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Eight teams, each with at least 2 novice players (less than 100MP), played in the enjoyable Members and Novices Teams Day on Monday 4 July. The goal was to introduce and entice less experienced players into the team format of the game - and the social, fun aspects were enhanced by frequent nibbles (often healthy) and the relaxed 10am-3.30pm, five 8 board match format.
The winners were the Evershed team (Sue Evershed, John Simmonds, Heidi Colenbrander and Ray Hurst) well ahead of the Small team (Anne Small, Nerida Gillies, Lynn Baker and Keith Trevallion).
Check the full results and some great photos from the day.
76 Peninsula members played in the 2018 Australia-Wide Novice Pairs on Friday 25 May. Novice players (<50MP) in clubs all over Australia played the same boards and results were scored across the country. A booklet with expert analysis of the hands was provided.
Locally calculated results were published on our website. You can check the national results on the event coordinator's website. These are still provisional at time of writing.
Nationally Sue Evershed and John Simmonds are our best pair, coming 29th across the country with 64.5% according to the results processed at time of writing, ahead of Christine Egan and Dianne Agostino who are 35th with 63.9% and Karl Puse and Yumiko Tsuji who are 41st with 63.3%. Congratulations to these pairs who, once the results are final, need to claim prizes for being in the top 50.
This month, the Committee has been explaining to members - through talks at the club and information on the website - the key challenge facing our club, namely our future Clubhouse.
The Committee’s decision to prioritise adding additional money to our annual surplus, for the purpose of being well prepared for the future, has received broad support.
The Committee is reviewing the Club’s finances to identify ways to raise money or save money, without taking away from the enjoyment of the game or the friendly experience of playing bridge at our Club. The initial measure of withdrawing winner’s tickets was supported by the majority as an effective first step to adding to our reserves - saving $24,000 a year.
The Sydney North Interclub Pairs Challenge is being held at Peninsula on Sunday 15 July. Last year we won this in a nail-biting finish with a lead of half a point over Trumps with North Shore just a little further behind. Can we hold on to the title?
You can see the event flier and Peninsula's call for expressions of interest (also on the noticeboard). Do note that pairs who have achieved success in competitive events in the past year are likely to be invited to represent the Club, and the expressions of interest recorded on the noticeboard will then be considered. This is a club entry process, but those pairs who miss out may be able to play for other Sydney North clubs including as an All-Stars team.
Peninsula on Sunday 15 July successfully defended its narrow win last year in the 2018 Sydney North Interclub Pairs Challenge. We entered a full contingent in this great day played at our club - brilliantly convened by Cassandra Mitchell and supported by the generous culinary offerings of our members.
You can see the photos of the day mainly taken by Heidi Colenbrander.
The event's 58 pairs were divided by average masterpoints into three playing fields of ten, nine and ten tables. And each of these fields was divided further into two categories for the purpose of awarding points towards the pair's club.
President Sarah Young thanked Councillor Cory Amon during his recent visit to the club to see the portable PA system that his grant to the club procured for us.
The PA system will be used when we need a microphone in operation but not through the speakers that operate throughout the clubhouse. This occurs when we use another room or if we have a session or lesson operating only at one end of the room with something different happening at the other end.
Nineteen and a half tables contested the Lawrence Shield on Saturday 2 June, commemorating the huge contributions made by Verl and John Lawrence. Most of us will know Verl, and know of her past role as Chief Director. Sue Riley was able to share her former life covering many of the key roles of the club including Secretary and Masterpoint Secretary. She also shared information about John, one of Sue's former bridge partners, and a long time House Manager for the club. It was a great opportunity to learn of the significant work that Verl and John had volunteered to undertake to help make the club as good as it is today.
On this wild, wet and windy Saturday we played as one field, using an Arrow-Switched Web Mitchell movement to ensure that we all played the same 27 boards, a fair outcome not always achieved in large fields.
The winners were David Farmer and Catherine Whiddon, with runners-up Peter Clarke and Jim Rothwell who finished ahead of Chis Duggin and Lori Neville.
A number of members have raised the ongoing car parking issues at the club, particularly for those who are mobility challenged. While there is no simple solution the committee has:
- Asked council to provide more mobility access parking spaces in the Nelson Heather Centre carpark and to restrict more of Boondah Rd parking to five hours (rather than all-day that suits B-Line commuters)
- Publicized the KEO-RIDE option for those living north of Narrabeen bridge that can help reduce the number of cars coming to the Club
- Progressed plans to spread our heaviest player (and thus parking) loads by adding additional rookie sections to other afternoon sessions and by trialing a morning session
- Created a Parking Working Group (led by committee member Greg Hay) to work on a wide range of measures to improve our parking experience
If you are interested in being involved in the Working Group please contact Greg on 0421 659 761 or
Of course any shared transport to the club such as car-pooling, or sharing a taxi or Uber, would also help the situation.
