Monthly Summary: November 2022
November was a busy month at WABC. Early in the month Andy held the annual Bridge holiday at Busselton. The attendees improved their bridge skills, met new players and socialised, visiting the nearby attractions when not at the bridge table. Wonderful feedback about the holiday was heard around the club in the following weeks. Watch out for this bridge holiday in 2023.
A Melbourne Cup function held on the 2 November attracted an enthusiastic crowd, with over 70 members attending a casual self-catered lunch. Tea room tables were adorned with wonderful spring flowers from the Tullochs’ garden. Helen and Mike George ran the sweep. The members watched the race, cheering on their horses while sipping champagne and dining on the generous spread. Following this all retired to the playing room for a noisier than usual afternoon of bridge.
Many players were kept busy over the next week competing in the Jackpots, run in conjunction with the regular sessions. Congratulations to all the competitors, every one of whom played a minimum of 12 times in a particular session over the past 12 months and were the top players in those sessions.
Meanwhile Andy and his team Sartaj Hans, Peter Gill, James Coutts, Liam Milne and Shane Harrison were in Canberra playing in the finals of the 2023 Australian Open Team playoff. After defeating many teams to reach the final they were runners up to the experienced team of Tony Leibowitz, Paul Gosney, Paul Dalley, Tony Nunn, Robert Fruewirth and Jamie Thompson.
The highlight of the month was a tribute to Sheenagh on her retirement. Members of WABC and invited special guests came together on Saturday 19 November to thank Sheenagh for her contribution to the club over more than two decades and to wish her well in future endeavors. The playing room was full and included nine past presidents. Nigel Dutton and Helen George (on behalf of Peter Smith and herself) spoke, praising Sheenagh for her contribution to the evolution and growth of the Club and for her contribution to bridge in WA. Sheenagh, accustomed to speaking at WABC gatherings, entertained all with her speech and enjoyed having the last word.
The Open Swiss Pairs was held over three nights in November with Vinod Nasta and Cynthia Belonogoff taking the lead early, holding off all challenges to win the competition.
November was seen out by the popular Supervised Social Event. It started with food and drinks and a bridge themed quiz. Fun fact learnt from the night: you have to deal over 272 trillion hands before you are likely to get the same hand twice. Thanks go to the team of volunteers Virginia Seward, Brian Embleton, Richard Basham, David Burn, Karen Moller and Jodie Basham and the attendees who made the evening such a success. There will be more of these events in 2023.
