2025 AUGUST NEWSLETTER
National Champions
The big news was the Western Australian Women’s Team winning at the Australian National Championships in Brisbane. Well done Gwyneira Brahma, Stella Steer, Pauline Collett, Cathy Hood, Leonie Fuller, Marnie Leybourne and non playing captain Allison Stralow. There’s one home club member and three alternate members in that team!
Lessons & Workshops
It was a busy month on the teaching front. The Beginners Course Part 2 has just finished and the next Beginners Course Part 1 is about to start. There were also two workshops held, a four week card play course started, and lessons on conventions running on a Monday night.
Car Park Access
During August there will be some temporary changes to car park and club access while electrical and water services are run to the Hospice. More details will be available in the coming week.
Starting To Play Duplicate
To help our new players ease into the more competitive afternoon duplicate sessions, the directors have been putting out two or three reserved seats in the first two rows. Regular players may opt to sit at these tables but will be asked to move if a new pair arrives at least fifteen minutes before the session starts.
Along with the Mentoring Programme, this is a service we offer our less experienced members.
Successful Grant Application - Defibrillator Replacement
At the suggestion of John Nelson, the Club has successfully applied for a grant to replace the defibrillator under the Stronger Communities Grant Programme Round 9.
WABC is Australia's third largest bridge club and is accessible to the general public using the Allen Park Precinct. Defibrillators save lives in the event of a cardiac arrest. The units are easy to use, portable, provide a quick response, and patient outcomes are significantly improved.
Thank you to our local member Kate Chaney, whose office has promoted the Grant Programme.
Whose Shoes?
Not to mention the suits and ties. Is this a new standard for the directors to aspire to? Welcome to Warwick Potter, who is directing the Wednesday mid morning session. You can read more about Warwick in the next edition of Trump’s Plus. He’s played before, many years ago; but, like riding a bicycle, you never really forgot how to do it.
PLANNING AHEAD
Friday Afternoon Duty Partner (July & August) Trial
An opportunity to play on Friday afternoon if your regular partner is away. The usual rules, two singles get to play together, one single gets to play with the duty partner. This is looking like a very popular trial.
Daytime Pairs Championship
Two Friday Afternoons: 8 & 15 August at 1:15pm. For WABC members. There will be a normal duplicate session as well.
BAWA Joan Prince Swan River Swiss Pairs
A weekend of bridge on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August at WABC. Gold points. Enter on myABF. Please note that there is NO CLUB DUPLICATE ON SATURDAY 23 AUGUST.
Swiss Pairs Championship
The WABC Swiss Pairs Championship is two sessions on Saturday 30 August at 9:30am & 1:15pm. For those wondering, this event was moved due to an unexpected clash with the West Coast Bridge Club’s Congress. For WABC members. There will be a normal afternoon duplicate session as well.
Evening Pairs Championship
Two Wednesday evenings: 3 & 10 September at 7:15pm. You can play in a single session if you wish but the championship winners will the best WABC pair based on an aggregated score over the two evenings.
WABC & Nedlands Men’s Pairs Championship
Two Thursday afternoons: 4 & 11 September. The first session 12:30 pm, 4 September is at Nedlands. The second session 1:15pm, 11 September at WABC. Different start times, different clubs, hopefully the boys can work it out!
Kings Birthday Red Points
The afternoon session on Monday 29 September will be Red Points.
WINNERS & PLACINGS – ELSEWHERE
Australian National Championships - Women’ s Teams: Won by Western Australia, Pauline Collett, Cathy Hood, Gyneira Brahma, Stella Steer, Leonie Fuller, & Marnie Leybourne. The non playing captain was Allison Stralow. The team won the qualifying comfortably but did lose the final three matches of the second round robin. Not to worry, well perhaps a bit, the final against South Australia was similar to the qualifying. The West Australian ladies raced off to a commanding lead only to be pegged back in the final two sets and eventually fall behind, but a 13 IMP pickup on the second last board finally settled the match. Well done.
Mandurah Winter Congress Swiss Pairs: Won by Vinod Nasta & Cynthia Belonogoff from Viv Wood & Gerry Daly.
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new members: Jane-ine Clifton; Sara Franklyn; Arshad Omari & Helen Potter.
FAREWELL
Bobbi Mitchell passed away late July 2025. Bobbie last played at WABC in 2018. She won the Mabs McCulloch Patrons Cup twice.
Flaviu Radu passed away early July 2025. He last played at WABC in 2022.
Ray Flanagan, a current club member, passed away peacefully in May 2025.
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
CARD PLAY
There’s still two weeks of the card play course to go. These are all stand alone lessons so you can still come along for to improve your play in trump suit contracts. Thursday mornings, August 7 & 14 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am; $15 per session. Run by Martin Doran & Jane Henderson. Aimed at those who have finished the second beginner’s course, or a previous Rookies course, or anyone who wants to start taking more tricks as declarer.
FRIDAY SUPERVISED TOPICS
1-Aug: Weak Twos for beginners
8-Aug: Stayman for beginners
15-Aug: Transfers to Majors for beginners
22-Aug: Etiquette Quiz
29-Aug: Opening Bids – Beginner’s Refresher Lesson
BEGINNERS Part 1
About to start this Monday 4 August with a choice of morning or evening classes. Ten weeks, cost $150. Run by Jodie Basham. Suitable for completely new players. Tell your friends and neighbours and get them to learn how to play our favourite game.
BEGINNERS Part 2
Starts Monday 20 October with a choice of morning or evening classes. Eight weeks, cost $120. Run by Jodie Basham. Suitable for those who have completed Part 1.
OCTOBER
There will be more card play courses in October and a workshop focusing on Defence - Attitude Signals.
PUBLICATIONS
Trumps Plus: the August edition will be out shortly and a link added
BAWA Focus: the July edition is here