WHAT’S COMING UP

Christmas in July Party – Wednesday 24 July 4pm
All members are invited to our mid-year Christmas in July Party on Wednesday 24 July after our regular session. This will be fully catered and is another chance to schmooze while enjoying fine finger-food and a drink, also for Monday and Tuesday players. Put the date in your diary and if you don’t usually play on Wednesdays, why not grab a partner and try to play on the 24th?

Our Wednesday numbers are increasing and we have about 10 tables. We can also find you a partner if you don’t have one.

State Open Pairs Qualifying – Monday 22 & 29 July
Those playing on Monday 22 and 29 July can qualify for the State Open Pairs Championships (to be held on 16-17 November) and also earn Red Points.

Wednesday 31 July: We will be playing at COA as Bondi Room is not available.

New Ratings System and Prizes
Starting July, we are introducing an exciting new ratings system and prizes. Nick will send a separate email explaining how it will work.

GNOT Qualifying – Wednesday 21 & 28 August
The Grand National Open Teams Qualifying will now be held on Wednesday 21 and 28 August, with the Final on 7 and 8 September. Form a team of 4 and let Nick know.

Intermediate Class
We had a great turnout of 13 tables for Nick’s recent class all about Doubles. Our next Intermediate Class will be held on Tuesday 1 October.

Matchmaking
Our WhatsApp Matchmaking Group, with 42 members currently, is working well. It’s a quick and simple way to find a partner. Please reply to this email if you would like to join.

Kindness
We are a community bridge club run by volunteers that has been flourishing for over 25 years, with some founding members still playing. We all enjoy playing this wonderful game in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Please continue to be kind to each other, welcome visitors and get to know your fellow members better at our many social events coming up.

Stay warm and enjoy your Bridge. Look forward to seeing you at one of our sessions and parties.

Ted Popper
President

Special Birthday Party - Wednesday 5 June
We have the pleasure to announce that our much admired and talented member, Ruy de Menezes will turn 100 in June. We will celebrate with a party following play on Wednesday 5 June. We will also honour Ruy with life membership of our club.
All members (regardless of playing day) are warmly invited and we look forward to sharing this special milestone with dear Ruy and his family. There will be food and drink refreshments together with cake of course!
Please come if you can, it will be fun and we expect a big turnout that Ruy so much deserves. You must RSVP if you wish to attend and we will be circulating RSVP/drink order forms at our sessions leading up to the party.

Club Championship - Wednesday 8, 15 and 22 May and Party
Our Club Championship Pairs competition begins on Wednesday 8 May and continues on the following two Wednesdays. These are Red Point events.
There will be drink and food refreshments after the final day's play on Wednesday 22 May.

Australia-Wide Novice Pairs - Tuesday 28 May
The annual Australia-Wide Novice Pairs competition is a national bridge event run by Australian Bridge Magazine for players with less than 100 Masterpoints.
The entry fee of $5 per player will be covered by our club. There are prizes worth over $3,000 and an instructive souvenir booklet of the hands for participants. But more importantly, the players get a great sense of participation by playing in an event alongside thousands of other competitors around the country.
This event will be held in our club on Tuesday 28 May at 12.45pm.

** Change of Venue: Monday 20 May at 1.00pm **
Please note the Bondi Room is not available for our afternoon session on 20 May.
It is always our club's policy to try to find an alternate venue and only cancel a session as a last resort, where we cannot do so.
Fortunately, we have an alternate venue, so our afternoon session will be held at COA, 25 Rowe Street, Woollahra, one block down from Bondi Junction Interchange.
Our apologies if this causes any inconvenience.

Calling the Director
Please do not hesitate to call the director when there appears to be a revoke or other disputed play. This is not a reflection on the player who may have inadvertently made a mistake - we have all done that! It's simply to ask the director to interpret the particular rules that apply to the situation. There are usually a few options that may apply.
The director can quickly give a ruling to resolve the situation. The purpose is to avoid disputes between players. The director's decision is final and must be accepted by all players. Please call the director immediately to avoid any escalation and disturbance to fellow players.
North/South players, please continue to welcome players to your table and everyone please remain friendly and courteous, even when there might be tensions during play. We play bridge because we enjoy the challenges it offers us, playing competitively but with good grace and kindness.

