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Saluting the Loveblock winners
Saluting the Loveblock winners.
I hope lots of you enjoyed this year’s Loveblock New Zealand Wide Pairs. It should have provided enjoyment for all (oh no doubt, most will say they could have played just a little better!) and certainly was a good fund-raiser, over $14,000)for New Zealand Bridge Foundation’s Youth Bridge Development Program.
Here, though, let’s just celebrate the winners:
John and Rona Driscoll from Taupo play their bridge
exclusively on-line these days but make one exception
the Loveblock NZ Wide Pairs and they certainly had a
great night out at their local club scoring 74. 72%.
In second place were top Otago Club players, Brad Johnston and Sam Coutts with a fine 71.31%
A good place to be on this night was Waikanae as the 3rd and 4th placed pairs both played the session there.
Pryor Rowland and John Donbavand Jeanne Wardill and Graham Cheater
At the club, Jeanne and Graham were slightly in front of John and Pryor, both scores in the low 60’s. However, when it came to across the field scores, both rocketed up to over 70% with John and Pryor just getting bragging rights with 70.70% ahead of Jeanne and Graham on 70.44%.
Jeanne and Graham are regulars in this event, and regularly score well, as today’s “Hand of the Day” reflects. They were the overall winners in the event 20 years ago.
Wayne Burrows was taking part in the NZ Open Trials when Charles was presented with his wine. Charles and Wayne finished 5th with 69.71%. The presentation was a good day for Charles as he and brother Anthony were victorious at Palmerston North’s Christmas Cheer.
Charles...as per the packaging! Angela and Paul Jacobson
The top pair in the Restricted Open category (below National Master) were Angela and Paul Jacobson from Alexandra. They finished a very creditable 8th overall with 68.63%. It looked at the end of scoring that they had secured a top 5 placing but a game contract entered with the wrong side declaring was picked up in a review of the scores and that dropped them back. Just to let you know that we do look for unusual scores.
Second in this category were the Waitomo pair, Alison and Malcolm Mackenzie with 68.20%. They played the event at Te Awamutu. They are letting their wine “mature” as they have been away and are still to receive it.
Top Intermediates
Cathryn Bridge and Sushila Kumar Nik Barr and Maureen Morris
Top Intermediates (Intermediates or lower) were from Kairangi, in Wellington, Catherine Bridge and Sushila Kumar, 14th overall with a 67.57% score. They were followed by Nik Barr and Maureen Morris from Kaikoura, 18th with 66.70%. It’s nice to see wine going to that club which has always supported this event and has a band of lively players who always seem to enjoy their bridge, where-ever they go.
Top Juniors
Megan Boyd and Sue Green (in the middle) Hamish Gunn and Molly Meek flanked by their mothers
Michelle Gunn and Daniela Meek
Both top Junior and Novice prizes went to players at the same clubs, to Greymouth and to Rotorua. Megan and Sue finished 34th on 64.67 and Hamish and Molly 65th on 61. 63%.
Molly went to the National Youth Weekend and also tried out for and made the Youth squad going to Canberra's Youth Week in January 2025.
Hamish has only just taken on a more serious Bridge approach more recently and has been playing with his 20 year old brother this year (Aedan Gunn).
Thus, there is a group of young enthusiastic players at Greymouth who learnt three years ago. Molly, Megan and Sue all played for Greymouth earlier this year in the TOPS Junior/Intermediate Teams competition. This was one of the first times Greymouth had entered a team in this event…and they came out on top, a great performance as the club had to play a Junior pair in the Intermediate event.
........ and Top Novice players
Dennis van Maanan and Jess Bradley Jude Lipanovic receiving the wine from Club President Ruth Lewis (Suzette White could not be
present)
Meanwhile, the Rotorua Club are rather proud of their Novice players, with Jess and Dennis scoring 58.31% and Jude and Suzette 51.56%. They had a good group of learners this year who they hope will establish themselves in the club.
and, finally:
When Average is just Great!
Warren Keith and Mike Howell being presented
with their wine by Motueka Club Captain, Jana Bott
Not a flash score, you might say, but a very well judged one by Warren and Mike. They did not even mind dropping a couple of per cent from their score at Motueka to their across the field percentage because they hit “the bullseye”, 50.00% and that earnt them some lovely Loveblock wine.
Here’s hoping they and all the other prize winners enjoy their gifts from Loveblock.
And everyone, take note… with the National Congress next year “stealing” the night when this event would otherwise take place, the 2025 New Zealand Wide Pairs will take place on Friday October 17th 2025. Hope you will take part at a club near you.
Richard Solomon
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