2025 DECEMBER NEWSLETTER
Congratulations to everyone who played in the Congress and well done to the winners.
These events rely heavily on the generous support of our members to be the success that they are. Thank you to everyone who brought plates of food in for the afternoon teas and the everyone who helped in the kitchen and behind the bar. Thanks also to Martin and David for the smooth running of the event. Forty six tables on Saturday afternoon certainly kept everyone busy.
As we continue to strengthen our Club and plan for the year ahead we are seeking expressions of interest from members who would like to contribute their skills and experience by joining one of our sub committees or working groups. These groups play a vital role in supporting the Committee of Management and ensuring the club delivers the best experience possible for all members.
I look forward to seeing as many members as possible on Tuesday 9 December for our annual prize giving and Christmas Party. I wish all our members, family and friends all the joy and happiness for the festive season. Stay safe and stay Happy.
Please note that the club is holding a clothing drive the week of the Party 6th -13 December, please deliver any clothes to the library. We will also take donations that will fill Christmas hampers for those less fortunate than we are.
Warm regards and Happy Christmas
Veronica Ntoumenopoulos
WABC President
PLANNING AHEAD
Membership Renewals
Memberships are due at the end of December and you should receive a renewal notice in the next day or so. you can pay by direct debit or at WABC at the director’s station by cash or card.
WABC Open Day
Wednesday 3 December, 3:30 - 5:30pm. Champagne, canapes and bridge at the West Australian Bridge Club. A chance for your friends, family or in fact anyone to come along and either learn about bridge or play a few hands. Please register by email (bridge@wabridgeclub.com.au or lessons@wabridgeclub.com.au) if attending. We will need some volunteers to play with the attendees or help with those who have not played before, if you can assist, please contact Jodie Basham in person using either of the above emails.
WABC Teams of Three
Sunday 7 December. A very popular event for those with less than 150 Masterpoints. Enter as a Team of Three and get a Master as the fourth player. Two sessions, 9:30am & 1:15pm.
WABC Christmas Party & Prize Giving
Tuesday 9 December. Play bridge at 1:15pm. The Prizes and Party start at 4:30pm. Free for club members, $25 for non member partners. Please register if you are attending, the book is in the hallway.
Charles Pearce Cup
Wednesday evenings in January. Just turn up. Play whichever Wednesday nights you want. No pre-entry required. Anyone can play. Each pair’s best three scores are combined and the highest placed pair of WABC members wins.
WABC Anniversay Pairs
Saturday 31 January. Single session, match points, scored across the room. Red Points. Pre entry required on myABF. $9 members, $11 visitors. All welcome. Don’t miss out on the WABC Birthday fun and cakes.
WABC Mixed Swiss Pairs Congress
Saturday 14 February. Two session Swiss Pairs. What could be better than spending Valentine’s Day playing bridge with your favourite partner of the opposite sex? There will be a normal duplicate session in the afternoon running alongside the Swiss Pairs.
JOAN BUTTS WORKSHOPS
Four morning (10am—12 noon) workshops followed by an afternoon duplicate sessions with Red Points on the Sunday. Book on myABF and check the benefits of attending all four workshops such as reserve seating and a month’s free access to Joan’s Online School of Bridge.
Fri: Improve Your Slam Bidding (Key Card & Cue Bidding)
Sat: Defender’s Plan: Keeping Defensive Communications Alive
Sun: Improve your Declarer Play: Playing Safe, and Recognising the Danger Hand
Mon: A Modern Approach to Competitive Bidding
WINNERS
WABC CHRISTMAS CONGRESS
A well attended and fun three day congress that saw over 150 tables playing over six sessions. Saturday afternoon was packed with 46 tables in action. I’m sure that everyone appreciated the afternoon teas and the work from everyone in the kitchen, behind the bar, and those cleaning up in preparation for the next day. Pictures will be posted in separate news itemscoming. The prize winners were:
MAYLANDS RESTRICTED CONGRESS
Was won by Jo & Nat Wright from Shirley Lavarack & Warwick Potter in second place.
BAWA GRANDMASTER RESTRICTED PAIRS
Held at West Coast Bridge Club and won by Brenda Campbell & Jonathan Free from Jamie Luxton & Christine Jenkins with Karen McLean & Patricia McNamara coming third.
FABULOUS FRIDAY
Another fun filled afternoon and a chance to meet our new sponsor, Bridget Robertson from Realmark Urban.
There were winners at the bridge tables. Avon Wilsmore & Nigel Zeller had the higest percentage across the room and the other prize winners were Deirdre Doepel & Jenny Sharpe (Section A); Keith Cramond & Peter Sumner (Section B); and Fran Holman & Lyn Hughes (Section C).
Not to mention a challenging quiz from John Nelson to keep everyone quiet in the social area.
2025 ABF CLUB TEAMS KNOCKOUT
A team of Cynthia Belonogoff, Linda Coli, Ron Cooper, Jonathan Free, Vinod Nasta & Mimi Packer representing WABC came second, losing to a strong Victorian team in the final. Well done.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Welcome to the following new members: Peter Abery; William Erskine; Jenny Genoni; & Bridget Robertson.
Sadly, several members or past members have passed away during the past month:
Gwenda Williams passed away peacefully late November. Gwenda last played at WABC in March of this year.
John Taylor passed away mid November. John usually played on Tuesday & Friday afternoons and last played at the WABC in August.
Louise Macfie passed away on Tuesday 11 November after a fall during her walk the previous morning. Louise had played the previous Friday morning. Her son Rory noted that Louise enjoyed playing bridge at WABC and was always happy to let him know when she and her partner had done well.
Lynne Errington passed away early November. As South Perth Bridge Club reported, Lynne was an English teacher at a private school for many years. Her home club has been Undercroft for several years but she was active at WABC from 2013 through to 2021 and was a Grand Master.
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
JOAN BUTTS WORKSHOPS
Pencil this into your diaries. One of Australia’s best known teachers is coming to WABC to run four morning workshops (10am—12 noon) that will be followed by afternoon duplicate sessions with Red Points on the Sunday. Book on myABF and check the benefits of attending all four workshops such as reserve seating and a month’s free access to Joan’s Online School of Bridge.
Fri: Improve Your Slam Bidding (Key Card & Cue Bidding)
Sat: Defender’s Plan: Keeping Defensive Communications Alive
Sun: Improve your Declarer Play: Playing Safe, and Recognising the Danger Hand
Mon: A Modern Approach to Competitive Bidding
2026 WABC TEACHING PROGRAMME
The programme for 2026 is being finalised and will include:
Beginners Part 1 & Part 2
Beginners Part 2
Rookies
Card Play 1 & 2
Deadly Defence
There will be another week of workshops mid year as well as a number of one off workshops by some of our well known local experts.
FRIDAY SUPERVISED TOPICS - DECEMBER
5 Dec: Stayman for beginners (Repeat of Wed 3 Dec 6.45pm)
12 Dec: Transfers to Majors for Beginners (Repeat of Wed 10 Dec 6.45pm)
19 Dec: Christmas Quiz – Review of the Year
26 Dec: No Supervised
WARWICK’S WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS
Warwick’s sessions start at 10am prior to the Wednesday duplicate session.
3 Dec: Opening bid 4NT
10 Dec: Extended Stayman (traditional)
17 Dec: Multi 2D opening bid
24 Dec: Xmas Quiz
31 Dec: NYE Quiz
PUBLICATIONS
Trumps Plus: the December edition is coming.