Play Committee Chair Report

— Ballina Bridge Club —

Newsletter

January 2018

President’s Report Happy New Year to you all. I am sure 2018 will be another

year of fulfilling bridge activity at our Club, with a new

format for Australia Day Teams and Harvey Norman

Mixed Pairs at the end of January.

Membership renewals are due now: $45 for home

members and $20 for associate and social members.

Please complete a renewal slip and place it, with payment,

in an envelope in the entry box. Alternatively, pay by

direct deposit, giving your name as reference.

Jenny Hurley wishes to thank the Monday volunteers

who play with new players, or those who come with no

partner. Jenny’s system has run since March with great

success. Special thanks to Lesley Burford, Pat Fry, Jenny

Wardley and Lyn Graham who volunteer every month.

Others who have helped when needed are Anne

Fraser, Mary Leonard, Eric Hurley, Sue Burns, Helen

Tootle, Ngaire Wills, Dawn Horder, Anne Bigg and Henry

Hirschhorn.

Our new chairs are due to arrive at the end of January;

Management Committee has decided to offer the old

chairs to Club members. Please tell Secretary Beverley or

me how many you want, and we will start a list. I also

intend to offer any additional unwanted chairs to

community groups. I would be pleased to hear any

suggestions from members about a place or community

group that might welcome a donation of chairs.

Matching fabric was ordered for new table cloths

when the new chairs were ordered. Mary Doohan has

very kindly offered to sew enough new cloths for all tables

and a complete spare set. That seems to be quite a task,

so many thanks to Mary for making that commitment.

Before Christmas Paul Blanch arranged for the

clubhouse roof to be inspected after almost 20 years of

service. A few cracked tiles were replaced and the

pointing of the ridge tiles was renewed. The building

serves us all very well and Management Committee

continues to consider maintenance and upgrades. Options

for 2018 include a fresh coat of interior paint to brighten

up the room in tone with the new chairs.

All the best for 2018.

— Chris McDowell, President Play Committee Chair Report is continued on page 2

Rank Promotions

Congratulations to these players who have achieved

Masterpoint rank promotions:

Regional: Angelo Jones; State: Ann Miller, Barbara Proctor;

*State: Sophie Davis, Elizabeth Adams; National: Ngaire Wills.

2018 Programme booklets

Programme booklets are available for collection at the Club.

The usual ‘deal’ is to pay your sub, either in the box at the Club

or by direct deposit (details on website), then pick up your

programme booklet.

Events to note

1. Ballina Bridge Club Congress — March 10 & 11

Please try to support OUR Congress: Swiss Pairs on Saturday

and Swiss Teams on Sunday, with prizes across the field.

(More on the ‘Swiss’ format in the next newsletter.)

2. Twentieth Birthday Bridge Day — Sunday August 5

A celebration of the (actual) opening day of our Bridge Club,

which will, aptly, incorporate Life Members’ Day. The

Somerville Laundry Shield will be held on Saturday September

15, the Saturday closest to the Club’s ‘official’ opening day of

September 18.

3. Harvey Norman Pairs Events

We have swapped the Mixed Pairs and the Men’s/Women’s

Pairs so that the Mixed Pairs is a qualifying event for the State

Mixed Pairs Championship in Sydney on May 26–27.

Holding qualifying events for state events not only gives

our players the opportunity to go on and participate in state

finals, but also ‘ups’ our red points allowances. In a similar

vein, we will hold a qualifier for the State Open Pairs on

Wednesdays September 5 & 12, with the state final on

November 24–25.

The Under 100 Masterpoint Pairs (UHMPs), scheduled for

September 20, is also a state event, but there continue to be

problems organising country regional play-offs leading to state

finals. For more information about these state events, go to:

http://nswba.com.au/tourn/state/

4. Gala Teams Nights (Thursdays)

There will be three through the year: March 15, July 12 and

November 15. Nominate in Pairs, and then teams of mixed

bridge abilities will be drawn. AND there will be supper. Event

Page 2

Newsletter of the Ballina Bridge Club

Organiser is Eric Hurley (Play), assisted by

Lorraine Bryant.

5. Open Pairs Championships

We welcome Jetts, the fitness centre at

Ballina Central, as the sponsor for 2018.

Jetts will be providing short-term

membership prizes: i) for the eventual

winners, and ii) every month for the pair

with a score closest to the ‘Lucky Score’

which will be drawn at the end of play.

Kallum Fidoe from Jetts will come on

Saturday February 3 to introduce himself

and Jetts. He tells me: We really do cater

for all ages and have a philosophy of

‘living longer and stronger’.

“A Gym?” do I hear some say? We all

know how good bridge is for our mental

agility, so maybe this is an opportunity for

physical exercise, whatever our age. If it’s

definitely not for you, all winners can gift

their prize to a friend.

