Many players from around Victoria and NSW won prizes in the three events which constituted the 29th annual bridge congress during July 26-28 while everyone enjoyed the hospitality of Yarrawonga over the weekend.
Friday night’s Aline Cooper Welcome Pairs drew six local partnerships among the fifteen pairs in the field.
Ian Wright and Christine Parkin from Melbourne finished first North-South and enjoyed their Naked Tree prize the next morning.
Tom and Jan Hackett claimed first place East West and won the Belle’s vouchers donated by club president Pamela Charles.
Bob Jeffcott and Pat Cooke played well to finish in third place.
Thirty-two partnerships contested the Yarrawonga Swiss Pairs on Saturday.
Kae French and Penny Corrigan from Melbourne won the A Section after a final match confrontation with second place getters Richard Harman and Val Sanderson from Albury.
Tom and Jan Hackett held off the well-known Melbourne pairing of Shirley Collins and Chandradeep Chakravorty to finish third.
In the B Section, Jennifer Matheson and Karen Thompson from the Mornington Bridge Group were thrilled with their first-place prize of wines from the Winemakers of Rutherglen.
The two Lous – Taylor and Graham - claimed second spot and the Bunnings vouchers.
This was a nice 88th birthday present for Lou Taylor.
Father and daughter pair George and Kylie Wagner finished third, winning the Rich Glen Olive oil prizes.
Club member Alice Murray contributed a local prize in memory of her partner Cathy Cummins.
She must have really liked the prize since she and partner Glenise Duggan played hard to win it. Well done to both.
Second place in the local section went to Bob Jeffcott and Pat Cooke.
Sunday’s event drew fourteen teams, and regional team Nick Walsh, Derek Poulton (from Shepparton) and George and Kylie Wagner (from Benalla) topped the field at the end of the day.
In second place were the Melbourne team of Betty Mill, Tania Gariepy, Shirley Collins and Chandradeep Chakravorty while third spot went to Dot Peacock, Jenny Johnstone, Heather Scott and Faye Bell of Geelong.
The director’s choice awards were presented to a team from Deniliquin – Meredith Landale, Jane Glowery, Lou Taylor and Lou Graham.
Sponsors for the events Winemakers of Rutherglen, Bunnings, Rich Glen Olive Oils, and the Naked Tree make it possible for the congress to run so successfully, and the bridge club would like to thank them for their continued support.
All of the recipients were thrilled with their prizes.
Credit for the smooth running of the event is due to many people.
Director Martin Willcox had few rulings or changes to make over the weekend and for once didn’t even have to cope with a triangle of teams on Sunday.
Everyone enjoyed the venue at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort.
The bridge club would like to thank Alicia Leeburn and all the staff for their contribution to the successful congress.
Members of the bridge club helped throughout the lead up and sessions, and convenor Jan Hackett thanks them all for the parts they played. Running an event such as this is easier when so many step in to help.
Although this year’s congress was slightly down on numbers, players who attended enthused about the friendly atmosphere, the pleasant venue and the wonderful prizes and food.
Many took the time to thank the organisers and promise to return next year for the 30th congress.
If all this sounds like fun and you’d like to try the game, lessons are planned for September and October.
Ring Jan on 0429 017 822 if you are interested.
Yarrawonga Bridge Club Results
Monday, July 22 - Anna Castles and Rod Carroll 68.75%, Karen Droop and Glenice Duggan 54.1% and tied Margaret Sandford and Pamela Charles and Alice Murray and Pat Cooke 53.12%.
Monday, July 29 - Ian Wright and Imogen VonMuenchhausen 60.71%, Jerry and Terry Browning 60.11% and Pat Cooke and Elizabeth Barnes 54.32%
Thursday, August 1 - Peter and Carol Henderson 67.50%, Jan and Tom Hackett 64.99%.
Monday, August 5 - Terry and Jerry Browning 69.99%, Alice Murray and Pat Cooke 64.99%, Margaret Best and Jan Hackett 51.99%
Thursday, August 8 - David Ware and Alice Murray 75.00%, Pat Cooke and Bob Jeffcott 72.50%, Jan andTom Hackett 52.49%.