Newsletter 22 July 2022

 In this week’s newsletter...

  • Vale Denis Grahame
  • 2022-23 Charity Radio 1 RPH
  • Beginners Classes
  • Competitive Bidding and Play - from August 30
  • Upcoming Events including Ballarat Bridge Congress
  • Member Spotlight: David Lee
  • Tim's Swim with Vim
  • Lighter Moments

From the President

The Club’s committee recently decided that the Club’s charity for 2022-2023 would be Radio 1RPH which provides reading services for the blind and vision impaired. Sandra Purser, a member of CBC and the President of Radio 1RPH has provided a brief summary of Radio 1RPH’s activities in this newsletter.

Please remember that all moneys raised at our produce table goes to the Club’s charity. Any excess produce (e.g. lemons) would be gratefully received.

Please stay safe and enjoy your bridge.

Margaret

 

Vale Denis Grahame

 Denis Grahame, a long time and very active member of CBC, died on Wednesday 20 July 2022.

Denis and Jeanette began their long and successful involvement with bridge in 1971, attending Beginners lessons at the Griffin Centre. They went on to become very successful players.

In 2007 Denis represented the ACT in the Seniors event at the Australian National Championships, playing with Jeanette.

With Jeanette as his partner Denis won the State Mixed Pairs Championship, the Ted Crichton Mixed pairs twice (2006, 2015) and the Egon Larsen Pairs Championship (2010). Denis also won the Egon Larsen pairs with Brian Thorp in 1993.

Denis was a keen follower of many sports.  He was a tricky spin bowler at cricket; a competent tennis player; an A-grade table tennis player; and an avid supporter of the Collingwood Magpies.

 Denis and Jeanette had four daughters of whom he was very proud and to whom he passed on some of his sporting interests. The whole bridge club relished the moment when their daughter Amanda took Serena Williams to three sets at the Australian Open in 2000.

Work-wise, Denis was an experienced financial/investment analyst, who kept a sharp eye on stock market trends and prospects. He used this expertise on behalf of the bridge club as a member of the Barry Turner Fund sub-committee, advising on those investments for many years.

Jeanette made a wonderful gift to Denis after he had fallen seriously ill, donating one of her own kidneys to restore his kidney function and prolong his life.  He was always grateful to Jeanette for her generosity. In the last couple of years RealBridge has enabled him to continue his bridge life safely despite Covid, often playing with Bob Cox.

We extend our sympathy to Jeanette, who has made wonderful contributions to CBC through teaching, and to all members of his family.

Radio 1RPH is the CBC 2022-23 Club Charity

 Radio 1RPH, which and broadcasts on 1125am, is a local radio station which provides reading services for the blind and vision impaired. As President, I welcome the support of the Canberra Bridge Club and members and thank you for nominating the station as your Charity for 2022-23.

The aim of 1RPH is to inform and entertain people with a print disability who for whatever reason are unable to read printed information because they may be vision impaired; have literacy issues, be able to speak but not read English, or have a learning impairment or a condition that hinders reading.

The ACT based service is operated almost entirely by volunteers who provide a 24 hour service,  including readings from the daily newspapers and magazines or books.

The ACT Government withdrew significant financial support when the NDIS was introduced and in recent years the station has struggled to survive.

More information can be found on the station website at www.radio1rph.org.au.  

Thanks Sandra.  

 

Beginner's Classes

Our next beginner’s classes start in August on 17 and 19 August.  We have two sets of classes -  Wednesday – 7pm to 9pm (generally for people who can't commit during the day) and Friday 10am to 12 noon.  The classes run for 6 weeks. If you know someone who would like to learn to play bridge please tell them about our classes.  They can register interest on the club website or by talking to the managers. The cost is $69. 

Encouraging a younger cohort of players is beneficial and will ensure succession planning for our great game.  So if you know someone that you think may be interested in learning please consider a gift of lessons or just plant the seed that face-to-face lessons kickoff in the middle of next month.  There are 41 takers presently so this is great news for the club and bridge! Covid willing...

