www.geelong.bridge-club.org GEELONG BRIDGE CLUB NEWSLETTER V O L U M E 8, I S S U E 3 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 From the President 148-152 Portarlington Road, Newcomb VIC PO Box 1546 Geelong VIC 3220 (03) 5248 2978 Hi everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. I find it amazing how quickly the year has gone it only seems like yesterday that Father Christmas so generously gave his time to visit our club!! Since our last newsletter we have had our AGM for which I was not present but Dot Peacock held the chair. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome two new members to our Committee, they are Paula Donohue and Denny Newland I m sure they are both going to be great assets to our team. In the New Year we are going to be running advanced lessons for players of immediate standard and above these lessons are going to be taken by Stephen Lester who is a very experienced bridge player, a member of our club and lives in Geelong. We appreciate that he is prepared to come to the club and share his knowledge. I hope that many of you will take advantage of this opportunity. Further details are on the notice board, the website and in this newsletter. As I m sure you are all aware the Directors of our club do a fantastic job and we all need to be respectful of their requests as they are few and far between! I often hear a Director say can you please empty your waste paper basket, can you please take your dirty cups to the kitchen, can you please return your cards to the box outside the office, can you please put your chair back against the table. I don t think these are unreasonable requests DO YOU??? Our Christmas party is being held on Wednesday December 19 th at 6.30pm, we would love to see as many members as possible attend. Apart from being a fun evening it s a great chance to meet other people who play in different sessions to yourselves. We would ask that you put your names on the list on the noticeboard this is important as the House Committee needs numbers for catering purposes. The Committee would also like to have the opportunity to socialize and wish you a Happy Christmas and New Year. We look forward to seeing you. Kindest regards Jenny Johnstone - President
www.geelong.bridge-club.org/ P a g e 2 Club Results Men s pairs 24th August Women s pairs 24th August G. Ridgway, P. Jain J. Johnstone, R. Macaulay B. Jones, T. Johnston F. Gibbons, V. Temple K. Crough, D. Arney L. Clarke-Samuels, S. Irwin Patti Roydhouse Swiss Teams 3 September Restricted Teams 20 27 September G. Ridgway, A. Robbins, D. Newland, D. Newlands S. Strong, D. Strong, J. Keyte, N. Keyte M. Stokie, P. Jain, G. Temple, T. Hassett R. Lawrie, S. Irwin, B. Jones, P. Jones A. Blackburn, K. Thomas, C. Bowman, W. Dennis J. Horan, P. Horan, J. Munro, L. Bennetto Intermediate pairs 15 & 22 October Open pairs 22 November A. Feiner, A. Robbins, C. Dodgshun G. Ridgway N. Johnstone, T. Passlow D. Newland, D. Newlands G. Collis, T. Hassett P. Frost, R. Lawrie
Page 3 Victorian Simultaneous Pairs 26 September, 3, 10 October T. Ranasinghe, G. Ghali (Moonee Valley) Aug HIGH SCORES Joan Davis & Julie Gifford 75.5% A. Robbins, G. Ridgway (Geelong) Sep David & Sue Strong 71.5% K.& D. Delcourt (Bendigo) Oct Pam & Bill Jones 70% NEW DIRECTORS ONE DAY COURSE BY LAURIE KELSO The VBA is running an all day director s course targeted towards those who have done no directing before it is a beginner s course. We are desperately in need of director s at our club and would appreciate anyone willing to be trained to contact Jenny Johnstone. The VBA are willing to allow 2 members nominated by our club to attend free and also receive a petrol allowance. Anyone else wishing to attend the cost is $15 per head. VBA Clubrooms DATE: Sat. 26 th Jan.2019 (Australia Day) TIME: 9.30 to 4.45 (Lunch is not provided) Bookings essential please contact Jenny Johnstone Kooyong Congress November 18 Congratulations to Margaret Glover and Janice Coventry for being the winning pair at the Kooyong Congress on Nov 18th. The Warrnambool Congress 13-14 October 36 pairs contested Saturday's Swiss Pairs including 9 from Geelong (7 of which finished in top 12.) Congratulations to the eventual winners - Gary Ridgway and Arthur Robbins. The Restricted Section attracted 11 pairs with our sole participants, Jean McGonigal and Rina Verhoef finishing a creditable 5th. Well done ladies. 