2026 AUGUST NEWSLETTER
WILL’S AUGUST WORKSHOPS
Register now for Will’s August Workshops. Come to as many as you want. There are three morning workshops (Saturday 15th, Tuesday 18th & Thursday 20th - $25 each) and another with both a morning and an afternoon session (Sunday 16th - $60 includes a light lunch). Will Jenner-O’Shea is one of Australia’s top teachers. He has taught thousands of players of all levels, and his light-hearted teaching style makes his workshops great fun. He writes a regular article for the ABF newsletter, runs online lessons every week, and has worked at many of the largest clubs in Australia over his 20-year bridge teaching career. He has represented Australia in Open, Mixed and Youth championship events.
The recent workshop by Fiske Warren on End Plays was well attended and I’m sure that that anyone present learnt something new about playing the cards.
HOSPICE LANDSCAPING & PARKING
The latest landscaping plan for the land between the Hospice and WABC is here. This work extends onto part of the Bridge Club lease and the Council has sent an Access Licence and Maintenance Agreement to the Club. This lengthy document is being reviewed professionally to ensure that the Club’s interests, including the lease and insurance, are not adversely affected. If anyone has any concerns, please let a Committee of Management member know as soon as possible.
The Hospice is almost finished and parking is getting better. The back row of the carpark is available for use but some bays at the front of the carpark will be needed for access for the landscaping work.
OTHER
DUTY PARTNER
There is a Duty Partner available for the Fridayand Saturday afternoon sessions. To play with the Duty Partner or someone else who has turned up by themselves, you should be at the club and have informed the Director by 12:45 pm, that is at least 30 minutes before the session starts. If you arrive later than this and have not contacted the Director, then you might not get a game.
ARRIVING FOR BRIDGE
All players are to be seated 5 minutes before the scheduled start of play to allow the Director to set up the movements. If you are running late then please ensure that the Director or your you partner, if they are at the club, know that you are coming.
TEA ROSTER, CUPS & TIDYING UP
The tea roster for August asks those able bodied players whose surnames start with M, N and Q to tidy up after the last tea break.
All players, when you have finished your cup of tea or coffee, please empty any dregs in a sink and then put your cup in a black tray on one of the trolleys. DO NOT STACK USED CUPS IN THE TRAYS - if a tray is full please swap the tray, or ask someone else to swap the tray, with an empty one.
At the end of a session please leave your table tidy and ready for the next session. Thank you.
UNDER 50 DUPLICATE
The less than 50 Masterpoint duplicate runs on Monday and Saturday afternoons and the first row is reserved for players with Less than 50 Masterpoints. Better players mentoring very new players are also welcome but please check with the Director first. If there are more than seven tables, then additional tables towards the Training Area will be used. The Directors are still putting out Less than 15 MPs yellow cards for all sessions, please turn up early to get one of these especially if it isn’t a session that you normally attend.
SHORTER SESSION?
As mentioned last month, some members have asked whether the club would run a section playing less boards, for example 16-18 boards, on Saturday afternoon alongside the normal duplicate. If you like this idea and would attend such a session, then please let Martin (bridge@wabridgeclub.com.au) know of your interest as this proposal will only be tried if there is sufficient interest to ensure a viable movement.
PLANNING AHEAD
WABC DAYTIME PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
WABC members. Two Friday afternoons 13:15pm 7 & 14-August. That’s right it starts this Friday. Please ask Martin or one of the Directors if you wish to play. There is normal duplicate running as well.
NO SATURDAY AFTERNOON DUPLICATE – 22 AUGUST
The Joan Prince Swan River Swiss Pairs, a BAWA run Gold Point event, is being held at WABC on Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 August. There won’t be a Saturday afternoon duplicate bridge session at WABC.
WABC DAYTIME PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Two Wednesday Evenings, 2 & 9 September. Play one or both sessions. The downside to playing only one session is that you will have to score very, very, very well to be the overall winner.
