Did you know that our club purchases Masterpoints from the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF) for our members and do you realise how much is paid for these? The ABF Masterpoint Scheme aims to stimulate interest and competitiveness in bridge by ranking its members’ achievements. (It also assists in financing the ABF’s national and international commitments.)

As a healthy and thriving club, we are proud to regularly congratulate our members as they progress up the ranks, from Graduate to Grand Master and beyond! 

At the last Great Lakes Bridge Club (GLBC) committee meeting for 2023, several issues were discussed in depth, resulting in some changes for 2024:

System cards

Monday 11 December 2023 saw another crowded, happy and enjoyable celebration of a successful year of bridge. The event started with the presentation of awards and certificates (pictured and listed below). A delicious lunch followed, ending with a relaxed game of casual bridge.

The latter included a pair of our most senior members - with over 180 years between them, their combined time playing bridge is estimated to be over 60 years!

Trophy winners (pictured clockwise from top left) were:

Over 70% of the registered active bridge players in NSW have fewer than 100 masterpoints. We are pleased to have an ardent set of novice players who turn up consistently and 'have a go'.

Late in 2023, our club once again took part in the NSW Bridge Association’s UHMP State Pairs Championships, restricted to players with less than 100 MPs. Pictured are our local winners, Pam Wallingford and June Beard who incidentally collected O.56 Red Points each for their efforts (As many of us are aware, these are quite difficult to accumulate).

A healthy club has new and vibrant volunteers stepping forward to assist in a variety of ways each year. And ours is definitely one of these lucky clubs! Pictured is our newest recruit for the often-unpopular position of Director, Denise Marr, alongside Shirley Craig, her scoring-system mentor and one of our valuable committee members.

A big thanks to all our committee members and volunteers - we couldn't do it without you all! 

Find a Partner and come along at 11.30 with a plate of finger food to enjoy our Christmas cheer and Annual Awards in a fun informal atmosphere.  We'll then have a relaxed game of about 24 boards.  See you there!!

Congratulations to Bev Daniel and Rhonda Millar (pictured) on their excellent win in our recent two-week Swiss Pairs competition. With four wins a draw and a loss, they held 1st position consistently throughout the six rounds – a well-deserved victory. Well done also to 2nd place-getters Marie Schutte & Megan Watson, and 3rd, Teresa Siminska and Alison McGregor.

Please make a date to come and enjoy our Christmas party and Prize Presentations for the year.

Start time is 11.30am on Monday 11 December.

Everyone should bring a plate of finger food to share.  The Club will provide red/white wine, orange juice and mineral water.

We will play a game at approximately 1pm.  Please register with your partner in the usual fashion.

Hope to see you there with your party hat!

Congratulations to the winners of the October High Low game.

N/S - Les Marks & Bill Goodwin

E/W - Fran Carroll & Jenny Turville