Blogs

Murray was born Auckland and has lived there all his life, He completed a BSc, MSc (1st class honours), and PhD in Chemistry at Auckland University. He started playing Bridge,when as a post-graduate student at Auckland university,some bridge playing staff and graduates needed a four for lunch time games. He is a technical specialist in IT and originally worked in industry, but has spent the last 25 years working with software companies. Although Murray retired last Christmas he still enjoys doing contract work for his last employer and is now able to spend more time playing Bridge. Congratulations on being a member of the team, hoping you and your partner Rachelle have a successful tournament in Wellington.

Pat and TonyPat was born in Hastings and went to St Joseph’s school. She has been playing Bridge for many years coming from a home environment where her parents and friends played cards. Being born under the star sign of Gemini Pat exhibits many of the Gemini traits, sociable, communicative and ready for fun, expressive and quick witted with a tendency to get serious and thoughtful. Her family occupy the most important role in her life and she enjoys caravanning with her grandchildren. Her other hobbies include music, gardening, sailing and yachting. Pat has played previously in the Inter-Provincials for Waikato Bay of Plenty and also for the Central Districts. My meeting with Pat and her bridge partner Tony at Thames recently was great fun and I wish them every success in Wellington.

Christine grew up in Mount Maunganui and went to the local schools there. Te Puke is her home club, but she plays mostly in Tauranga for the teams bridge now. She was twenty and married to a farmer and had 3 children when she saw an ad in the local paper for bridge lessons and having grown up playing cards and board games she decided to go along.She loved it.Before the lessons were finished Margaret Mackay (now of Cambridge) and Christine were promoted to playing at the Te Puke Club. She was so excited and terrified at the same time that she nearly passed out at the first hand, but that was only the beginning of a very distinguished career. 20 years later, when Jenna started playing bridge they played together and have played for the region many time since and been part of the winning Women’s Team on several occasions.

Pamela was born in Wairoa, but due to her father’s occupation, spent her early years moving to different places, each time across the Cook Strait.Pamela and her family have had an exciting life before Bridge, being intrepid sailors. It is ten years now since they arrived back in NZ from their circumnavigation with their family on their yacht Essence. Their children were 5 and 7 years old when they left NZ and 12 and 14 when they sailed back into our waters. Their adventures were many and it certainly was a different, wonderful and simple way of life, having few possessions and clothes to match. They all had a slightly wild look about them when friends and family welcomed them home.Her introduction to Bridge came when her husband's Aunty Helen thrust a flyer into her hand about a year after her family arrived at the Mount, saying "'this is for you". She looked at the lessons on offer and went along, loving it from the first night.

Brian was born in Hamilton and has lived in Ohaupo all his life. He was educated at Ohaupo Primary school and then went on to Mighty Melville High School.He had always enjoyed playing cards though no other members of his family play Bridge. About seven years ago a friend, John Hickey, explained the basics of the game and he was hooked. John then introduced him to the Waikato club where he now plays the Acol system.Brian has a wide variety of other interests including watching Test Cricket and playing tennis and table tennis in his spare time, when he is not relaxing. He enjoys travelling and earlier this year with his wife Dianne, he enjoyed a trip to Malaysia and Singapore along with other members of his family.This is the first time Brian has represented the region, we hope it will be the first of many.Good luck Brian, we are all rooting for you!