18 teams were entered for Sunday. Gary and Arthur continued their winning form taking out the Teams event with Denny Newland and Douglas Newlands. place went to Trish Frost, Shannon Irwin, Margaret Glover and Janice Coventry. Congratulations to all. Warrnambool hosts a great Congress. This year's venue (Deakin) was excellent. Catering on both days was, as usual, great (although we're still looking for the neenish tarts!) It is a beautiful part of the world with heaps of accommodation options. Why not give it a try next year? Dot Peacock. Gary Ridgway and Arthur Robbins- Fist place in the Swiss Pairs event
P a g e 4 AGM prize giving pictures. September 5th Men s pairs 1. Piyush Jain, Gary Ridgway 2. Bill Jones, Terry Johnston Patti Roydhouse Teams Womens Pairs 1. Douglas Newlands, Gary Ridgway, Denny Newland, Arthur Robbins 1. Jenny Johnstone, Robin Macaulay 2. Florence Gibbons, Vi Temple Swiss Teams 15 February 1. John Phillips, Judy Munro, Prue Montgomery, Helen Walsgott Arthur Robbins, Gary Ridgway & Doug Newlands Robin Macaulay Open Teams 1. Geoff Chettle, Gary Ridgway, Denny Newland, Douglas Newlands 2. Denise Clarke, Gabby Wilson, Sue Duff, Sue Robinson Heweston Matinee Pairs 1. Douglas Newlands, Denny Newland 2. Jenny Johnstone, Robin Macaulay 3. Gary Ridgway, Piyush Jain Swiss Teams 22 June 1. Margaret Winchester, Faye Bell, Heather Scott, Beverley Kroger Dot Peacock & Terry Passlow Michael Stokie & Roger Gillard Swiss Pairs 1. Alison Feiner, Anne Gunst 2. Denise Clarke, Gabby Wilson Helen Drinnan Matinee Teams 1. Terry Johnston, Lesley Clark- Samuels, Trish Frost, Jenny Lee, Gary Lee 2. Jenny Johnstone, Dot Peacock, Heather Scott, Alison Feiner Mixed Pairs 1. Douglas Newlands, Denny Newland Shannon Irwin & Richard Lawrie Bill Jones & Terry Johnston Restricted Pairs 2. Richard Lawrie, Shannon Irwin 1. Philip Ward, Graham McAlpine 2. Alan Blackburn, Sue Taylor Teams of 4 Combo 1. Roger Gillard, Gabby Wilson, Piyush Jain, Mike Stokie 2. Shannon Irwin, Lesley Clark- Samuels, Gordon Collis, Terry Johnston, Gary Lee, Jennifer Lee Heidenfeld Teams Geoff Chettle, Arthur Robbins, Denny Newland, Douglas Newlands Prue Montgomery & Dot Peacock Anne Gunst & Alison Feiner Presidents trophy Terry Passlow
Page 5 Sue Robinson & Sue Duff Shannon Irwin & Terry Johnston Heather Scott & Alison Feiner Alan Blackburn A few more photos from the prize giving at the AGM September 5th Vi Temple Geelong players results at the Ballarat Congress 8-9 September. The Ballarat Swiss Pairs and Swiss Teams event was held over the weekend of 8-9 September. Three GBC pairs placed in the top 10 on the Saturday, with Gary Ridgway and Arthur Robbins placing 4th, Stephen Lester and Denny Newland 5th and Piyush Jain and Mike Stokie 9th. Some pleasing results saw Anne Gunst and Alison Feiner moving from a starting rank of 31 to finish at 27, Prue Montgomery and John Brazier moving from 36 to 33 and, best of all, Jean McGonigal and Rina Verhoef ranking 61 at the start and coming in at 46 to finish. Well done, everyone! In the Teams event on the Sunday, Arthur Robbins, Gary Ridgway, Denny Newland and Doug Newlands placed 7th, Anne Gunst, Kathryn Graham, Heather Scott and Faye Bell finished 9th, with Dot and Geoff Read, Dot Peacock and Hilary Keefe rounding it out at 10th. Country Teams and Victorian Pennant. There are three country regions Eastern, Northern and our Western Region. Each year two teams from each region qualify through regional championships and then compete for the Country Teams. Our selection event is the Teams at the Western Region Congress in February. Our teams this year were Roger, Mike, Gabby and Piyush, and, Dot, Anne Gunst, Vi and Margaret Barrett. The Gillard team won the event from Dot's team so this was a great result for the Western Region. We have a great record in this event having won six times in the eight years it has been contested. Well done to both teams. The winning team played in the semi-final of the Victorian Pennant (Victorian Teams ) on November 17. Our team of Mike, Gabby, Piyush and Sue Duff (augmented to the team) played well but did not succeed in progressing to the final.
