Congratulations to Award Winners for 2024/2025

Coffrey Odgers Shield – Marie Russell & Trish Sharpe 59.24 Ave
Burrells Monday Pairs – Barrie Iredale & Elizabeth Dalton 58.454 Ave
Thursday Pairs – Marie Russell & Trish Sharpe 59.24 Ave
Individual – Elizabeth Dalton 58.32 Ave
Improvers – Mary Werfel  27.63 Improve %
Ant Ractcliffe Masterpoint Chase – Barrie Iredale  22.44 Total

A most enjoyable final day for 2025.  Thank you to the BBC for hosting drinks and nibbles. Very pleasant indeed!

It was Thank you all round.  Thank you to the Members who stoically played on during the interruptions.  Thank you to the Leadership Team
who worked tirelessly so that everything possible was done to ensure that play continued. And all the ‘Helpers’ behind the scenes.

Special presentations were made to Sherri Gates and Paul Bayley for their contributions to the club.

Penned by Dick Evans 10/9/25:
Hemingway is said to have created the phrase "style is grace under pressure"

For my ninetieth birthday Robyn McGain brought a magnificent birthday cake, big, black,
silver words, and placed it at the SHBC kitchen opening.  Unaware of this I came with
a little sponge cake carried by a grandchild.  He put it on the table and everyone,
thinking it was the cake, ate it!  Robyn seemed not to have noticed, appearing calm 
and cheerful.  But I realised soon after, that she was devastated.
Not a word until I told her I understood.  She took her cake home for the chooks...

Best example of style I have seen!

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Members were pleased to welcome a surprise visit from Peter Stokes,
now happily residing in  Arrowtown, New Zealand.  He joined his erstwhile
bridge partner, Suzanne Thomas at bridge on Monday 8th September.

News from the past President, Bob Young. (edited

"We are now well settled in a residential complex, for over 65’s called Ellesmere Lodge located in Brackley, Northants (NN13 6EJ). There are a number of similar people living here, some as couples, but mainly single women, ages ranging from 65 to a few over 90.

We are getting back into bridge, the local club suits us well,  it is not too serious. I check up on the scores a the Bowral Bridge Club every week.

There a lot of events at our Lodge, which are very enjoyable."

3 November Southern Highlands Congress 2025 Rakesh Kumar's report:

Our popular annual Congress, held over the weekend of 1-2 November, was once again a great success.

Special thanks to Steve Brabyn, the organiser-in-chief, as well as to the many SHBC committee members and volunteers who helped make it happen; and once again, to Jo Goodacre for the marvellous catering!

The usual format applied for both the Swiss Pairs on Saturday and the Teams on Sunday: 6 × 9-board matches with IMPs scoring. We were fortunate to again have the events very capably directed by Jeff Carberry.

In the Swiss Pairs, the winners in the Open section were Judy Murray and Anne-Marie Hazell, who also won the trophy for best regional pair. In second place were Karen and Andrew Creet.
 

A thrilling finish to a most successful day of bridge.

Congratulations to the Power Team: Joan Power, Marion Bearup, Elizabeth Dalton
& Barrie Iredale who sprinted from behind to win by 1  on the 9th/final round!

Gracious in their defeat the Olson Team: Sue Olson, Trish Sharpe, Marie Russell &
Shirley Brereton congratulated the winners expressing their pleasure, and how
fitting it was, that the winning team included Barrie Iredale at his Inaugural Event!.

In third place was the Conolly Team:  Wendy Conolly, Gloria Campbell, Lucy Fisher
& Gael Golla.

All Gold Point winners

Our “champion” organiser, Sherri Gates, who made this event possible was very pleased
with everything, and thanks everyone, the players, the set-up people and the catering team.

Especial thanks to Jeff Carberry from the Illawarra who generously gave his time to assist.

Mention must be made of the magnificent spread!  Every imaginable delicacy! 
Snacks all day, lunch – who needed dinner?

The Barrie Iredale Teams Event will be an annual BBC event, planned to coincide with
The Grand National Open Teams (GNOT) which means that it is a Gold Point event.