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14-Jun-25 Tassie Board-A-Match Teams - TBA (2 days)
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The final of the Tassie Matchpoint Pairs was held at Tamar Bridge Club on Sunday 1st June. Seven tables of pairs that had qualified through heats at various clubs around the state competed over two sessions. The winners were Pam Murphy and Bal Krishan from the TBA averaging about 59.5% over the two sessions. Second were Sally Clarke and Catherine Elliott from the Tamar Club averaging just under 58%. They also won the title of best womens pair. Third just a few matchpoints back were Roger Swain and Felicity Wivell also from Tamar. Full results are here.
Many thanks to the Tamar Club for their hospitality.
The 2025 TBA Club Open and Handicap Teams was held over two Monday evenings in May. Nine teams competed. The open winners were the Murphy Team (Pam Murphy, Barbara Giizel, Jo and Phil Beck). The handicap winners were the Giles team (Rosemary and Brian Giles, Betty Pilgrim and Paul Fredheim). Full results are available here.
Previous posts: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6.
The 2025 Australian Senior team: Phil Gue, George Kozakos, Hugh Grosvenor, Maurits Van der Vlugt, Laura Gynan, David Beauchamp, Terry Brown
This is the last day of the teams championship. We are obviously in the best position since we are leading but today we play the other three contending teams – time to perform!
Match 5 RR 3 vs China (Hugh & George, David & Maurits)
We need to do well here – these are one of our rivals, currently running fourth and only 14 VPs behind us. A loss would make our position tenuous to say the least. George and I are playing the same pair that we played in our second RR win against China. This time it is on Viewgraph.
This felt terrible and we approached the score-up with some trepidation. David and Maurits produced the card that you want from good teammates. An unexpected 9 IMP win (45-36) for 12.36 VPs. This seems like a bullet missed.
Board 17 saw the first board. Our Chinese opponents bid to 3NT and made when the diamonds divided 2-2. David and Maurits defended 2H for 2 down. 8 IMPs to them. This was a light game that we arguably pushed them into bidding by pre-empting on an unusual hand (I opened 2H showing 5 hearts and 8-11 HCP). Not a great start.
Two hands later on Board 19 our opponents made a curious decision to play 3NT rather than the more obvious 4H in a 9-card fit. I led a D, the suit that George had opened. The contract failed by two tricks for +200 when teammates played the more pedestrian 4H at the other table. A 13 IMP gain.
Board 20 was a slam decision. At our table I opened 1NT showing 15-17 HCP. I actually had 14 HCP with a 4-2-2-5 shape. When George transferred to hearts then invited with 4NT I had an easy pass. The lead of the C10 revealed a conservative decision by George. The wisdom of this soon became apparent when E showed out on the first C. I played safe for 10 tricks by winning the first C and playing the SK to set up my tenth trick in spades. West won and continued a spade. I now proceeded to misplay the rest of the hand missing the fairly obvious non-simultaneous double squeeze. As I cashed the club winners West had to keep the fourth spade and the four hearts so had to let go of diamonds. Now when I cashed the three hearts East was squeezed in hearts and clubs. Anyway I didn’t see this and cashed my 10 tricks for +630. At the other table they tried 6C which went 2 down on the bad trump break. Another 13 IMPs in.
On Board 24 George had a strong hand with a 5-4-0-4 shape. We bid to 5C in a 5-4 fit but my hand was not quite good enough to make 11 tricks. One down for -50 didn’t feel great but gained 6 IMPs when the Chinese pair bid to 6C and were doubled for their trouble going two down for +300 to David and Maurits.
Board 26 was a part-score swing. George opened 1NT and I bid 2C Stayman planning to pass any response. 2D turned out to be a 5-5 fit both tables making an easy 9 tricks when the opponents didn’t find their H ruff. At the other teammates bought the contract in 2H making 10 on misdefence. Another valuable 7 IMPs.
Board 27 was a tight slam decision that required some guesses. George opened 1S and this was passed to East who bid 2S showing at least 5-5 in Hearts and a minor. When partner showed some heart support and some values they bid 6H. I unfortunately chose to lead a diamond rather than a spade and declarer unblocked the clubs then played two top hearts – making easily. We will never know what would have happened if I had led a spade but I would be prepared to bet that they would have gone one down. At the other table S chose to open 4S (a strange decision in my opinion). David bid 4NT showing a two suited hand. Maurits bid 5D showing preference for D over clubs. David’s 5H bid was passed making for an 11IMP loss.