Page 6 Rank Promotions Congratulations to the following members who have received new Masterpoint rankings. Graduate Club Local *Local **Local Regional *State Silver Life Kathy Thomas Gary Barfoot John Prowse Hank Gregory Gayle Steel Elizabeth Bennetto Mary McMahon Jean McGonigal Graham Forbes Rhonda Gude Wendy Dennis David Strong Ron Wescott Mark Doyle Florence Gibbons Geoff Read Vale Usha Padhye 12 July 1934 to 30 September Usha rapidly declined after Puru's passing and lost her battle with endstage dementia less than 6 weeks later. She was also a long standing member (taught by Puru) and featured in 5 Honour Board events - Heweston Trophy with Puru in 2001 and 2004 and with Christine Chamberlain in 2003,Open Teams 2009 with Puru, Gabby and Lesley, Intermediate Pairs in 2012 again with Puru. She loved her bridge and referred to the club as her extended family -so much so that she was often more interested in her opponents' lives than her cards, unless of course she could bid her favourites, 3NT or double. Usha and Puru celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and their 80th birthdays with us, providing a variety of Indian cuisine. Her lemon slice was famous. She was a real identify of the club and our thoughts and sympathy are with all her family. Dot Peacock Dot Read NEW MEMBERS The Geelong Bridge Club welcomes the following new and re-joining members: Jeni McMahan Unice Ekberg Judi Idle GP Macolino Jenni Ham Claire Hewitt Lyn Frankenburg Kerri Sheppard John Fellows Julie Heath Sue Jones Graeme Mathers Janine Osborne Ian Sheen Denise Mclaverty Marilyn Young Christmas party And duplicate December 19th 6.30 pm Bookings essential
Page 7 Bridge Lessons-Graduation Graduation day was held this time in conjunction with Tuesday morning bridge. The Tuesday players made the beginners very welcome and as a result the new players are all keen to give Tuesday bridge a go. Jenny came along to present the beginners with their certificates and also brought along muffins for morning tea. Thank you to all who helped out in any way, Dot and Geoff. The next beginners lessons are starting on Thursday April 11th at 9.15am. Members are encouraged to take a flyer and give to their friends. PIZZA SUNDAYS The next Pizza Sunday is the 27th January Please come along and join in the fun, but be sure and put your name on the list if you wish to attend. UPCOMING LESSONS FOR INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED PLAYERS WITH STEPHEN LESTER Topics that are being considered but not yet finalized are.. Slam bidding Hand evaluation Lebensohl Balancing bid Dates: Sat. March 2 nd, March 16 th, April 27 th and May 4th starting at 10am and each session will run for approximately 2 hours Cost: $15 per lesson members can attend as many topics as they wish. Lists for each session will be on the noticeboard once the topics are confirmed.
Page 8 Seniors Festival Oct 2 A. Gunst, A. Feiner, D. Read, G. Read D. Peacock, J. Johnstone, H. Scott, F. Bell 83.7 VP's 83.0 VP's Best Visiting Team Sandwiches and cakes supplied through the day P. Jones, B. Jones, S. Irwin, S. Lawrie C. Beer, T. Broeders, D. Mitton. M. Burns (Ballarat) 79 VP's 63.5 VP's Teams from surrounding clubs were well represented Another successful event, 16 teams entered including 3 from Ballarat and 1 from Ocean Grove. Our buffet lunch was beautiful, drinks and nibbles afterwards finished off a great day even though the dishwasher was out of action and there was no hot water in the kitchen!! Many thanks to COGG for their grant towards the day. Thanks also to all those members who helped with catering, setting up and cleaning up. Special thanks to Mike Stokie for his organisation of teams, liaison with Council, booklets, directing and scoring. To Marion Scambler - on the day you were invaluable. Dot Peacock Winning team Dot and Geoff Read, Anne Gunst & Alison Feiner Aug Sep Oct Joan Wilson Trophy Winners Denny Newland Douglas Newlands Jenny Johnstone LOST PEN Gary Ridgway has lost a gold pen with his name and Gold Grand Master engraved on it. Could you please check that you haven t taken it home by mistake. Many thanks. A note from the editor: As the editor I would like to encourage you all to pass on anything you think will be of interest to the members regarding the Bridge Club. Thanks again to those who contributed information and interesting articles for this edition. Contact the committee or me at alison.feiner@gmail.com, Regards, Alison Feiner.