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WB Intermediate League Wraps Up

WBRC member Michael Neels presents the Intermediate Champions Trophy to Eunice Eccles of Cambridge and Malcolm Kirkby of Te Aroha. This winning pair had a clear lead going into the final round in Cambridge on Sunday 28th October but they could be caught! They would have been relieved at lunch time to find they were top of the room after the morning session. However, they slipped in the afternoon, but not enough of a slide to rob themselves of the championship they had their eye on.

Recent Happenings in our Region

They're getting younger by the year. How about this: 11-year-old Ryan Song and his team made the cut to play in the final of Labour Weekend's mini-Congress in Hamilton. Pictured here with team-mates Andrew and William Liu and Herman Yuan, Team Song came a creditable 5th of the 24 teams that started the event. Other results from the weekend may be found on the Hamilton site.

Four-Way Tie for Winners of the WB Junior League

Mike, Angela, Megan, JaniceMike, Angela, Megan, JaniceTe Awamutu Bridge Club hosted the final session of the 2018 Waikato Bays Junior Championship League on Sunday 14th October. It was always tight at the top with but a single point between the leading four going into the day. When the dust settled Tauranga's Mike and Angela Newton's second placing gave them that one more point they needed to tie with Megan Jolly and Janice Wilton of Hamilton.

Latest News from The Chair

Allan Morris writes:
On Saturday the 28th September the organisation held its AGM. We had the pleasure of approving two new life members - Alan Turner and Robin Young. Both have shown their love for the game and their desire to pass on that enjoyment to others by their great service to the game. We were able to acknowledge and celebrate both Alan and Robin at the opening of Congress.

Big Show just Down the Road

Yep - that's right. The 33rd annual New Zealand Congress kicked off in Hamilton this last weekend. Players come from all around the country - and the world, even. Sunday afternoon featured a special 1-session walk-in event for Novices - very friendly at only $10 a head. Later in the week there are more events scheduled for Intermediates. The full programme is attached below if you would like to download it.

Results are published as soon as available here.

Hand Extended to Clubs on the Coromandel

Waikato-Bays Regional Committee members Anna Kalma and Alan Dick travelled to Whitianga last week to make a presentation on the benefits of affiliation to the national body.

They addressed the committee of the Mercury Bay Bridge Club with representatives of the Hahei club in attendance. Whitianga plays at the Bowling Club once a week (Wednesday 1-4pm). This is a great venue with bar facilities and tea and coffee. The club has around 45 members and there were seven full tables playing on the day of the visit. Hahei has many joint members and also plays during the day with around seven full tables. Our pair were struck by both the healthy culture of the club and the good standard of play.

There are many clubs on the Coromandel who aren't affiliated but have a keen membership and active bridge clubs which include Coromandel, Hahei, Tairua, Pauanui, Mercury Bay and Whangamata.

WB Intermediate League Down to the Wire

After Sunday's penultimate heat of the nine events scheduled for the Waikato-Bays Intermediate League we have a tie for first on 28 points between Eunice Eccles of Cambridge and Malcolm Kirkby of Te Aroha. With five other players six or seven points behind there is an outside chance that these two could be overtaken. It is possible to score the maximum of nine points for the final day at Cambridge on 28th October.

Stratified Pairs - a New Concept

The Thames club held its annual Restricted tournament on Sunday 9th September .. but with a twist this year. Instead of the usual groupings by grade where prizes go to best O-I, O-J, I-I, I-J, J-J pairings the club opted to go with Stratified - a format new to Compass scoring. Although this sort of event is popular in Top of The South region it is new to most of the North Island. It works by taking an average of each pairs' Rating Points - the number you are given at the start of each season which is intended to reflect your current form. Compass allows to split the field by these averages into as many groups as the club wants. You can see the day's result by clicking here.

Calling All YOUTH Players

New Zealand Bridge has, for a long time, maintained a register of Youth players for whom the opportunities are immense! At the pointy end, players of only a few year's experience have found themselves representing New Zealand at overseas venues. Closer to home NZB runs a training weekend in Wellington which costs attendees mere peanuts. And around the country clubs and dedicated people are only too keen to put youth players on a fast track to success.

TIME gives Bridge a write-up

Ed Roggeveen sends this link to an article in TIME magazine on the costs of drinking and playing bridge.

It is not often our game gets a write-up in such a global and respected publication such as TIME so thought it worth sharing for you to forward on as you like.

Ed

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