Perhaps it was the call of the swimming pool or child-minding duties that reduced our Holiday Monday field.

What we lacked in quantity, we made up with quality. There were many Grand Masters aspiring for the honours, while some mere mortals sharpened their skills.

This was a return to form for Martin and Chris who have been bridesmaids a couple of times recently. Special congratulations to Sylvia and Barry, who normally play with different partners. Proving Bridge is a family game.
A big thanks to Director Chris Hannan who kept us in order and was required to resolve some tricky problems.

Congratulations to all the winners and those who tried so hard.
Full results

The Club will be conducting the usual Melbourne Cup Competition. Bridge will start at 11:00 and finish in time to watch the big race. I have been assured by Director Peter that there will be plenty of time for lunch, so bring some victuals and perhaps a drinkie.
Laurie will be conducting his $1:00, $2:00 and $5:00 sweeps, so bring some clinkling along if you want to win BIG.
 

The Brisbane Water Bridge Club held its Annual General Meeting on Monday 11th September to elect a new Executive and Committee for the ensuing twelve months.

Retiring President Sylvia Foster’s Annual Report highlighted the difficulties faced as the Club emerged from COVID and thanked all the past Committee and in particular the members for their continued support and participation over the past twelve months.
She wished the Club continued success and promised the new Committee her on-going support.
The new Executive and Committee members:-
President - Jim Routledge.
Vice President - Christine Hadaway.
Secretary - Ann Snow.
Treasurer - David Adams.
General Committee.
Jaan Oitmaa
Chris Hasemore
Steve Anderson
Jenny Buckley.
Auditor - Jorgen Boettiger

The numerous volunteer positions remain basically unchanged.
President Jim thanked the members for their support and said he was looking forward to the challenge of the next year. He also thanked all those volunteers for agreeing to continue their unselfish work which kept the club functioning so well.

The annual AGM Pairs were conducted after the meeting.
A super size field of 12 tables fronted the judges with some surprising  results.
Possibly the biggest result was the successful defence of their title by Elaine and Peter Hume. To win one red point event is hard enough but to front up again next year is almost unknown.

Top placings were :

Full results here

Eric joined our (at that time 1975) little Bridge Club after he and his wife, Betty, moved from Cooma. The Club had newly formed with financial support from Jean Pelham, the inaugural President. Jean is remembered each year with the Jean Pelham Charity Day Pairs in May each year. Other early Presidents were Beryl Ebsworth (76/77) and Joan Taylor (79/80).

Eric served on the club committee in many roles including Director, and was conferred life membership in 1996. When writing a history of the Club in 1995 he noted  “Bridge influenced our lives, as it has done for many others.  It is an important “connector” and offers an intellectual challenge to people of all ages and it gives them an opportunity to meet new friends”.

The event this year was played on Thursday 31st August. An excellent field of ten teams, faced the starter. Teams is a very different event compared to our usual game as you are playing one team, at a time, as opposed to the whole field.

Our winners and placegetters were:-

Full results here

Congratulations to all the winners and the triers. Don’t forget the AGM on Monday, September11th.

The Brisbane Water Bridge Club held it’s Annual Open Pairs Championship on Saturday 26th August 2023. The leading two (2) Pairs will be sponsored by the Club to the State Final in November.

Unfortunately the event clashed with other celebrations which resulted in a diminution of the field. It also meant that with some clever work from Director Alan Bustany every pair played everybody else. Thanks Alan for a great day.

The bridge was very competitive with so many Grand Masters in the field. ‘Any slip meant death’ (Banjo Paterson). And so it proved for many.

Congratulations to all the winners and those that tried so valiantly.