Coming up this month:

End of Beginner's Course Pizza Party. We will celebrate the graduation of our beginner's class after the last lesson on Tuesday 16 April. All Tuesday players are also invited to join in the celebration. Have a free drink (soft, beer or wine) along with pizza and a fruit platter. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by completing your name and ticking your drink choice on the form that will be handed around on the next two Tuesdays.

Please Save these Dates: There are a few events we have added to this year's program, so please save the dates.
- Special Surprise Celebration and Presentation - Wednesday 5 June 4pm - details to be revealed soon.
- Spring into Spring Party! - Monday 9 September 4pm - fully catered
- Beginner's Course - starting Tuesday 8 October at 1pm.

WhatsApp Matchmaking Group We are starting a WhatsApp group for those looking for partners either casually or permanently.
Other Bridge clubs have such a service which works well where members can post requests for a partner and those interested can respond directly on WhatsApp. You will need to have a WhatsApp account to participate and membership is of course entirely voluntary. Nick will be sending an invitation by SMS and/or email to all members who have provided a mobile number. If you wish to join, you simply click on the link in the invitation and follow the instructions and you will become a member of the group. If you are not interested, simply ignore the invitation. We hope many members will use this quick and simple platform when they need a partner. Please note: This platform is to be used strictly to find a partner. It is not to be used to post any other material. Theo will still be available as matchmaker for those not using the WhatsApp Matchmaking Group.

We continue to encourage a friendly, welcoming and courteous atmosphere in our club and look forward to seeing you at our regular sessions and upcoming events. I look forward to seeing you at the bridge table and events after my return in May.

March event winners: Tuesday - David Taitz & Riva Taitz 67.3 % average Wednesday
- Brian Bedkober & Theo Mangos 62.4 % average
Mixed pairs - These 3 pairs have won the right to represent Easts in the state final
Leigh Foran & Theo Mangos
Agi Stanley & Paul Larby
Toni Paramore & Ruy de Menezes

Ted Popper
President

Hello Fellow Slam-makers

We had a wonderful turnout of about 70 members for our Welcome to 2024 Party last week. There was plenty of nice food and good company. Everyone I've spoken to enjoyed themselves. We also had 15 tables playing beforehand, a record since we resumed playing after Covid. Thank you everyone for making it a great day! Please keep coming to play on Wednesdays if you can - even without a party after!

Intermediate Class Tuesday 13 February (1pm - 3.15pm)
This will be the first of three classes this year run by Nick Hughes for intermediate players to improve their play. The lesson includes Powerpoint tips from Nick, playing 8 hands with explanation after and lesson hands and notes. You don't need a partner. Also now, free self-serve espresso coffee or tea is included! Cost is only $15. Everyone is welcome, not just members.

No Bridge on Monday 19 February
Easts Leagues Club is holding its AGM on Monday 19 February in the Bondi Room. Unfortunately because of the AGM and other events, Easts Leagues staff will not be available to take our tables to an alternate venue, as they usually do. Regrettably, we have therefore had to cancel this session. We have been advised that there are no other cancellations expected in the next few months. Our preference always is to seek an alternate venue if available, rather than cancelling the session.

Bridge Beginner's Course starts Tuesday 5 March at 1pm
Our 6 week beginner's course is a significant source of new players to join our club. Our director Nick Hughes, a highly qualified and experienced teacher, runs the course. Please think of family, friends, fellow social or sporting club members and colleagues who might enjoy this wonderful game as much as you do. Brochures are available at all our sessions and on our website: easts.bridge-club.org

State Mixed Pairs Qualifying begins Monday 11 March
Our first Red Point event begins 11 March continuing on 18 and 25 March. The State Final is on 18-19 May at NSWBA. Look for a mixed partner if you don't already have one.

