Great news! Santa - in the form of Pub Charity - has come early to Cambridge Bridge club donating $8000 towards the $25,780 cost quoted to replace the exterior cladding down the St John side and back walls, which are in the worst condition and need urgent repair. This amount excludes the electrician and air con (dis)connection costs. The work will be undertaken by PJM building.

The other two walls will also need replacing within 4-5 years. 

If you are reading this and are available 1pm Sunday 30 November, please remember the working bee at the club at this time.

Wonderful to see Mathew and Mike win the Heart stratified section and come third overall at this year’s Te Awamutu Christmas bridge tournament. Mathew has now romped in to intermediate grade status for 2026 after only two years of playing bridge. Congratulations to both of them for doing so well.

Steve Hunt and his Taupo partner also did themselves proud being the runners up in the Diamond stratified section.  

Huge Congratulations to Pam Moore who has just qualified as a NZ Bridge Tournament Director. This is no mean feat! Pam has attended a number of three hour long online seminars, swotted over assignments and then funded herself to go to ChCh to sit the in person practical and theory exams over the recent three day long weekend.

Irenee reports:
Fabulous day at Thames Christmas party, well deserved session prize for Michael & Judith ✅ from an extremely strong field! I won first pick in raffle, Michael 6th pick 👌. The most fabulous day. enjoyed incredible Christmas dinner & atmosphere 💐. 

On Thursday 23rd we celebrated Joan's 90th birthday.  Joan joined Gloria Gilmore, Marie Wilson and Martin Steiner in our very special 90s plus members' group.

We look forward to enjoying Joan playing in our club for many more years - especially in her favourite contract of No Trumps.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make our annual tournament so friendly and happy.  There were 80 players who took part and lots of bridge was played.  Thank you to all the members who brought food or helped on the day to make it all go seamlessly. A special thanks to our Director, Pam Moore and scorer, Mike Neels. Ian Moore and Kevin also spent a lot of time helping to ensure the day was a success.

Players are welcome to join us at 7pm this Friday for this NZ wide event that is played at the same time in many clubs across NZ . Please be seated by 6.50.

The cost is $10 and includes a booklet to take home about the bidding and play of each hand.  The proceeds go to NZ youth players.  The table money comes out of the Cambridge club member’s Compa$$ account.  Visitors are welcome and should bring $10 cash.

Please enter online on the NZB website or on clipboard in club.

The Taupo club tried something a little different in their Kefi Cafe-sponsored event on 4-Oct - a Restricted 8B Swiss Pairs in which two Opens were not permitted to play together. Swiss Pairs is becoming rather popular these days - usually as a source of fractional A points for the less-than-famous in the Open format. Another innovation will become available to clubs next year - 3A Open Restricted events will come onto the calendar.

🏆 That’s a stellar showing from Steve Hunt and Sue Keating! Winning both the morning and afternoon sessions and taking the overall title at the Matamata Intermediate Bridge Tournament is no small feat. Their consistency across the day was extremely impressive.
 

👏 Hats off as well to Nandy Costa and Denise Whybrow for clinching 4th overall—top-tier placement in a competitive field.

Well played them!