Thanks to Michel Boyle for

introducing Jetts. Thanks, too, to John

Harrison for confirming all our sponsors

who advertise in our programme book.

December Events

Christmas Party

Thanks to Beth Martin and the House

Committee for their help with this event,

and for decorating the clubhouse. Even

better, Beth has submitted her report of

the day (page 3).

State Open Teams Final –

December 8–10

Our team — Bill Powell, Marjorie Askew,

Eric Hurley and Gary Lynn — missed out

on qualifying for the State Final after the

round robin, but were the highest-placed

Country team.

We then played off against a team

from Newcastle, representing the Outer

Metropolitan region, in the Country

Teams Final. Scheduled for 56 boards, the

Newcastle team conceded after 42

boards with our team leading 115–32.

You can see our team (above) having

been presented with their Medals at the

NSWBA. (I’m told Gary Lynn was proudly

‘sporting’ his medal at the Club session on

the following Wednesday.)

(A personal thank-you to Club

members for their encouragement and

congratulations. Marjorie.)

Teams of 3 — Monday December 11

Jill Cox had her first experience as an

Event Organiser. Last-minute changes did

not phase her – well done Jill! Jill too has

submitted a report (page 6).

Coming up

Australia Day Teams, Friday 26 January

Entry forms now available; entries close

on Saturday January 20th.

As previously advised, the Play

Committee has decided to trial

nominations for this event in pairs. Pairs

will then be allocated into Teams of

‘mixed’ bridge abilities. Come along for a

fun Club Day. There will be special prizes

(across the field) and Australian delights!

Event Organiser is Ngaire Wills.

Harvey Norman Mixed Pairs —

Wednesdays January 31,

February 7 & 14

Why not find yourself a mixed partner

and give this a go? (Note the third week is

Valentine’s Day, so ‘cherish’ your mixed

partner!) Entry fee is just $15, the normal

table fee, but you must nominate

beforehand; entries close at 5 pm on

Saturday 27 January.

If your chosen partner is unavailable

for one of the sessions, substitutes are

allowed, according to Ballina Bridge Club

Policy. Event Organiser is Marjorie Askew.

Teams of 3 — Monday February 5

This is the first Teams of 3 event of the

year. Nominate individually on notice-

board; teams will then be allocated

with a captain. Nominations close at

5 pm on Wednesday 31 January. Event

Organiser is Linda Maslen, assisted by

Jill Cox.

Graded Pairs Days?

After discussion and comments from

various members, the Play Committee

has decided to try three graded

sessions. A ‘graded’ session is one

where the field is divided into grades

based on Masterpoints.

Some clubs find these popular as

both a congress and/or club event.

(Quite a few of our members

participate in the Surfers Paradise and

Gold Coast Bridge Club Graded Pairs

congresses every year.)

We need a good-sized field to divide

into two grades. Monday afternoons

has grown to be one of our most

popular sessions, and also attracts a

range of bridge abilities, including many

‘better’ players assisting / partnering /

mentoring improving players, so we

have decided to ‘give this a go’ on the

second Monday in January (8th),

February 12th and March 12th.

It is a trial and we look forward to

feedback from players so we can review

to see if this format is worth pursuing:

regularly, occasionally, or not at all; and

on a Monday, and/or perhaps a

Wednesday or a Saturday.

Lastly, we are not sure just how the

Directors will cope on the day,

endeavouring to work out partnership

Masterpoints and allocations — so

please be patient with them.

All in all, looks like lots of bridge

coming up in 2018 — and hopefully

something to suit everyone.

Happy Bridging.

— Marjorie Askew, Chair,

Play Committee

Play Committee Chair Report (continued from page 1)

Page 3

Newsletter of the Ballina Bridge Club

— Beth Martin, Chair, House Committee

The highlight of Christmas may well be

the gift — the anticipation, the surprise.

Aren't we all kids at heart? For us at the

Club, that gift under the Christmas tree is

experienced when our surprise partner is

pulled out of the hat by ‘Marjorieclaus!’

Love it, or hate it, it's the highlight of

the day! If the joy is in the giving, Marjorie

would have been given much enjoyment.

Another great thing about Christmas

is the food and wine. We had really good

feedback from members on both these,

and thank Julie and her team from ‘In

Good Taste’. There were a few things

about the menu we should be able to

improve on for 2018, especially some of

the special diet menus.

Marjorie's idea to trial a new prize

category was fun: Paul Smith thought

he'd play a little joke and 'randomly' drew

the lucky score (44%). Howard Jeffery,

announcing the winners, thought it was

hilarious (or a fix!) that it matched

Marjorie's score (with June Gibson).

