All News

 

• NATIONAL CONGRESS 2023: CALLING INTERMEDIATE, JUNIOR AND NOVICE PLAYERS.

 

This a great opportunity for players of all ranks – including Novice. Freddy Wilkie was a nationally ranked Junior player in 2022 when he attended his first National Congress.

 

Here are his musings on that event.

 

“Being one who is always hungry for travel and a good game of bridge, I was looking forward to my first Congress. I entered with a degree of skepticism knowing that in the room would be a high degree of talent, but as time progressed, I became more comfortable. My partner was mum (Catherine). We usually play quite well together and this proved no exception.

 

Due to work obligations, I was unable to take advantage of all the events, but we competed in the Intermediate Pairs and Intermediate Swiss Pairs which we enjoyed greatly. In the Intermediate Swiss Pairs we came 12th and in the Intermediate Pairs 24th. Coming 12th in the Intermediate Swiss Pairs was a euphoric moment for us considering we were close to the bottom by the end of the second round. (Freddy and Catherine scored 54 vps from their last four matches, all wins.)

 

While it was good to see familiar faces, I found pleasure in meeting new people. Arguably our most comic highlight was a conversation that took place between my mum and another bridge player.

It was about halfway through the day when I went to the toilet. After my departure one of the bridge players at the table asked her if “we were husband and wife?” she said, “It’s because I heard you call him love.” Mum felt quite flattered with that comment!

  

 Freddy at the bridge table. All that is missing his his bridge hand! 

 

Dad drove up and joined us with the dog, to have a holiday and offer some support. At the dinner table we talked heavily about bridge. Not knowing anything about that, Dad talked to the dog about more simplistic concepts like walking and food. We still made time for interests outside of the arena: sightseeing, enjoying good food and taking part in other activities.

 

To conclude, I left the tournament very happy having had a blast of a time and can’t wait for Mt Maunganui in 2023.”

 

Some interesting points from what Freddy said:

·       You do not need to win an event to come away with a feeling of success. Freddy highlighted that in their Swiss Pairs achievement.

·       One big plus for the Congress is meeting bridge players for the first time, players from outside your region.

• ·       There is time for activities other than bridge.

and:

•    If you bring a non-bridge playing partner with you, best bring a dog too!

 

Seriously, the National Congress should be a great experience for anyone who enjoys playing competition Bridge, at whatever level you are. Check out the events here  https://www.nzbridge.co.nz/brochure.html  and mark off as much of the week from Saturday September 23^rd until Saturday September 30^th this year as a time to head to Tauranga, to Bay Park, to our National Congress…

… and if you are a Junior, Intermediate or Novice first-timer, remember the extra 10% discount too.

Thanks, Freddy for sharing your experience with us.

 

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

Go Back View All News Items