February News

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

Greetings from your 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

Ruy de Menezes Best Performing Player under 50 masterpoints

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

2024 AGM

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!

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State Open Pairs Results

Leigh and Theo

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!

Coming up: State Open Pairs Qualifying

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.

 

Comments

Theo and Leigh

Australia-Wide Open Pairs

Monday 28 August at 1pm

Usually there would be a $5 surcharge, but Easts Bridge Club will cover that, so, normal table money.

Each player will receive a souvenir booklet with analysis of every board. After the results are in, there will be a personalised booklet available on the Australian Bridge web page.

There are over $4000 worth of CD and magazine prizes for the top 25 pairs.

All pairs who score over 52% nation-wide will receive red masterpoints. (Approximately 3200 people will be playing) 

From your President

The last month has certainly been a busy one for our club. We have had the State
Mixed Pairs Qualifying and The Club Championship Sessions and Nick ran a well-attended workshop on declarer play in suit contracts. I only hope I can ruff as well next time I play as I did at the workshop!
Most of those who played in the final session of the Club Championship stayed on for pizza and drinks. These informal functions are proving popular and are certainly a good way of getting to know your fellow players.
The numbers at the sessions are slowly increasing with a few new members and also many of the participants in the last Beginner’s Course now playing at the Tuesday Supervised Session.

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