Board 28 saw George and I double the opponents into game and then fail to beat them. West opened 1C and I chose to overcall 1H rather than show both suits via a 2NT overcall. East responded 1S, George passed, and the opener rebid 1NT. I could have bid 2D now but chose to pass. East rebid 2S and George doubled for penalties. West now rebid their 5 card club suit and George doubled them. The dummy was a pleasant sight for the declarer with unexpected 4-card support and a singleton. I could have beaten them by leading the HA and giving George two ruffs. Instead, I led a C and when west finessed against the HJ the contract made. Minus 470 and 12 IMPs away when teammates defended 3D for -130. A bad board for me both in the bidding and play.
This small win leaves us leading by 7 from Japan – our next opponents.
Match 6 RR 3 vs Japan (Hugh & George, David & Maurits)
A pivotal match against the team running second, again on Viewgraph. We all know that this may well decide the event.
A good win by 25 IMPs (46-21) for 16.21 VPs.
A great result which leaves us almost locked in for the win! We are more than 19 VPs ahead of Japan with one match to go. Our last opponents, Indonesia, are more than 20 behind in third so are no longer a direct threat. 1 VP will give us the win and even if we lose to 0 Japan will need to win 20-0 against China to get past us. A great position but we have all managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the past so we approach the last match determined to finish well!
Match 7 RR 3 vs Indonesia (Hugh & George, Phil & Terry)
We hung on for a 4 IMP win (22-18) for 11.28 VPs.
The quality of the bridge suffered from the stress and some element of fatigue.
We ended up winning the event by almost 22 VPs from Japan with Indonesia 2 more back in the bronze medal position. The host nation China were a close fourth. Three wins on the last day against the other place getters was a very satisfying way to end the event.
Time and celebrations have caught up with me. I will provide more details of the last two matches later. Saturday is the Zone 7 Play-off against NZ. No rest for the wicked!
All the scores and hands are available here.
The TBA Committee met on May 13th from 2.45pm. Present were Julie Rhodes (P), Trish Colles (Sec), Leigh Blizzard (T), Pam Murphy, Leonie Atkins, Chris Girvan, Sue Falkingham, Paul Fredheim, Simon Edler and Malcolm Sherlock. The following matters were discussed:
Sue Falkingham is going to launch a new session called Laugh and Learn which is designed to help you improve your bridge and have fun at the same time. The idea is that everyone will play the same hands and then have a discussion about the bidding, play and defence of the hand. We want you input as to the best time to run this session. The choices are Wednesday at 2.00pm or Friday at 2.00pm. Please look out for a poster at the club where you can indicate your preference. Otherwise, let a Director know which day you would prefer.
Hugh Grosvenor has travelled to Hefei, China to represent Australia in our Senior Team playing in the Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships. We wish him all the best and look forward to hearing his stories when he returns. Play starts on Saturday 17th May. You can keep up to date with results, schedule etc here. You can watch some of the play live on Vugraph at BBO: select 'Play bridge now', log in (accounts are free) and select 'Vugraph'.
Our first restricted (under 100 MP) Swiss event was held on the last weekend in April. Although the field was small, the committee received much positive feedback about the event along with requests for another one. Consequently, we have scheduled another Restricted Sunday Swiss for Sunday July 13th. In addition, everyone is welcome to our next regular Sunday Swiss pairs on June 29th.
Start talking to your friends about getting a team together for the Tassie Board a Match Teams to be held at the TBA on the weekend of June 14th and 15th. This is a fun event whereby each board scores 2, 1 or 0 points depending on whether or not you beat, tie or lose that particular board with your opponents. As a result, anything can happen on any particular board. If you would like to play, but need some team mates, ask one of the Directors and we will try to set up a team for you.
Bring your own lunch or a plate to share and enter via MyABF.
We are looking for volunteers to help develop our Youth Players by either being on standby on a Saturday afternoon to play with one of them OR supervising a group of them playing in the Vera Houdek Room. If you are willing to undertake either role, could you let me know please?
I have been asked by a couple of members; “What have you done to Pianola?”
In the past, the TBA has paid a subscription for all its members for Pianola Plus which was several thousands of dollars each year. The TBA also previously utilised the database facilities of Pianola Plus to manage our membership which somewhat justified this expenditure. Since membership management features have now been incorporated into My ABF, the TBA no longer needs to subscribe to Pianola Plus.
Since not all members use the analytical features of Pianola Plus, it was decided that was financially prudent for the club to discontinue the blanket subscription and to encourage members to subscribe to Pianola Plus in their own right if they see a benefit to themselves in doing so.
The only person who can tap the table to PASS, is the person in the pass out position. Everyone else must place a PASS card on the table.
Happy Bridging Everyone and hope to see you all at the Tassie Board a Match Teams.