 

Sessions in the Club and on RealBridge are outlined below

Upcoming Sessions

Our weekly sessions are the same as last week:

  • Monday morning 10.00am at the club
  • Monday 2.00 pm (24 boards) RealBridge
  • Monday 7.00 pm RealBridge
  • Tuesday afternoon 1.00pm at the club
  • Tuesday 7.15pm event RealBridge - Winter Butler Pairs
  • Wednesday morning 10.00am at the club
  • Wednesday morning 10.15am RealBridge
  • Wednesday evening supervised at the club 7pm (18 boards following lesson) 
  • Wednesday evening 7.15pm at the club
  • Thursday morning 10.00am at the club - Butler and walk in duplicate
  • Thursday afternoon 2.00pm (24 boards) RealBridge
  • Friday morning supervised 9.30am at the club (18 boards following lesson) 
  • Friday morning walk-in session 9.30am
  • Friday afternoon 1.00pm at the club
  • Friday afternoon 1.15pm RealBridge
  • Saturday afternoon 1.15pm RealBridge

Watch the newsletters and website for advice on face-to-face sessions at the club, and RealBridge sessions as these are fluid, depending on COVID developments and demand.  At this stage it is intended that the Monday and Thursday afternoon RealBridge sessions will continue indefinitely.  

Member table money will be deducted from players CBCPay accounts. Visitors' fees will be paid for by their member-partner, or via prior arrangement by emailing the office.

Cost: face-to-face $10 members/ $13 visitors, concession $9.  RealBridge $8 members and $7 concession (including event) $10 visitors

Links to sessions are on our RealBridge page.

  

July Supervised Sessions happening Wednesday nights and Friday Mornings at the Club

We run supervised duplicates on Wednesday evenings starting at 7.00pm and Friday mornings starting at 9.30 am.  

Each duplicate is preceded by a short lesson. 

Remaining supervised lessons in July will cover:

  • 27 & 29 July:  Strong 2C openings

If you are interested, please come along.  You don’t need a partner.   There is no need to book.  If you would like a copy of the notes, please contact Morag Lokan.  Morag’s email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Master the Basics

 Master the Basics virtual lessons are on Thursdays at 9.00am. The topic next week is Declarer Play - Planning and Playpoints.  Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to be added to the Zoom class. $6 for members and $8 for non-members. The lessons run for 30 minutes.  

 

Competitive Bidding and Play

If you are new to duplicate bridge and find competitive bidding a challenge this 4 week course is a must.  Over 4 weeks we will cover doubles, overcalls, leads and signals.  These sessions start on Tuesday 30 August and finish on Tuesday September 20.   The classes run from 10am to 12 noon. We start with a lesson and then play practice hands.

This course will be run face-to-face in the club rooms.  Cost is $15 per lesson or $55 for all 4 paid in advance. EFT to BSB 032730  Acct 355176.  In the Reference field please put "Compbidplay" and ABF number please

 

Results 

While the ANC was in full throttle last week, Brett Yeats and our intrepid Treasurer Jennifer were in Alice Springs where they fleeced the field!  As Brett says humbly:

 "We came first in last Saturday’s duplicate session at the Alice Springs Bridge Club.  For context, this doesn’t compare with the ANC exploits – Alice Springs has a total of 25 members, 10 of them turned up to play with us. They were very pleasant and welcoming, and it was a terrific opportunity to meet locals and hear their stories."

https://app.pianola.net/Results/Session468477

Congratulations Brett and Jennifer!  If you have had a similar recent result in an away game please share with us.  

 

World Transnational Teams kick off in Roclaw in Poland at the end of August.  A half dozen of so of our members and partners are making the trip to Europe rerouted not to fly over Russia or the Ukraine.  Some are enjoying a sojourn over there before and after the tournament.  We wish safe flights and travel in due course to Jodi and Bill Tutty, Ian Robinson and Christopher Quayle, David and Julia Hoffman, Neil Ewart and Richard Brightling

 

Upcoming Events

  

Upcoming Tuesday Evening RealBridge Tournaments

There are a range of other RealBridge tournaments coming up in August, September and October:

Swiss Butler Pairs incorporating the Ted Crichton Mixed Pairs Championships for 3 weeks on 2, 9 & 16 August

Swiss Match Point Pairs on 23 and 30 August

Butler Pairs on 6,13 and 20 September

Teams on 27 September and 4 October and 

Butler Pairs on 10 and 17 October.  

