It was wonderful to see the room full of enthusiastic bridge players in Cambridge today. Thank goodness for the bad weather as it made a day at the bridge table in the relative cool so much more appealing at this time of year! Thank you to all our generous members bringing plenty of delicious food for our guests to enjoy. 

Look what just came through - the top twenty A point earners for 2017. Cambridge's Herman Yuan is ranked 17th with over 190 A points for the year. It is all the more meritorious that Herman makes this list with a total of only just 633 A points when eighteen others have thousands.

Yes, that's right! The first of the Waikato Area Pairs 2018 is this Sunday in our own club rooms.  We are looking forward to seeing as many of our members as possible. It is not just for open players.  There is always a prize for the best non-Open pair on the day as well as best junior and intermediate pairings with Open players for the series.  The WAPs is a marvelous way to develop your bridge and make a bridge partnership stronger. If you are learning the Nesting Pairs system, playing in the WAPs is an ideal practice ground.

We try and find a theme that is topical.

So topical and tropical, Monday night team theme will reflect this hot summer we are enjoying  - see if you can come as something RED HOT!

Wednesday night teams will reflect the fact that it is a Commonwealth Games year. So see if you can drum up something interesting from or about the COMMONWEALTH.

Our hosts play an important role in ensuring no-one goes home without a game on a Wednesday night (except perhaps the host).  BUT it only works if players, like you (dear reader) are prepared to offer to be a host.   

If you get to play it is a free night.  If you're not required you receive 2 free vouchers for your next two games.

Please see if you have any spots in your programme that you would be available to help in this way. 

New Zealand Bridge are really keen to hear from everybody just how they feel about Tournaments and Gradings - whether they're someone who plays tournaments or someone who doesn't.

Yes it is our fun season of bridge approaching! And our experienced fun-loving elves Deb and Bill Robinson have been busy in Santa's workshop preparing to make your Christmas bridge enjoyable.

Wednesday 29 Nov - wear your Christmas colours!

Wednesday 6 Dec - we want to see you in Christmas headgear

Wednesday 13 Dec - time to be in International Christmas garb

There are prizes for the best dressed each week.

Last night - Eunice and Calum received their prizes - two bottles of the sponsor's fine products - for achieving second place Junior/Junior in the Babich pairs.   Congratulations to them both - don't think they'll be Juniors next year!

The evening started early in Cambridge with many of the 30 pairs entered opting to enjoy a slice or two of pizza with a glass of wine first. By 7.30 the room was set and the players were stuck in to the first round of the 2017 NZ wide pairs.

The results in Cambridge show why this competition is a bit different! More later on this.

It was quite something see 19 our club rooms full to play the last of the Intermediate League today.  We welcomed 38 pairs from 12 other clubs. One car load came from Hawera and new Plymouth just for the day! What an effort!

And there was some success for Cambridge too! Jenny Oxley and Barbara Read got off to a stupendous start and won the EW morning session prize.

Our new Regional Bridge Mate, Eunice Eccles, won the best Junior-Intermediate pairing with Malcolm Kirkby from Te Aroha. An excellent result for them.