Julie Rhodes
President
The TBA Congress is the most significant club event held by the TBA each year. This year the congress was held on the weekend of 3rd and 4th May.
Saturday was Matchpoint Pairs over two sessions. The competion was divided into three categories - Open, Restricted and Novice. The overall winners of the Open were Guray Sunamak & Darryl Smith, with Annie Bartlett & Julie Rhodes coming second, and Barbara Giizel & Pam Murphy third. Full results for the Open are at: Overall, Session 1, Session 2.
The Restricted and Novice categories played in a combined section for the Matchpoint Pairs. Overall winners in the Restricted category were Mary George & Mary Hawthorne. Overall winners in the Novice category were Keong Chen & Leonie Atkins. Full results for the combined section are at: Overall, Session 1, Session 2.
Sunday was Swiss Pairs with 40 pairs competing. The overall winners were Fiona Hickey & Alaine Macmorran. Wynne Webber & Hilton Francis came second, and David Robinson & Phil Beck came third. The highest placed restricted pair were Jeremy Reid & Erica McCoull. The highest placed novice pair were Pam Halton & Toby Meredith. Full results are availabe here.
Thanks to the many volunteers who helped make the weekend a success, and to all who brought food to share. Thanks to Chris Carolan for Directing.
Thanks to everyone - players, organisers, directors, caddies, volunteers and sponsors - who made the 2025 Tasmanian Festival of Bridge a successful and exciting event. The Festival was held from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 of March 2025. This was the third time that the event has been held at the MyState Bank Arena in Hobart on the banks of the Derwent river.
400 entrants, including some of Australia's top players competed across 6 events. This is an impressive 25% increase over last year. Half of the entrants were from interstate or overseas. About 75 Australian clubs were represented, with a growing contingent of New Zealand players joining us.
Thursday and Friday saw the TFoB Restricted Swiss Pairs, the Roger Penny Senior Swiss Pairs and the Fixed Income Solutions Australian Mixed Swiss Pairs. The TBIB Australian Swiss Pairs was run on Saturday and Sunday. The TFoB Rookie Swiss Pairs was held on Sunday. The inaugural Jenny Penny Novice Swiss Pairs was also added to the schedule, running on Saturday.
Click to enlarge images
The TBIB Australian Swiss Pairs had a field of 114 pairs, an increase of 25% over last year. Start of play was preceeded by a few words from Ron Klinger and a minutes silence in memory of Avinash Kanetkar. The winners of the event were Warren Lazer and Pauline Gumby. Ashley Bach and Arlene Dalley came second. Maurits Van Der Vlugt and David Beauchamp came third. The Warren Walker Memorial trophy for the highest placed Tasmanian pair was won by Guray Sunamak and Darryl Smith. Full results are here.
The Fixed Income Solutions Australian Mixed Swiss Pairs also saw a signifcant increase over last year's field with 42 pairs playing. The event was won by Ashley Back and Arlene Dalley. Hugh McGann and Candice Smith came second. Andrew Peake and Giselle Mundell came third. Full results are here.
50 pairs played in the Roger Penny Senior Swiss Pairs which was won by Nigel Rosendorff and Peter Reynolds. Ian Robinson and Neil Ewart came second. Phillip Fent and Dee Harley came third. Full results are here.
Click to enlarge images
The TFoB Restricted Swiss Pairs saw 66 pairs with fewer than 300 masterpoints competing. It was won by Louise Cowan and Susan Bezette from the Tamar Bridge Club. They also won the inaugural Ron Spencer Memorial Prize for the highest placed Tasmanian pair. This prize is in memory of Ron Spencer, a member and generous beneficator of the TBA. Margaret Cusack and Rhonda Khong came second. Joann Theriault and Eamonn McCabe came third. Full results are here.
The inaugural Jenny Penny Novice Swiss Pairs was played on Saturday with 22 pairs with fewer than 100 masterpoints competing. The event is named in memory of Jenny Penny, a much loved bridge teacher and director who introduced many Tasmanians to the game over a very long career. The winners were Jan Van Riel and Margaret Grant. Second placed were Nat Wright and Jo Wright. Robyn Russell and Anne Donnelly came third. Full results are here.
This was the third running of the TFoB Rookie Swiss Pairs with 22 pairs with fewer than 25 masterpoints competing. It was won by Nat Wright and Jo Wright. Ann Burnett and Anne McEntee came second. Helen Hebblethwaite and Chris Arnott came third. Full results are here.
Thanks to TBIB for their continuing sponsorship.
Thanks to Fixed Income Solutions for becoming a major sponsorship.
