Bridge Club News

Bring your family and friends to our social Trivia Night on Saturday 22 September. This is a chance to have fun with family and friends and perhaps softly encourage them to learn to play bridge.

An initiative of one of our members, Nerida Gillies, this is a combined Peninsula Bridge Club/Australian Mensa event. We're providing the venue (and bridgy environment) and they are providing the experienced Trivia Night compere, and hopefully a range of their members who will learn to associate fun with bridge.

The event is free to attend but will raise money via gold coin quizzes and raffle for our charities Rural Fire Brigade of NSW and Mona Vale Hospital Auxiliary.

Read

Peter Cotton and Rob Wallace won all four rounds to win the Swiss Pairs on Tuesday 28 August, ahead of David Farmer and Catherine Whiddon and our guest experts Liam Milne and Shane Harrison. Full results on our website.

It was an excellent night with 9 tables, with special thanks to our standby pair Di Agostino and John Simmonds.

It followed an excellent short talk from Australian international player, Liam Milne, on "Bidding more effectively in the pass-out seat" - you can check Liam's notes.

Read

The State Open Pairs Qualifying event run over three Mondays finished yesterday, 27 August, with the top four pairs: 1st David Farmer/Catherine Whiddon 184.90, 2nd Peter Clarke/Hans van Weeren 169.19, 3rd Alan Davies/Vivien Eldridge 167.42 and 4th Jennifer Ardill/Yvonne Perkins 164.37. 

The top four pairs earn club-sponsored entry into the State Open Pairs Championship on 24-25 November at the NSW Bridge Association. Other competing pairs are eligible to play this two day event at a cost of $50 if they join the club entry. See the convener Alan Davies for more information.

PBC’s annual Charity Day convened by Sue Riley was again a great success with 31 pairs playing in the competition proficiently run by Terry Rothwell.

However, the main event of the day was the lunch provided by Sue Riley, who had spent days on preparation of delicious Moroccan lentil soup, ham and pea soup and pumpkin soup followed by a plentiful cake and cheese spread for dessert, where the exquisite profiteroles warrant a particular mention.

A big thank you to Sue for the enormous efforts putting this event together. And thanks to all the volunteers, who brought in chips, nibbles, dishes and cakes, and to all the people who help out during the day in the kitchen or with the raffles. Most of all thank you to the participants, who happily spent lots on raffle tickets.

Read

As for last year, more than 20 Peninsula players attended the 2018 Coffs Coast Congress in Coffs Harbour in mid August to challenge bridge players from across Australia. The event again filled very quickly and those fortunate to attend experienced superb weather, a great venue, a well-organised event, and some tough bridge.

The congress comprised two major events, a two day Swiss Pairs followed by a two day Swiss Teams. Peninsula players held a dinner out between the two events.

Read

Sometimes it feels a little precarious bidding at the five level, particularly in a competitive bidding situation. You were comfortable bidding game in a major and the pesky opponents come in with a 5 level bid...

Should you double, bid on or pass? Will their contract make or is it a sacrifice to be punished? Will you make at the five level?

Come and hear international players, Liam Milne and Susan Humphries, speak on exactly this topic: "Action at the 5 level: Double, bid or pass" at the club on Tuesday 28 August. An opportunity not to be missed. Check all the details.

We ended up with 24 tables at the PBC Swiss Pairs Congress on Sunday 29 July, which was a bit disappointing. Perhaps the middle of winter is not the best time for a congress?

Nonetheless the event was very well received by those that did participate. Ronnie Ng did a great job as director and everything went very smoothly. Volunteer caterer Cassandra Mitchell provided wonderful food all day which was much appreciated.

Read

Dear Members,

I believe that our bridge community at Peninsula is a bit like a family in that to get along well, good communication is key. The Committee makes a huge effort to communicate, especially regarding any changes, but good communication is not as easy task and this is where your help is invaluable.

Whilst we relish any positive feedback, we also invite and appreciate enormously any expression of concerns or disagreement with decisions that are being made. It is this feedback that can alert us to the need for clarification, reflection and often better communication. Please keep writing or talking to us!

Read