Happy New Year! 

Great Lakes Bridge Club (GLBC) games kicked off on the very first day of the new year, and what better way to start it. Did you know that a century ago, auction bridge or plafond underwent a reincarnation? The game that we play these days, contract bridge, was invented in 1925 by Harold Vanderbilt, a wealthy American who found himself idle on a steamship cruise.

Please read the following as there are some important updates for all, especially if you haven't picked up your 2025 Program Booklet yet.

Please note that the game previously scheduled for Saturday 4 January 2025 has been cancelled. The first Saturday HiLo game for 2025 is on 18 January. See you there!

2024 saw plenty of winners in our thriving bridge club from all skill levels. Congratulations to all! A full list of award and certificate winners is below. 

We again thank our hard-working volunteers - committee members and many others - for all they've done this year to ensure our club remains a happy and healthy one. Play resumes on 1 January 2025 but in the meantime:

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

President’s Trophy Ray Pierce (pictured bottom left w GLBC President Uve Andersen)

This week saw our most senior member turn 100 years old! 

Congratulations to all of our recently promoted members: Maureen Harlock, (Club Master); Jen Turville, Carolyn Moore & Lyn Poole (Local Master); Barb Richardson (Silver Local Master); Gillian Courtice, Denise Marr & Gary Marr (Regional Master). 

On Monday 16 December 2024, from 11:30 am, our club will be celebrating a very successful year with an awards presentation followed by a Xmas lunch (details below). But most importantly, a FREE game will follow. PLEASE NOTE: this is a normal duplicate session. It is no longer a HiLo event as previously programmed. Members are free to play with whoever they choose. 

Congratulations to our major place winners in the recent Australia Wide Restricted Pairs event. Not only did Robina MacDiarmid and Marcia Gaden place 62nd across Australia in the under 300 Master Points (MPs);

Another great afternoon was enjoyed this week when 54 of our members competed in a Hi-Lo event. It's truly gratifying to see so many turn up for these games - the beginners and intermediates who 'bite the bullet' and face possibly tough and unnerving competition and the more experienced players who are happy to share their expertise and support their partners. And most of all, all having fun. This is a sign of a healthy bridge club with a positive future.

Many Thanks to the spirited Ladies who arrived, equipped with their machines, for an afternoon's work on Saturday. 

Lynne Barry, Barbara Richardson, Sue Gilmore, Jill Buchman, Mika Betten and Pat Chapman(absent from photo, but left a beautifully sewn cover behind).

From 1-Sep-24, all GLBC afternoon games will begin play at 1pm (not 12:30pm as per our Winter times). Our directors appreciate players registering early (via the Entry tab above) and are seated by 12:45pm.