2026 JUNE NEWSLETTER
AROUND OUR CLUB
The Winter Congress has just finished. Eight different competitions and two walk in events over four days. Overall, table numbers were up from last year, and hopefully everyone enjoyed the morning and afternoon teas and having a well-earned drink of some sort at the end of each day.
There were a lot of club members helping in the kitchen; the bar; collecting entry fees and bringing in sweets and savouries for the morning and afternoon teas. Thank you all. The helpers included: Mary Burke-Heydon; Robin Challenor; Jane Clough; Nola Cruickshank; Jacqui Ecclestone; Lee Hazell; Diane Lambert; Kate North; Leo & Veronica Ntoumenopoulos; Janet Skotsch; Chris Spartalis; Sue Stein; Caroline Witting; & Cathy Waldon. Thanks also to Laura & Rob Breen who filled a half table on Saturday and to Richard & Sue Grenside who did likewise on Sunday. David Burn, our Congress Director, easily spent the most time at the Club over the four days and was assisted for part of the Congress by Peter Hicks and Richard van Proctor. A couple of things could have run a bit smoother and all feedback is appreciated.
Charity Day raised an amazing $9,620 for Deserving Better WA through the raffle, cash & token donations, and the afternoon bridge session that saw 47 tables in play. There was also a large quantity of clothing donated. Thanks to everyone for contributing to this event. Dr Lisha van Reyk addressed the club prior to the raffle being drawn and came back to say thank you. Robin Challenor was the organizer, ably supported by a number of club members.
On a sad note, a number of current and past club members have passed away recently. They all have a story and live on in our memories.
The BAR always needs more people to help. Please contact Mary Burke-Heydon if you can help. You do need a Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate (RSA) and the Club can help with this.
Duplicate Sessions: You may have noticed a section restricted by masterpoints playing in the first row on Monday, Friday and Saturday afternoons. The masterpoint cut-off will be either 15 or 50 depending on numbers and there may be some discretion used when a new player is playing with a slightly more experienced partner. Is it a good idea? Is it working? Can it be improved? Are more changes coming?
PLANNING AHEAD
WABC SWISS PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Two sessions on Saturday 13-June, 9:30am & 1:30pm. WABC members only. Red points. Enter on the WABC website. There is normal duplicate in the afternoon.
WABC GNOT QUALIFIER
Three Thursday afternoons, 18 & 25 June and 2 July. It’s a team event and runs alongside the normal duplicate session. At least one member of the team must be a WABC member. An opportunity to win Gold points. There are usually some strong teams entered but it’s still an excellent chance for everyone at the club to play teams and get some gold points. The event needs more entries, or it will be cancelled.
NOVICE PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
WABC Members only. Both players must have less than 100MPs at 31-March-2026. Two Friday mornings 19 & 26 May. Enter on the WABC website. There is a normal duplicate session as well.
SUPER SATURDAY
Saturday 11-July. There’s a morning workshop on card play being run by Fiske Warren at 10am ($15), followed by afternoon bridge, and then free nibbles and a quiz in the social area. Sponsored by Aspire to Wealth (A2W).
WABC OPEN DAY
More details coming but if you know someone who want to see our club and how bridge is played then pencil in Wednesday afternoon 22-July starting 3pm.
WILL’S WORKSHOPS
See the Lessons & Workshops Section
WABC WINTER CONGRESS WINNERS
The WABC Winter Congress started on Friday morning (29-May) with the Restricted Pairs and a side movement of duplicate players; followed in the afternoon by the Welcome Pairs.
On Saturday (30-May), there was an all-day Saturday Swiss Pairs and an afternoon single session Presidents Pairs that saw the club hosting 40 tables in the afternoon. There were some problems in the Presidents Pairs caused by an early arrow-switch that saw one board mis-scored at a number of tables.
Sunday (31-May) was quieter with only the all-day Sunday Swiss Pairs running. Mind you, a wild storm hit Perth overnight to herald the start of winter.
Monday (1-June) saw the club undamaged and the power on. It was busy with three events running, the all day Swiss Teams, the Novice Pairs in the morning along with a walk in duplicate session, and finally, in the afternoon, the Farewell Pairs.
Prize winners are listed below and there are photos in daily articles from the Congress in the News section.