Coffee available before afternoon sessions
Players are enjoying a coffee before the afternoon sessions. Please come earlier and schmooze with a coffee from 12.15pm. The machine will be turned off before the session begins so as not to disrupt play.

Please switch off your mobile phone!
Despite announcements before each session, mobile phones still ring causing distraction and frustration. Please be considerate to your fellow players and ensure your phone is switched off or to vibrate. If you are expecting an urgent call, please let the director know beforehand and they can sit in for you while you take the call outside the playing area.

Please continue to welcome players to your table
I am very pleased this is becoming common-place and I encourage north/south players to continue greeting arriving players and introducing themselves to visitors.

Table Money
Your Committee has decided to keep table money for members at $10 for this year. This amount has not increased for some years despite inflation and the amounts charged at other clubs. It is easily the least expensive for an ABF affiliated club in Sydney. We will however increase the table money for visitors to $15 from 1 March (still the cheapest) to encourage regular visitors to join our club.

Suggestions/Feedback
We value your suggestions and feedback about what you like and also how we can do things better for you. Please feel free to do so by email reply or chatting to me or any committee member at one of our sessions.

See you at the Bridge table!
Ted Popper President

Another year has flown by. Huge thanks to Terry Maunsell for leading us through hard Covid times and then growing our numbers back towards pre-2020 levels. Our directors, Nicoleta and Nick have played a very significant role, much also behind the scenes, working tirelessly and at some personal sacrifice, to see us through Covid. Major thanks to them. We have an exciting year ahead: • More social events and some special celebrations • Lots of bridge events • Some new ideas • Listening to members’ wishes • Lots of enjoyment together! The espresso machine has been well received and will continue before each afternoon session on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 12.15 to 12.45pm. It also provides tea. Come relax and schmooze before a tough game at the bridge table. Thanks for the great idea, Nicoleta. 2023 will also end with the retirement of our longtime and hardworking Newsletter editor, Thomas Karsai. His dedicated work over many years, including compiling our member’s booklet (which he has resurrected recently) is very much appreciated. Many thanks, Thomas. Our first celebration next year will be our Welcome to 2024 Party! on Wednesday 24 January at 4.00pm. Hope to see many of you there, including Monday and Tuesday players and Monday night players. All members very welcome! Wishing you and your families the compliments of the season and a healthy and gentle 2024. See you at the bridge table! Ted Popper

2023 Bridge Awards

GNOT qualifying (gold points): Theo Mangos, Leigh Foran, Pat Walker and Allen Rosenberg

2023 Club Championship:        Leigh Foran & Theo Mangos

Mixed Pairs qualifying:              Pat Walker & Theo Mangos

Australia Wide Novice Pairs    21st Bliss Ryan & Judy Bahar Easts 65.6%   

                                                   23rd Kerrie Stokes & Sandy Watson Easts 65.4%

Australia Wide Open Pairs      5th Geoffrey & Kerry Hill Easts 68.4%

Australia Wide Restricted Pairs 9 Judith Rychter & Dawne Cox Easts 66.4%

Best Performing Player with 5 or less Masterpoints : Nick Matin

Best Performing Player with 5-50 Masterpoints: Ruy de Menezes

The AGM of Easts Bridge Club

will be on Monday 27th November, at 4:00 pm, following the conclusion of the bridge game. 

Do attend and have your say in the running of our Club.

Snaks and drinks afterwards!

State Open Pairs Results

1st           Leigh Foran & Theo Mangos                       63.8%

2nd          Toni Paramore & Ruy de Menezes              60.55%

3rd           Leah Rona & Beverly Luland                       59.35%

Leigh and Theo will represent our club at the Final played at NSWBA, November 18th & 19th

Good Luck!

A qualifying event played at Easts on Mondays 11th, 18th, 25th September.

Best 2 out of 3 scores to qualify one or two pairs (depending on attendance) for the Final played at NSWBA, November 18th & 19th. Red Points at State Level.