WABC & NEDLANDS MENS PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Two Thursday afternoons, 3 & 10 September. The first week is at Nedlands, the second week is at WABC. Please note the different starting times at the two clubs.
WLOOKING FOR A PARTNER
Looking for a Partner: Jan McNab, our Partnership Coordinator, has created a WhatsApp Group to help players find a partner. To join, please contact Jan McNab on 0409 109 132 (Text/Call) janmcnab@iinet.net.au. Once you join the group, please indicate when you wish to play: Day/Date; AM/PM; System (Standard or Acol). Membership of the group is restricted to members seeking bridge partners at WABC. It is not a chat group.
WABC WINNERS & PAST EVENTS
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
An annual event. Held this year in Canberra with WA sending an Open, a Women’s, a Seniors and a Youth Team. The stars were the WA Women’s Team who won for the second consecutive year. Interestingly this year’s team had different players to last year. Well done to Cynthia Belonogoff – Cassie Morin; Dianne Dwyer - Kimberly Zhao; Jane Reynolds - Viv Wood and NPC Allison Stralow. Three players in this team are Home or Alternate members of WABC.
In the Mixed Butler, Chris Cullen – Mimi Packer came third, and were not very far behind the winners.
RANJIT GAUBA MEMORIAL SWISS
Held late June at Nedlands. Won by Chris Cullen – David Schokman from Gerry Daly - Warwick Potter and Ron Cooper – Jonathan Free.AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
MAJOR MASTERPOINT (MP) MILESTONES
Trumps Plus recognises Club members who receive their first ranking certificate (Graduate Master, 2 MP) and those who have become Life Masters, which is the first certificate requiring gold points.
There are three other significant milestones: reaching 100 Masterpoints; reaching 300 Masterpoints; and becoming a Grand Master, which requires a minimum 1000 Masterpoints of which 200 must be Gold and 700 Gold or Red.
In July, the following Club member achieved:
100 MPs: Jeanette Thompson
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Welcome to the following new members: Linda Andrews; Ian Chidgey; Denise Fishwick; Michael Hall; Robyn Jason & Sue Millar.
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
WILL’S AUGUST WORKSHOPS
Four workshops with Will Jenner-O’Shea. Three morning workshops and one all day. Reserve your seat on myABF or see the Directors or Martin.
Saturday Morning 15-August (10am-12:30pm)
Card Play Techniques in No-Trumps.
Sunday Morning & Afternoon 16-August (10am - 3:00pm). Lunch provided.
Getting to Good No-Trumps Games More Often.
Tuesday Morning 18-August (10am-12:30pm)
Intermediate Bidding, Card Play Techniques, and Consolidate Your Knowledge.
Thursday Morning 20-August (10am-12:30pm)
The Landy Convention - Interfering over their 1NT Opening.
The Lebensohl Convention - handling their overcalls of our 1NT Opening.
Will Jenner-O’Shea is one of Australia’s top teachers. He has taught thousands of players of all levels, and his light-hearted teaching style makes his workshops great fun. He writes a regular article for the ABF newsletter, runs online lessons every week, and has worked at many of the largest clubs in Australia over his 20 year bridge teaching career. He has represented Australia in Open, Mixed and Youth championship events.
Will has put a short video on YouTube about his visit to Perth. The video includes a short lesson on bidding 4441 hands
ROOKIES -BRIDGE BASICS
Started Wednesday 22-July 9:15 – 10:45am run by Warwick Potter. Eight stand alone lessons ($15 per week) suitable for those who have done the two Beginners Courses. Learn about Overcalls; Doubles; Stayman; Transfers; Pre-empts; Strong Hands; and more.
BEGINNERS - PART 1 - LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE
Just started 3 August a choice of Monday morning (9:15 – 11:15am run by Warwick Potter) or Tuesday evening (6:45 – 8:45 pm run by Christine Sabier) classes. An eight-week course suitable for those new to bridge.
PUBLICATIONS
Trumps Plus: The August edition is almost ready to roll out.
BAWA Focus: Can be downloaded from the BAWA Home Page