Deb ducked around catching us on

her candid camera (for better or worse).

Thank you, Deb for all the terrific pics.

Did I say gifts and food were the

highlights? Not so — it's all about Bridge,

of course — the wonderful game that

gives us so much and contributes to our

well-being in so many ways.

Who blitzed the field this year?

Congratulations to these club winners

and champions.

Rob Sheahan won the Hoult Award

for earning the most MPs at BBC in the

period from 1 Oct ’16 to 30 Sept ’17,

starting under 15 MP .

Lorraine Bryant (at left with Dorothy)

won the Dorothy Brumley Award,

earning the most MPs at BBC from 1 Oct

’16 to 30 Sept ’17, starting at 15–75 MP.

Judy Woodward (L) & Judy Forsyth —

Harvey Norman Women's Pairs.

Howard Jeffrey & John Paynter (A) —

Harvey Norman Men's Pairs.

Anne Jackson (L) & Gary Lyn (A) —

Harvey Norman Mixed Pairs.

Chris McDowell & Robert Eldridge (A) —

Harvey Norman Restricted Pairs.

Ted Walsh (L), & Ray Ghioni, Stephen

Doherty (A), & Damien Kennedy (Absent

by reason of impending matrimony) —

Restricted BBC Teams Championship.

Terry Lowe (L), Lyn Ebert, Ngaire Wills

(A) & Betty Clark (A) — BBC 'B' Grade

Teams Championship.

BALLINA BRIDGE CLUB CHRISTMAS 2017

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Newsletter of the Ballina Bridge Club

Howard Jeffrey (L), Liz Jeffrey, Michel

Boyle (A) & Paul Smith — BBC Open

Teams Championship.

Ray Ghioni & Rob Sheahan (A) —

Winners, BBC Restricted Pairs

Championship

George Connell & Beth Martin —

Runners-up,

BBC Restricted Pairs Championship

Robyn Egan (L) Anne Flanagan —

Winners, BBC Novice Pairs Championship

Paul & Mary Blanch — Runners-up, BBC

Novice Pairs Championship.

Mark Miller & Lorraine Miller (A) —

Winners, B-Grade Pairs Championship

Mary Leonard & Jenny Wardley —

Runners-up, B-Grade Pairs Championship

Marjorie Askew & Bill Powell — Winners

BBC Pairs Championship

Eric Hurley & Gary Lyn (A) —Runners-up,

BBC Pairs Championship.

Thank you to all who contributed to

making the day a success. It was a big

job, needing many hands. With

Management team, House team, team

members from previous years advising

and guiding new team members,

individuals with great suggestions and

practical help, wonderful Directors on

the day, and a terrific Club President,

made the day happy and fun for all.

Some of the guests at the Ballina Bridge

Club Christmas party, ready and waiting

for more goodies to be given out.

Laughter was the keynote of the day

when fun was trumps. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

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Newsletter of the Newsletter of the Ballina Bridge Club

♠ A K Q J T 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

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Merry Christmas to all …

’Twas the Duplicate Christmas Party — needless to say,

The punch and the season had made us quite gay…

“Find your seats and shuffle,” the Director said,

As visions of FIRST PLACE danced in my head…

When I checked our position, I went dry in the mouth —

We’d been assigned Table #1 — North and South.

Just little ole novices, my partner and me —

We’d been placed fourth, once, but never seen three,

Now had two Life Masters sitting East – West.

We took our positions and said not a word

(But I’m certain our heartbeats could surely be heard).

We shuffled the cards without blinking an eye

(I dropped one on the floor and thought I would die).

As North I was dealer and, although I was green,

I knew that to open you must have thirteen.

I spread my hand and counted, but Oh Alas!

With only ten points I just had to pass.

(Quite frankly, I thought this a terrible shame,

As I’d never before had thirteen Spades in a game.)

My left-hand opponent, East was their name,

Opened “Two Diamonds” (I thought, “What a shame!”)

My Dear Partner, South, was trembling with fear

When the bid of “Two Hearts” came across to my ear.

My right-hand opponent sat straight in his chair:

“Three Hearts” was the bid he chose to declare.

Now I had a good suit, but alack and alas,

With no help in Hearts I just had to pass.

My left-hand opponent now bid “Three Spades” —

You can well imagine how much I was amazed.

My Dear Partner, South, bid “Four Hearts” (Oh Shoot! —

If that is the contract I can’t lead her best suit.)

My Right-Hand Opponent studied his hand

And soon “Seven No Trump” was his command.

It was my time to bid and (just to save face)

I doubled because they were missing the Spade Ace.

The next three bids were “Pass. Pass. (and) Pass.”

