Tasmania's premier bridge event of the year, the Tasmanian Festival of Bridge has finished. This was a record year for the Festival, with 216 tables in play for the first two days, and record fields in most of the events. The ABF also ran stage one of the Australian Mixed Playoff on the weekend sharing the fantastic MyState Bank Arena venue, with stage 2 of the Mixed and the Seniors' Playoffs being held at the TBA clubrooms from Monday to Wednesday.

For a full report of all of the winners and photos of the event, see the TFob 2026 page.

OMG! What a week! TFoB 206 and National Mixed and Seniors Playoffs

After a spectacularly successful TFoB and National Seniors and Mixed Playoff event, it is time to say a special thank you to all our members who helped deliver this great result. Congratulations to Katherine Marsden and Hugh Grosvenor as co-convenors of this event and thank you for all the work you put in. Our local Directors and scorers are world class, so thank you as always to Simon Edler, Chris Carolan and Sue Falkingham.

So many members contributed to the success of these events, but a particular thankyou to those who went above and beyond.

Hospitality Desk

Anne O’Rourke and Dallas Cooper continuously staffed the Hospitality Desk making sure our mainland visitors felt welcome and had all their queries answered.

Transport

The lifts to My State bank Arena provided by TBA members were often the difference in the decision by many mainland pairs as to whether or not to enter this event. So a huge thank you to all member who provided a lift.

Extra thanks to the following member who provided lifts on all four days :

Phil Timmins, Wynne Webber, Duncan Abercrombie, Lynne Cooke, Kevin Wheelahan and Maruta Boyd.

Thanks to Paul Fredheim for his organisation and coordination of this service.

Below are some of the grateful comments by ride recipients.

Playoff Event Catering

A special thank you to all those who prepared sandwiches, cakes, slices and gave of their time in the kitchen during this event:

Maggie Crawford, Gill Robinson, Vicki Douglas, Leonie Atkins, Barbara Giizel, Pam Murphy, Julia Corr, Jo Beck , Marg Enright, Ruth Nogawski, Sheila Campbell, Victoria Vyvyan, Dallas Cooper, Sarah Howard and Anne Parrot.

Needless to say, with a team like this, we delivered outstanding food over the three days and set a bar so high that it is unlikely ever to be replicated! Great appreciation was shown by all players for providing them with such quantity and quality of food throughout the event.

At the conclusion of the event, Peter Gill took me aside and said “Julie, there are three things where Tassie is world class; organising bridge tournaments, your caddies and fly fishing!"

So, once again, well done everyone!

Julie

Just a quick note to say thank you for the excellent organizing of this much appreciated service.
We were most grateful for the lifts and for meeting the lovely people who drove us to the venue and in most instances right to our door at our apartment.
Overall, a great congress – we will return next year.
Regards
Agnes L

Thank you again for your very kind hospitality and a special thank you to all those who provided lifts to the venue - it was much appreciated.

I hope to return next year to your beautiful Tasmania.

Kind regards
Marion B

I just wanted to say “Thank You” so much for you for your great work organizing the rides to the stadium for interstate bridge players. You do an amazing job getting us there. It is a stressful role, and you manage it beautifully.
We love going to the Tassie Congress, it’s a great Comp plus the people are so lovely.

Well done this year again on your magnificent organization.

Chris and Katrina (from Melbourne)

How to thank you and your volunteers enough!!
What a marvellous service you provided.
We were only with you for the weekend, but apart from a lift to the venue on Saturday and Sunday mornings we also got a lift home to our doorstep on Saturday and to my grandsons in Sandy Bay on Sunday from a very kind lady who lived outside Richmond, quite a detour!!
I wish I had taken their names down so you could personally tell them how much they were appreciated.
it was an excellent congress, great venue, and a really friendly vibe.
Just wish our bridge had been better……

With many thanks
Sue K

The TBA Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 14 March, followed by lunch and a free session of red masterpoint bridge.

No positions were contested so the following officers were elected unopposed:

For more information see Who's Who (which you can also access under the More Menu).

The meeting thanked retiring committee members Leonie Atkins and Chris Girvan and welcomed Robin Barnes as a new committee member.

Congratulations to Simon Edler for being appointed a Life Member of the TBA in recognition of many decades of service to the bridge community.

The winners of the bridge were Sue Falkingham and Julie Rhodes (EW) and Dallas Cooper and Sue Wilkinson (NS). See full results

The first specially themed Roger's Teams for 2026 was held on Friday evening as an early St. Patricks's Day (St. Patrick's Day is actually on March 17th). Eight tables of green accented players gathered for an evening of food, socialising and bridge.

Sue Falkingham won the best dressed prize for her sophisticated outfit.
Julie Hunt proved the most adept chocolate coin tosser.
The bridge was won by Maggie Crawford, Sue Falkingham, Julie Hunt and Joy Stoddart. Full results.

Thanks to Erica and Jeremy for their organization and to Dallas for her usual directing efforts.