Waikato-Bays Regional Championship Experience

Regional Championships 2024
This year’s Regional Championships, previously known as the Inter-Provincials, was completed, face to face, in Wellington. Your Waikato–Bays (W-B) Team did well, and very much enjoyed the experience. This is a brief report for the benefit of members in the W-B region.
Our Team:
OPEN – Michael Ware/Hugh McGann; Liz and Blair Fisher; Jo and Sam Simpson
WOMEN – Jenna and Christine Gibbons; Kate Terry/Judy Pawson; Rebecca Osborne/Gillian Corbett
SENIORS – Rachelle Pelkman/Murray Wood; Yuzhong Chen/Gary Foidl; Di and Hugh McAlister
INTERMEDIATES – Lyn Bailie/Diane Rodger; Megan Jolly/Leanne Curry; Bettina and Marcus Dudley
CHEF DE MISSION – Judy McLeod

The team included representatives from six Clubs around the Region…Thames, Waikato, Te Puke, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton and Tauranga.

The tournament was very well organised. It was held at Wellington Bridge Club (WBC) rooms, and the tournament was played in good spirit throughout. A selection of matches was played on vugraph, and on display for kibitzers around the country on BBO. Lunches were BYO or purchased through the WBC. Our evenings were spent either at the hotel or in a large variety of restaurants within walking distance, usually in moderate or large team groups.

We stayed at the Atura Hotel, as a team, a 10-15 minutes’ walk from the Bridge Club, and an easy walk to downtown. It was a good 3-star hotel, with generally good rooms, a reasonable breakfast room, restaurant and bar. NZ bridge arranged shuttles, through WBC….an excellent service. We were all met at the airport, and delivered back there after the tournament. Most of us walked to the venue, but shuttles regularly circled and provided an excellent service (even, on some occasions to take us downtown to restaurants!).

Judy McLeod was a popular “den mother”, especially for the Intermediate Team, and she regularly monitored all teams’ performances with the relevant Captains (Michael, Jenna and Rachelle). W-B chose 6–person teams, after discussion with the Team Captains. In the event, one pair were unwell, and the security of the 6-person team was much appreciated. Only 3 Regions stuck to 4-person teams; Otago, Wellington and W-B had 6-person teams; and Central Districts had a 6-person Open team only.

The Team is very grateful for the generous financial assistance of New Zealand Bridge and Pub Charity…the majority of our team’s costs were covered, and the players made up the shortfall themselves. We also thank the Regional Committee and the wider Waikato-Bays Bridge community for their interest and support. A team photo (below), in W-B T-shirts, reflects not only the fine weather in Wellington (!), but also the camaraderie within the team at large. Allan Morris, at the final ceremony asked if those there preferred the Regional Championships to be face to face…and there was a resounding YES…

Kate Terry and Judy Pawson had to leave early, and so their photos are appended below as well.

RESULTS:
OPEN: Wellington; Auckland/Northland; Waikato-Bays
WOMEN: Canterbury; Central Districts; Waikato-Bays
SENIORS: Otago/Southland; Waikato-Bays; Canterbury
INTERMEDIATE: Canterbury; Otago/Southland; Central Districts

DOUGAL MCLEAN TROPHY (Overall): Canterbury; Wellington and Otago/Southland (tied); Waikato-Bays

Hugh McAlister
Tauranga

The Waikato-Bays 2024 TeamKate & Judy