So I made ready to lead out a Spade, but alas…

My partner was nervous and led the Heart King —

A lead out of turn — what a damnable thing.

The Director was called (I can still hear his voice)

As he told the Declarer he could make his own choice —

(“With a singleton Heart, you must understand,

This could be the only entry to his hand.” )

So he turned to me and, looking so smart,

He said, “Lead any suit except for a Heart.”

So of course I led out my fourth-best Spade

(I still think that was the best lead I’ve ever made)

And so on and so on… never losing the lead

And our opponents (Life Masters!) were forced to

concede.

Thirteen tricks we took, right off the top —

(When we won the board I thought I would pop.)

Now I ask you, with a board like this,

The rest of the game — well, how could we miss?

And I overheard the Director say, “Who was the lass

Who had thirteen spades and cleverly passed?”

After winning first place (and still full of fright),

We called “Merry Christmas!” and they all said

“GOOD NIGHT!”

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

“Thanks” from the Retired Teachers Anne and I would like to thank you all for your good wishes on

our retirement from teaching (but not from playing, of

course). For many years we have enjoyed meeting new

members to our Club and developing friendships with them. It

has given us much pleasure to see your Bridge successes.

We have always appreciated the support we have

received from Management Committee, and from Jack Pierce

(Head of Dealing Team) who has always been available to help

us with deals.

In 2018 the Club will have two ABF-accredited teachers in

Rebecca Rogers and Anne Jackson, whose new best-practice

teaching methods will keep Ballina Bridge Club up to date.

Thank you most warmly,

— Anne Bigg and Lyn Graham

Page 6

Newsletter of the Ballina Bridge Club

Ballina Bridge Club is at 13 North

Creek Road, Ballina NSW 2478

Contributions welcome; please email

them before CoB on the last

Wednesday of the month to

the Editor, Michael Kuter, at

kuteredit@gmail.com

’Twas the night before Christmas…

’Twas the night before Christmas

When two guests in our house

Were playing some bridge

With me and my spouse.

“Please tell me,” she shouted,

“Why you didn’t double?

’Twas plain from the start

That we had them in trouble!”

“ ’Tis futile, My Dear —

I’m taking no stand.

So please stop your nagging.

Let’s play the next hand.”

“Remember for next time,”

She said with a frown,

“To double a contract

That’s sure to go down.”

So I picked up my cards

In a downtrodden state,

Then I opened one Spade,

And awaited my Fate.

The guy sitting South

Was like many I’ve known —

He bid and he played

In a world of his own.

“Two Diamonds, ” he countered

With scarcely a care.

(That Ace in his hand

Gave him courage to spare.)

My wife, smiling faintly,

And tossing her head,

Leaned over the table:

“Double!” she said.

And North, for some reason

I cannot determine,

Bid two (brave) Hearts

Like preaching a sermon.

I grinned as I doubled,

Enjoying the fun.

And turned round to South,

To see where he’d run.

But South, undistressed,

Not at a loss for a word,

Came forth with “Two Spades.”

(Did I hear what I heard?)

The other two passed,

And in sheer disbelief,

I said “Double, My Friend.

That’ll bring you to grief.”

South passed with a nod,

His composure serene.

My wife with a flourish

Led out the Heart Queen.

I sat there and chuckled

(inside) o’er their fix.

But South — very calmly —

Ran off his eight tricks.

He ruffed the first Heart

In his hand right away.

And then trumped a Club

On the very next play.

He cross-ruffed the hand

At a breath-taking pace,

’Til I was left holding

Five Spades to the Ace.

My wife cried in anguish

“Your mind’s growing old.

You could see that Six No Trump

For us was ice-cold.”

By doubling this time

I’d committed a sin.

Which just goes to prove

That you never can win.

[— NSWBA Bulletin

Thanks to Judy Carroll for these two.]

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

Teams of 3

— Jill Cox, Event Organiser

A very successful and fun Teams of 3

was held on Monday 11th December,

2017. There were 22 teams, 88 players in

all. In the run-up to the festive season

there were many dropouts and

substitutions beforehand, but all ran

smoothly on the day.

Prizes awarded

1st — Smith Team:

Paul Smith, Sue Fielder, Peter Lamont,

Jenny Hurley

1st at wrong end — Bigg Team:

Anne Bigg, Beth Martin, Angelo Jones, Jan

Rhodes

Legs 11 (11th place)— Jeffery Maximus

Team: Howard Jeffery, Barry Daley,

Isobel Johnstone, Hilary Kerr.

Welcome to all our new players.

Hope you enjoyed it and will continue to

play in teams and normal competition.

Thank you to our Director of the day,

Anne Jackson, who had a very busy day,

and Assistant Directors Howard and Liz

Jeffery.

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Dlr: E.

Vul: N–S