Thanks to Fella Hamilton for their sponsorship. Two $100 Fella Hamilton gift vouchers were awarded to the top place women's pair in the Restricted, Senior and Open events.
The Tasmanian Festival of Bridge is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania
The 2026 Tasmanian Festival of Bridge will be from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 March 2026 at the MyState Bank Arena. There is plenty of room for more tables and it is a lovely time of year to visit Tasmania. Save the date, and we hope to see you in 2026!
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Congratulations to the TBA Under 750 team for winning their final!
This was the third year of this event and once again the TBA entered teams in each of the handicap divisions. The club paid the $200 entry fee for each team to participate. The first match was in August and then once each month until the final night in December.
The TBA teams were:
We could have as many players as wanted to play in the matches but perhaps because it is an online event we were not inundated with queues of people wishing to play. The Club is most grateful to all of the players that played in any of the matches. Do think about being part of the event next year. Why not familiarise yourself with the RealBridge platform and play in our weekly online Wednesday night session? Red masterpoints on offer!
Full results and details are available here. Congratulations to everybody who played. Thanks to Sue Falkinhgam for coordinating the TBA teams. Sue also had a role in organising this event nationally.
The 2024 TBA club Christmas Party was held at the TBA on Saturday afternoon 14th December. A packed house enjoyed the sumptuous spread that we all brought and shared. The President, Pam Murphy, thanked some of our indefatigable volunteers with wine, flowers and free game vouchers. 24.5 tables of bridge just topped last year's record of 24 tables.
The winners NS were Sarah Howard and Maria Gibbs and EW were Jane and Simon Edler.
Full results are available here.
Many thanks to all who contributed to the success of the event. Thanks to Sue Falkingham for directing.
Thanks to Erica McCoull for the photos
The 2024 Tasmanian Swiss Pairs was held at the TBA on the weekend of 16-17 November. This was the last of the island-wide events for the year. A field of 18 pairs played eight matches over the two days.
The winners were Hugh Grosvenor and Tania Lloyd, second were Julie Rhodes and Leigh Blizzard and Julia Corr and Barbara Giizel came third. The full results are here.
Thanks to Simon Edler for directing and to the Tamar Bridge Club for hosting the event.
The TBA club rooms were packed on Sunday 29 September for the 2024 Spring Pairs, renamed this year to the Ron Spencer Spring Pairs in honour of long time TBA member and benefactor. Forty pairs played in the two session Swiss Pairs event. They were then joined by other TBA members for drinks, nibbles and classical music in celebration of Ron's life. As part of this celebration Julie Rhodes announced Ron's generous bequest to the TBA. In acknowledgement a perpetual trophy will be established in his name, to be awarded to the top placed Tasmanian pair in the Restricted Swiss Pairs at the Tasmanian Festival of Bridge each year.
First place went to Bal Krishan and Maria Gibbs. Wynne Webber and Hilton Francis came second. David Robinson and Phil Beck came third. The full results are here.
Thanks to Sue Falkingham for directing, and to Julie Rhodes for organising lunch and the celebration.
The Grand National Open Teams (GNOT) Online 64 team knockout phase was played from Friday 20th September to Sunday 22nd September on the Realbridge platform. In fact there were only 63 teams so one team had a bye in the first round.
Tasmania was represented by three teams:
Our three GNOT teams did Tasmania proud, competing for three days on-line winning several matches each. They report positive experiences.
The top 4 teams and the next 8 regional teams proceed to the final phase of the event which will be held face-to-face over a weekend in Sydney (23rd and 24th November).
Full results are here.
The Tassie Board A Match Teams was held on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th September at the Launceston Bridge Club with 6 teams participating. The winners were the Richman team consisting of Andrew and Sandra Richman, Jane Routley and Pam Lidl. Second place went to the Grosvenor team - John and Mardi Grosvenor, Julie Rhodes and Leigh Blizzard.
Full results are available here.
Thanks to the LBC for their hospitality and to Hugh Grosvenor for directing.
The 2024 Eastcoaster Swiss Pairs was held at the Eastcoaster Resort in Orford on the weekend of 24-25 August. This year the event attracted 36 pairs from all over the state. Many people stayed overnight at the Eastcoaster and there was an event dinner on the Saturday night at the Eastcoaster's restaurant.
The field covered the full range of experience, with some people playing in their first Swiss Pairs competition. The field played nine matches of nine boards across three sessions, two on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. Prizes were awarded for the overall field and for novice and restricted categories (less than 50 and 150 masterpoints respectively). Pleasingly all players earned some red masterpoints for their weekend's efforts.
