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A Live National Congress in October
National Bridge Congress 2022 (1st – 8th October) at Bay Park Tauranga.
As promised last Friday, we are going to start promotion of the 2022 National Congress with you today. We will show you the program but first will address some of the issues which came from the on-line survey which followed the 2021 Congress.
These issues were raised and these are how we view those issues:
Cost: Many felt the cost was too high for an online event
Naturally, the registration fees were lower than for a live event though some felt the fees were still too high. In reality, they produced a break-even position for New Zealand Bridge. There were still significant costs. Prize money was kept at the same level as for the cancelled live Congress, reduced only because there were less events. Altogether, we had 620 players taking part but a significant number only for one event. We had 100 Australians playing but many of our own players did not and the numbers playing in the New Zealand Open and Restricted Open events were down significantly.
In October, we have higher overheads again and thus registration fees will be in line with proposed rates for the cancelled live 2021 Congress. However, watch out for some promotional fee saving promotions.
Format: Not enough qualifying boards in NZ Pairs and many preferred 16 teams to qualify for the NZ Teams knockout. Prefer other events to be played (Seniors, Mixed Pairs etc) instead of a rest day.
The drop in boards for NZ Open Teams qualifiers and the absence of Seniors and Novice events was temporary and one-off because of the 2021 event being on-line.
In October, NZ Open and Restricted Open Swiss Qualifying will be back to 14 board matches and in the Open, 16 teams will qualify, with longer knock-out stage matches once again.
Seniors Pairs and Teams and Novice Pairs will return.
However, in 2020 and 2021 Congresses, had they taken place live, we were going to have no evening play (except for Rubber Bridge) and we will go that way for 2022 Congress too. In order to achieve that, something has to give.
We felt the Mixed and Same Sex Pairs had run their course while there is no place for Match Point Swiss Pairs. We also wanted to have a third qualifying session for New Zealand Open and Restricted Open Pairs. There is just no place for this. We have, however, increased the length of the two qualifying rounds in these events, from 26 to 30 boards. Thus, no extra session but more boards in the existing qualifying sessions.
Timing: Several comments about late morning starts/incompatible with lunchtime or utilising a day off work fully.
11am starts were to make the Congress more attractive for those across the Tasman. We will revert to 9.30 am starts at Bay Park, except for the second day, the Sunday, where we plan to start at 10.30 am. It is a relatively light day (2 x 27 board sessions) and thus can afford to have the later start on the first day of summer time.
The day-off related only to on-line. We will have bridge each day for those who want it.
Information/communication: bulletin/newsletter should be considered. Links should be emailed out each day. Website information confused many.
We are already advertising for a Bulletin Editor (see the post on this site dated 11th March) https://www.nzbridge.co.nz/blog/8330/CONGRESS-BULLETIN-EDITOR) and have already received expressions of interest. We plan the daily Bulletins to be on-line. They will differ in one respect from those in the past. With results now so readily available on-line, there is no need to repeat them in a Bulletin. The Bulletins will be about bridge players, both at and away from the table, just like our Congress is, a mixture of National Events and a large social gathering where we meet up, make friends with and enjoy the company of those with the same interest as we do.
As you will see below, we aim to get the timing of events out as quickly as possible.
Results/directing: results slow on the website, no communication with delays, printable hand records would be good. Understanding the process regarding undo’s would have been useful.
We will be right there, quickly with results. Hand records will be readily available and the really sad news… no undo’s, unless your bid can be regarded as inadvertent. Remember those days before we went on-line, when you could revoke!
I hope that answers some of your comments and queries about the on-line Congress. It is time to look at the 2022 program.
(Note you can enlarge the above table if you cannot read it.)
Some changes, things to note:
- · No evening play (except for Rubber Bridge finalists)
- · Extra boards in qualifying for NZ Open and Restricted Open Pairs
- · NZ Open/Restricted Open Teams starts after lunch on Monday
- · 36 board Round of 16 in NZ Open Teams returns
- · New Junior Teams event (subject to getting sufficient numbers, or else will be combined with Intermediate Teams)
- · 4 days of bridge for Intermediate and Junior players playing at their own level (one more than previously)
- · 2-day Teams competitions to end the Congress including:
- · New Restricted Open Teams event in addition to NZ Restricted Open Teams
- · Final Prize-Giving finger-food function at approx. 3,30 pm on the final Saturday
We will have the website updated with the competitions, prices etc in the next couple of weeks. The 10% early payment discount for those who pay by 31st August will apply once more.
There will be a team price for the Swiss qualifying stage of New Zealand Open Teams (as well as Restricted Open Teams) whether there are 4, 5 or 6 players in a team.
As previously, you can enter events separately from paying though can do both at the same time if you wish.
Payment system will be as for the on-line 2021 National Bridge Congress.
More information to come out soon. In the meantime, start planning for our National Congress in October…. and make sure your bridge-playing friends know about it too.
It will be so good to be live again….and in a brand-new venue, perfectly suited for bridge.
Richard Solomon
pp National Bridge Congress Organising Committee
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