 

 

 Wagga Wagga Bridge Club 42nd Annual Congress

The Wagga Wagga Bridge Club is holding its Annual Congress on Friday19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of August. There are entry forms at the club.  

 

Ballarat Annual Congress

 Ballarat Bridge Club has extended an invitation to us to play at their Annual Congress, Saturday 10th September and Sunday 11th September at the Ballarat Bridge Club 1001 Eyre Street, Ballarat Central .

The Congress Director is Martin Wilcox. Entries on Bridge Unlimited   www.bridgeunlimited.com .

Convenor Bruce Morley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

$25.00 cash, per person per day, payable at Ballarat Bridge Club on the day.

BYO lunch, morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Drinks and nibbles at presentation at the end of each day.

Saturday Swiss Pairs (9.30 am registration) 10.00 am start - SWISS PAIRS

Sunday (9.30 am registration) 10.00 am start – TEAMS

 

Relaunch of RonKlingerBridge

The RonKlingerBridge.com website has been relaunched.  The website aims to improve every bridge player’s game.  Until 31 July, there is a new premium member offer to subscribe for $49 per year.  The subscription price will then increase to $59 per year.  For more details, see www.ronklingerbridge.com.

 

Member Spotlight: David Lee

How long have you been a player/member? 

  •  5 years

Most memorable occasion at the club?

  •  ANZAC day one year  2019?, the late Peter Carter walked in for the morning Bridge session dressed up in his full military gear with medals etc  and everyone stood up immediately in acknowledgement.

What do you do when you're not at the club? 

  • Grandchildren, tennis , mountain biking on the fire trails deep in Namadgi National Park, and especially Geocaching. Geocaching around Australia,  New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland  especially finding geocaches up mountain peaks and mountain passes requiring  typically 2 hours of intense mountain biking followed by 4 hours of steep elevation bush walking / bush bashing  - one way - all to find a log book and sign it. Love the challenge, fantastic views and quite often hidden historic places,  such as a hidden concrete bunker deep in the Swiss Alps, which we accessed  by riding in the snow 1km elevation. And many other historic places even around Canberra not on tourist websites.

What's your  favourite travel destination pre COVID?

  •  New Zealand. I rode my Mountain bike from Auckland to Invercargill. Yes, I crossed the Southern Alps 3 times and loved it. 

What's your  favourite travel destination now?

  •  Beaches, NSW & QLD.

What’s the best thing about Canberra Bridge Club?

  •  Very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. 

Tim's Swim With Vim

Every year Tim Mather tries to support research into Multiple Sclerosis or MS as it is known. This year is no exception and during the weekend of 6/7 August will find him journeying up and down the 50-metre swimming pool at AIS attempting to beat his record of 6 kilometres in 2 hours.

Tim requests financial support from members of Canberra Bridge club. If you are able, please go to his fundraising page at MS Mega Challenge - Tim Mather (www.msmegachallenge,org.au/fundraisers/timmather/mega-swim-canberra) to make a tax deductible donation to a worthy cause.

Last year he swam 5km with an injured shoulder but is now fully recovered from a shoulder reconstruction and hoping to better that distance.

Thank you in anticipation for any support you can give.

 

Lighter Moments

“Lexophile" describes those that have a love for sentences such as, "You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish," and "To write with a broken pencil is pointless. An annual competition is held by the New York Times to see who can create the best original lexophile.

I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now. 

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.

This girl today said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I'd swear I've never met herbivore.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles U.C.L.A.

I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.

A will is a dead giveaway.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He's all right now.

He had a photographic memory, but it was never fully developed.

When she saw her first strands of grey hair, she thought she'd dye.

Acupuncture is a jab well done. That's the point of it.

I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.

Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble

When chemists die, they barium.

I threw a brick up in the air and wondered if it was a bad idea or not...then it hit me!  Many thanks to Susan Walters for hitting us with lexophiles!

 

Much Obliged to John Hempenstall

Yass Bridge Club President  Trish Egan recently sent us a card:

"Dear fellow bridge players 

On behalf of the Yass Bridge Club, I write to thanks you very much for the donation of your chairs.  They are very smart and look marvellous in our newly created bridge club at the Allambee Club in Yass.  

A special thank you to John who helped us load the chairs, he was very thoughtful and extremely helpful."

 

Be kind to each other.    

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)