The winners overall were Tania Lloyd and Hugh Grosvenor, Andrew and Sandra Richman were second with Julie Rhodes and Leigh Blizzard finishing Third.
Winners of the restricted category (and 7th overall) were Rose Rowell and Marleen Lynch. Second in the restricted category were Julia Johnson and Sharn Davies. Winners in the novice category (and 9th overall) were Helen Hebblethwaite and Debbie Martyn. Second in the novice category were Dennis and Wendy Butler.
Full results for the event are available here.
Many thanks to the Eastcoaster for their generous support of the event, and for all of their efforts in making the weekend a success. The Eastcoaster donated a free accommodation package as a lucky door prize, which was won by Trish Colles and provided the venue free of charge.
Thank you to Julie Rhodes for her work as event convenor. Thanks to Annette Keen and Jegs Nuttall for stepping in at the last minute to replace a pair who had to withdraw. Thanks also to Simon Edler for directing and acting as caddy when sickness disrupted our plans. And, of course, thank you to everybody who played ...
Thanks to Maria Gibbs for the dinner photos
The Australian National Championships is the oldest national event on the Australian bridge calendar. This year was the 80th ANC and was held in Orange NSW. This was the first time that the ANC has been played in a regional city. The organisation and hospitality of the NSWBA and the Orange bridge community was outstanding.
Tasmania was represented in the Open, Seniors and Womens competitions.
The Open Team was Hugh Grosvenor (Captain), Tania Lloyd, Andrew and Sandra Richman, Ann Paton and Lakshmi Sunderasan. They finished 5th out of 8 teams and were still in contention for the finals with two rounds to go.
The Seniors Team was Margaret Gibbs (Captain), Margaret Robertson, Julie Rhodes, Leigh Blizzard, Felicity Wivell and Roger Swain. They finished 7th out of 8 teams winning 4 matches.
The Womens Team was Sue Falkingham (Captain), Maggie Crawford, Pam Murphy, Julia Corr, Alaine MacMorran and Fiona Hickey. They finished 7th out of 8 teams winning 5 matches and drawing one. This included a good win against WA where Sue and Maggie bid and made 4 slams in a 16 board match!
The Interstate Pairs Championship saw Tania and Hugh win the overall competiion and the Open category and Julie and Leigh came third overall and were second in the Seniors category.
After 6 days of the Interstate championships the Butler Pairs Championship started! The Open Butler Pairs had a field of 74 pairs that played for 2 days to reduce to 20 pairs. These 20 pairs then played for another 2 days to reduce to 10 pairs. The last 10 pairs then played another two days to determine the final positions. Tania and Hugh managed to make the last 10 pairs and finished 6th.
Sandra and Andrew Richman played in the Mixed Butler and made it to the 10 pair final stage. They finished in an excellent 4th position in a strong field.
The final of the 2024 Tassie Matchpoint Pairs was held on Sunday June 1st at Tamar Bridge Club. The field consisted of 20 pairs who had either qualified through their clubs or who are representing Tasmania in the upcoming Australian National Championships in Orange, NSW.
The winners were Andrew and Sandra Richman from Tamar Bridge Club, second overall and first Womens Pair were Felicity Wivell and Susan Bezette also from the TBC, third were Julie Rhodes and Leigh Blizzard from the TBA.
Full results are available here.
Thanks to Simon Edler for directing and Tamar Bridge Club for the use of their venue and their hospitality.
The TBA is is the largest bridge club in the state with over 400 members and is the administrative body for the game of bridge in Tasmania. The TBA is responsible for running national and state events including the Australian Swiss Pairs championships and the Roger Penny Senior Swiss Pairs competition. The TBA also administers the Masterpoints system for the ABF and endeavours to promote the growth and teaching of bridge throughout Tasmania via its affiliated clubs.
The TBA's purpose-designed Centre at 5 Marine Esplanade, New Town Bay serves as both our local Clubrooms and the headquarters for bridge in the state. The TBA premises are available for hire by community groups for suitable activities by arrangement with the TBA Committee. Please complete a booking request form (available here) and email it to the TBA at tba@tasbridge.com.au.
| North-West | North | South |
|---|---|---|
| Burnie Bridge Club | Launceston Bridge Club | Hobart City Bridge Club |
| Devonport Bridge Club | Tamar Bridge Club | Eastern Shore Bridge Club |
| Kingborough Bridge Club |
Contact us:
Phone: 0400 492 327
Email: tba@tasbridge.com.au
Post: 5 Marine Esplanade, New Town, 7008
Bank Account Details for direct debit: BSB: 067-102 A/C #: 2801 2004 A/C Name: Tasmanian Bridge Association
ABN: 66 028 130 967
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