RESTRICTED PAIRS
1. Will Nunn & Judi Ley
2. Ron & Catherine & Grogan
3. Ray Purdy & Margaret Tierney
4. Nat & Jo Wright
Meredith Wilkinson & Michaela Rauscher (Best Novice)
Julie Coates & Brian Embleton (Best WABC)
WELCOME PAIRS
1. Deana Wlson & Gwyneira Brahma
2. Jenny Fairweather & Geoff Yeo
3. Mary Burke-Heydon & Jonathan Free
4. Cynthia Belonogoff & David Schokman
5. Chris Ingham & David Matthews
Jane Adams & Katrina Will (Best Restricted)
Sue Broad & Kate North (Best WABC)
PRESIDENTS PAIRS
1. Vanessa Starcevich & Kate North
2. Angie Somic & Veronica Ntoumenopoulos
3. Namy Bodinner & Margaret Sands
4. Robin Cordin & Catherine Minchin
5. Maura & Rick Rhodes
Heather Bannerman & Margaret Shaw(Best Restricted)
Ziggy Morawiec& Mira Erskine (Best WABC)
SATURDAY SWISS PAIRS
1. Alan Cransberg & Kimberley Zhao
2. Gwyneira Brahma & Dave Munro
3. Chris Mulley & Angeline Christie
4. Stella Steer & Ivan Petrovic
Alec Vanyai & Lorraine Vanyai (Best Restricted)
Hamish McCracken & Deana Wilson (Best WABC)
SUNDAY SWISS PAIRS
1. Viv Wood & Gerry Daly
2. Dave Munro & David Schokman
3. Megan Jefferies & Christine Sabier
4. Connie Derks & Sharon Schneider
Fraser Ferguson & Isabel White (Best Restricted)
Chris Mulley & Angeline Christie (Best WABC)
Viv Wood & Gerry Daly also won the overall prize for the best performing pair playing in
both the Saturday & Sunday Swiss Pairs.
NOVICE PAIRS
1. Trish Christy & Barbara Norman
2. Lee Wade & Helen Sugars Duff
3. Anne & David Williams
Jonathan Nassim & Mark Edelman (Best <25)
Ellen & Peter Bles (Best WABC)
SWISS TEAMS
1. MATTHEWS: Ron Cooper; David Matthews; Geoff Holman; Chris Ingham
2. PACKER: David Schokman; Tim Wright; Mimi Packer; Chris Cullen
3. DALY: Tom Leman; Gerry Daly; Viv Wood; Jonathan Free
FAREWELL PAIRS
1. Terri & Mitch Garbutt
2. Deborah Greenway & John Aquino
3. John Nelson & Megan Jefferies
Aruni Bandarage & John Oliver (Best Restricted)
Shelley James & Susan Barham (Best WABC)
OTHER EVENTS
WABC RESTRICTED PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Won by Diana Currie & Sue Lendich from Yulia Koh & Miriam O’Brien.
WESTERN 60+ SWISS PAIRS
A two-day Swiss Pairs event won by Jonathan Free & Viv Wood from Trevor Fuller & Val Biltoft.
BAWA OPEN PAIRS
A three session State Championship won by Martin Doran & Karol Miller from Jane Reynolds & Viv Wood.
FREMANTLE CONGRESS
The Matchpoint Pairs Final was won by Geoff Holman & David Matthews from Gwyneira Brahma & Dave Munro.
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 May the following Club members achieved:
100 MPs: Chris Ruffle
Life Master: Eve Clarkson
DIRECTOR MILESTONE
The Directors have different levels of accreditation and Richard van Proctor has recently become a Congress Director. Congratulations.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Farewell to Toby Manford, a true stalwart of the West Australian Bridge Club, who passed away several weeks ago. Toby last played at the club in 2020. She was a top player and administrator whose name appears many times on both the BAWA and WABC Honour boards adorning the Club’s walls. A BAWA Vice President for seven years, the WABC President in 1998 & 1999 and a Life Member 2010. You can read more about Toby Manford here.
Farewell to Shirley Potter, a long-standing member who played at the club into her 90’s. Her last game at WABC was in 2022.
Farewell to Malcom Weatherhead who passed away in May while visiting family in Darwin. Malcolm was a current member playing weekly on a Friday or Saturday afternoon. Malcolm served in the Korean War and there is a short article about him in the September 2023 edition of Trumps Plus here.
Welcome to the following new members: Rob Breen & Dennis Gillespie.
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
FISKE WARREN - CARD PLAY WORKSHOP
10am-12 noon, Saturday 11-July. Part of Super Saturday. Attend the workshop ($15); play the afternoon session ($9 members, $11 visitors); stay for free nibbles afterwards.
BEGINNERS - PART 1 - LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE
Starts 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.
WILL’S WORKSHOPS
Four workshops with Will Jenner-O’Shea in mid-August. There are 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 and Interfering with their 1NT Opening.
The Lebensohl Convention, handling them interfering with 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.