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What makes the Kaikoura Bridge Tournament so popular?

The beautiful coastal town of Kaikoura held their annual 8B Tournament on 20th May. 124 players entered. Each year the tournament gets bigger and is now held in the Memorial Hall on the waterfront. 
The members of this small club believe  strongly  in the social aspect of bridge and as such will never hold their tournament online.

The tournament is a huge team effort. Home baking and savoury food mean a huge grazing table. Lunch is a choice of Seafood Chowder or a Thai Pumpkin soup, served with garlic buttered sour dough bread, carrot cake and fruit. We cater for all food allergies and gluten free food is plentiful. After play, food is served and all of this for only $35 per person.

$1850 was raised for the club via  “Two Weekend in Kaikoura with Whale Watching and dinner” auction packages and the massive raffle table.

      The key to longevity?

 
On the left is Jill Mackenzie, a lovely happy,  positive person.  Is bridge the key to longevity?At the age of 99, Jill is still  living in her own home, drives her car and enjoys her gardening. With her is her bridge partner, Diana Watson.

The Tournament caters for all abilities from Juniors right up to Grand Masters. Graeme Tuffnell said on his Sky Bridge weekly podcast “it was the best Tournament he had played in for years and told everyone to put it on their bucket list for next year. The friendly local club members made his experience most enjoyable”.

               Five very important ladies: In the kitchen

   
         Anne Grant, Miriam Williams ( the seafood chowder extraordinaire maker), Jan Dasler, Ivan Khoo, and Catherine Wilding.
The Master of Ceremonies advised everyone there were players aged from 19 to 99 years old playing, and that the many Juniors playing were not giving any information to their partners,  by their hesitation. They would just be confused with what to bid next.

Jill Mackenzie arriving , followed by local player, Rod Ensor
Craig Shannahan, the friendly well prepared Director, said there were no appeals, which showed the convivial spirit in which the game was played. He said the players were a delight to direct.

Once again Kaikoura excelled in delivering a well organised, extremely enjoyable, “foodilicious”, annual tournament. See you all next year!

Pam Whitehead, Regional Chairperson and Kaikoura Vice President

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