enjoy your pizzas before supervised and walk-in play begins.
The cost of the pizzas is a nominal $5 payable on the day. This entitles you to half a pizza. A variety of toppings will be available and participants can pick and choose. Vegan pizzas can be made available for those who want them. No drinks are provided, so if you want liquid refreshment you will need to bring your own.
Attendance is voluntary and those wishing to partake should place their name on a list on the noticeboard or contact Jon Pike directly. His email is
TIP OF THE WEEK
Just occasionally, when asked a question about the bidding, your partner will give the wrong explanation. Should that happen, you must remain silent and impassive at the time. The time for action comes later.
If you become declarer and before the opening lead is made, you must say to the opponents "You've received incorrect information; the correct information is such and such".
If you become a defender, you must wait until the hand has been played out. Only then should you inform your opponents about the mis-explanation.
In either case it is an anct of courtesy to say to the opponents "If you feel damaged, please feel free to call the director." When the director comes to the table and has ascertained the facts of the matter, he/she will know what to do.
-John Brockwell
A Compulsive Pastime
Two of Canberra’s longstanding players have combined to write a book that presents the history of Bridge in the ACT and the surrounding regions
The evolution and development of bridge in Canberra and the surrounding regions is covered.
This includes
- the contributions made by the pioneers of the game ,
- the people and events that have shaped the enjoyment of this great pastime
- the development of new clubs
- the expansion of the array of tournaments
- a comprehensive listing of club and tournament results from the ACT and the surrounding regions
Price: $60 +postage $12
To obtain a copy:
David Hoffman 0407 782 756
or collect from Canberra Bridge Club
Mentoring in May
It’s Mentoring in May time again!
The Mentoring in May program matches mentors and mentees for 2 games during May.
- The mentor and mentee play for 2 sessions during May.
- Mentees pay the table money for their mentors.
- In general, the mentor plays the mentee’s system.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or mentee (or both!), please email Rob Hurst at
Please refer to the email sent earlier regarding mentoring when replying to Rob, it lists out the information you should provide to assist in the pairing process.
Young Bridge Players Online Course
In May this year, with the support of the ABF, Nevena Djurovic and Paul Marston will present a FREE online course of lessons for kids aged 14 to 24. We will teach them all the important basics of this amazing game.
Please do us the favour of recruiting any kids you know who may be interested.
There are many good reasons why kids should learn bridge.
- Since many of the cards are hidden, bridge is a strategic game. This calls on kids to use critical thinking skills such as reasoning and logic.
- Since bridge is a partnership game, it teaches kids about teamwork and co-operation.
- Since you always have a partner when you play bridge, it is a great way to meet people and make friends.
- We all do a lot of winning and losing when we play bridge. It therefore teaches kids about sportsmanship.
** Please note: this course is a one-off opportunity – it will not be repeated!
The lessons will be on Wednesday 1, 8, 15 and 22 May at 7 pm AEST, with practice sessions on Sunday 5, 12, 19 and 26 May at 11 am AEST. Each session will be a bit under an hour.
Click here for more information : https://bridgelounge.online/youth-bridge-registration/abf/
Upcoming Events
- William Jenner-O'Shea Workshop - 10am to 3pm Saturday April 20 - Click here to Enter
- Advanced Bridge Series - 1:30pm Sunday April 21 - Click here to Enter
- Autumn Butler Pairs is our next Tuesday night competition running on 23 and 30 April (Swiss Butler Pairs, IMPs scoring) - Click here to Enter
- Two of the club’s Youth members – Zara Chowdhury and Diya Shah will represent Australia in the Under 26 Women’s World Youth championship in Poland in July. A fund raising Red point Congress will be held on Sunday 19 May (Open, Restricted, Novice and Rookie categories)– add this date to your calendar, entry will be available through myABF soon
Ian Morison
Robyn Murphy Commemoration Service
You may be aware of the recent passing of both Charles and Robyn Murphy.
Their family is holding a commemoration and celebration of their lives from 3pm this Friday 19th April at the Queanbeyan Kangaroos Club after decades of service and support to the Queanbeyan community in which they lived.
It would be much appreciated if you could pass this information onto any relevant person within your organisation who may wish to attend.
Kind Regards,
David & Peter Murphy
Have a great weekend Everyone!
Elizabeth
