2026 OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
The Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on Tuesday 20 October starting at 4:30 pm following the afternoon bridge session. The Agenda and two Special Resolutions to be put to the AGM can be found here. The first Special Resolution contains four proposed changes to the constitution that are (1) a required addition, (2) & (3) corrections, and (4) a deletion of a Rule no longer required. The second Special Resolution (5) corrects terminology and proposes an improvement for nominating Club Recorders.
The nominations for the 2025-2026 Committee of Management closed on 29 September with all positions filled and no voting required. Final nominations to be put to the AGM can be found here. The October Trumps Plus covers the incoming and outgoing members of the Committee.
If you have any questions, then please ask a current Committee member or the Executive Officer.
PETER HOLLOWAY
Peter has decided to step down from directing. He started directing at Rosendorff’s in the 1980’s and, in time, became a National Level Director. Over the years, he has run numerous BAWA Events and Country Congresses. He was also regular member of the Directing Team at National Events such as the Gold Coast Congress. This had some benefits as he became known in the bridge circles and occasionally got to play with some very good players. He also did a lot of board dealing. He remembers one Australian National Championship event in Perth where there was a dealing room on site and, as soon as boards were played, there was Peter re-dealing them. This doesn’t sound too bad until you realise this event runs for almost two weeks!
Peter’s calm demeanour and knowledge will be missed. He is an excellent sounding board for discussing difficult situations arising at the table. As mentioned, Peter also plays bridge and, just last weekend, Peter Holloway & Wendy Driscoll won the Swiss Pairs in the Nedlands Spring Congress. Well done! Hopefully, we will see more of Peter playing bridge. Before you think Peter is perfect there is at least one flaw - filling in the bridge session recap sheets always seemed to be a challenge – even if the money and tokens collected somehow balanced there was bound to be an error somewhere – a surprising flaw given that he ran a business at one stage.
Peter comes from NZ and spent time in England where he worked for Bruce McLaren. Yes! The early days of McLaren Racing and Peter did some test driving!
SANDCASTLES LANDSCAPING & PARKING
Landscaping works between SANDCASTLES and the Bridge Club have started. The area has been fenced off and some car bays in the north-west part of the car park have been taken to provide access to this area.
Please note that egress our courtyard’s Western Emergency Exit is into the landscaping works area. This exit is only to be used in an emergency.
There is an official opening of Sandcastles on Thursday 8 October that may result in a busier than usual carpark prior to afternoon bridge. The back yard will continue to be opened when it is busy.
PLANNING AHEAD
WABC MIXED PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
WABC members only. Two Friday afternoons 1:15pm 9 & 16 October.
There is normal duplicate running as well.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
Play bridge in the afternoon 1:15pm 20 October and stay for the AGM at 4:30pm. The Agenda and two Special Resolutions to be put to the AGM can be found here.
WABC OPEN & RESTRICTED TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
WABC members only. Two sessions 9:30am & 1:15pm Saturday 31 October. These events are run as separate fields and require a minimum of six teams to run.
There is normal duplicate running in the afternoon as well.
JACKPOTS
Each of the Club’s regular sessions has a Jackpot Final in early November. To qualify you must be a Club member, play at least 12 times in the respective session (eg Monday Morning) and qualify in the top 32 pairs as determined by Pianola. Qualifiers can play with any other qualifier for that session. The qualifying lists are on the Club Noticeboard and an Excel Workbook can be downloaded here (Use Ctrl-F to seach for your name). Please enter via the club website here.
DUTY PARTNER
There is a Duty Partner available on Friday & Saturday afternoons. Please turn up early and let the Director know that you have come by yourself.
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
NEDLANDS SPRING CONGRESS TEAMS
Yes, an early October event but noteworthy because a number of WABC’s newer players played in the Teams event that had a lot of very strong players in the field. Well done to Michaela Rauscher, Lindy Roberts, Janet Skotsch & Peter Bles. It’s a very good way of improving.
WEDNESDAY EVENING PAIRS ECLECTIC
Won by John Aquino & Steve Pynt from Kali Crosbie & Simone Petterino. John & Steve had a very good first night in this two-night event and couldn’t be caught. John has just finished updating his book, The Bridge Companion. It clearly contains good advice and copies will be available at the Club soon.
WABC & NEDLANDS MENS PAIRS
One week at Nedlands and one week at WABC saw Avon Wilsmore & Nigel Zeller win both overall and the WABC prize. Chris Ingham & Dave Munro took out the Nedlands prize.
THE HGR MEMORIAL CONGRESS
A gold point Mixed Swiss Pairs event held over two days was won by Fiske Warren & Deana Wilson from Jane Reynolds & Peter Reynolds with Kaiping Chen & Susanne Gammon third.
TEAMS OF FOUR
The Teams of Four is coming to an end. The most recent published results can be found in the BAWA Focus magazine.
The Novice Section had 15 teams split into two groups and WABC have picked up the pace in the North Group and their final round robin match against Kalamunda C will determine whether WABC or Nedlands make the final. No pressure, and no Wharfie time.
In the Restricted Section, WABC have played their five matches and currently sit third. The photo shows Ziggy Morawiec, Karen McLean, Jodie Basham, Karen Moller, Nicky McGrath & Christine Sabier who have all been part of this team.
In the Open Section, WABC have played all their matches and currently sit atop the table but other teams, notably Undercroft B, have games in hand.
AFL GRAND FINAL BRIDGE
All was looking good until all your finesses failed, trumps broke badly, your last three leads were speculative at best, and you didn’t give partner a ruff…twice. Also, remind me, how do those responses to Roman Keycard go?
Then, to top off your day, the Dockers were at the MCG. Also looking good until….
MAJOR MASTERPOINT (MP) MILESTONES
No major milestones this month.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Vale Sally Hobday, who passed away 15-September. Sally last played at WABC in April 2024. She was a member for at least 13 years and a regular in the Wednesday morning session.
Vale Rosemary Enright, who passed away in late June. Rosemay last played at WABC in December 2025, coming second with Rosemary Rear. The two Rosemary’s played regularly on Tuesday and Friday afternoons and in the WABC Congresses and often did well.
Welcome to the following new members: Ben Blake; David Arnold; Ian Shann; Jenny Greensmith; Kath Kusinski; Myrna Suttner; Rosemary Hutchings; Tracey Edwardes.
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
CARD PLAY 1 - NO TRUMP CONTRACTS
Four lessons, $60. Wednesday mornings: September 30, October 7, 14 & 21. 9:00am — 10:50am run by Warwick Potter. For those who have finished the second Beginners Course, or a Rookies Course, or anyone who wants to take more tricks as either declarer or a defender.
BEGINNERS - PART 2 - LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE
Learn to play bridge 8 lessons. $120. Flyer.
Monday morning 09:15-11:15 am (Warwick Potter)
October 5, 12, 19, 26, November 2, 9, 16 & 23.
Tuesday evening 6:45-8:45 pm (Christine Sabier)
October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17 & 24.
CARD PLAY 2 - SUIT CONTRACTS
Four lessons, $60. Wednesday mornings: October 28, November 4, 11 & 18. 9:00am — 10:50am run by Warwick Potter. For those who have finished the second Beginners Course, or a Rookies Course, or anyone who wants to take more tricks as either declarer or a defender. (Registration Required. The course needs 8 or more participants to run.)