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News from Keith in Korea

Hi from Korea,
I sent this from Japan a while back to the bridge club but have heard nothing back since and thought maybe I should try again here so that people are not potentially getting nervous!
I am fine and the school that I am teaching at is teaching via online conferencing so the amount of contact I have with other people is vastly cut down.

“Hello to everyone in Rotorua,
I am currently in a Capsule Hotel in Fukuoka Japan for my Visa. You have to do the last part outside the country.
I will be teaching in Cheongju and had shifted into the apartment last weekend.
I will be in Japan for roughly 7 days, depending on how long the Visa takes, though I have paid my nights in advance so I might just make the most of it and be a tourist.
I hope Paul and Maryann’s son in China is okay. I have been getting used to wearing a facemask. Korea is definitely keeping an eye on it. The school has now made all students and teachers wear a facemask while there.
I am also posting quite a few pictures on Instagram and Facebook. I will attach some to this email. Several are from the Palace visit in Seoul. The food stalls and the water way are in Cheongju. The meal is the first food I had in Korea.
It is very brown in Korea at the moment, their winters are dry and cold so everything browns off. Very little green.”

House Sale benefits Rotorua Bridge Club by $500!!!!

Once again Stu Phillips sold one of Pam and Ian Moore’s investment properties very quickly and for a great price. Stu donates $500 to our club if you list your property (sole agency) with him at Letterbox Realty and he sells your real estate. You will see visible evidence of Stu’s generosity shortly as the money will be used to replace worn tablecloths to match the new decor.
Remember to use our sponsor if you are selling an apartment, home or section – you won’t be disappointed!!!

Rotorua Open 2019

The committee was delighted with 21 tables at our Open tournament on Saturday with an increase of seven tables from last year.
Garry Foidl and Ant Hopkins won the event, Jo and Sam Simpson 2nd and Pam and Ian Moore won the prize for the best Rotorua pair. The food, organised by Wendy Fraser and her band of workers, was absolutely outstanding with many club members contributing to the morning tea, lunch and snacks. Thanks also to Kathryn Morgan who was a very efficient Tournament Manager.

Gary Foidl and Ant Hopkins, overall tournament winners.

Top placed Rotorua pair Pam and Ian Moore.

Wednesday evening Bridge and Pizza

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The Rotorua Bridge Club is trialling a new initiative on Wednesday 22nd May:
Everyone is welcome to come along and see how the new timing fits in with your lifestyle. After the first night the committee will ask you for feedback and then decide if this new format will continue throughout the winter months. On the first evening the pizza will be FREE to all members so come along and enjoy this opportunity to socialise before bridge.

Thank you, Elspeth!

On Thursday night the club recognised one of our longest serving committee members, Elspeth Goodrick, thanking her for her time on the committee, and the many years during which has served as treasurer and auditor. Elspeth can’t remember exactly how many years she has held these posts, but her time on the committee goes back the early 90s (she started young).

Rotorua Bridge Club is lucky to have the services of members like Elspeth, who work efficiently behind the scenes to ensure the club runs smoothly, and at this time as she is standing down, would like to show appreciation for all her hard work.

Rotorua players at Congress 2018

The annual Bridge Congress in Hamilton took place last week, and although there were not a lot of Rotorua players taking part, those that were there had some notable success. Marie Milsum teamed up with her former long-time partner at Rotorua, Alison Beer, and they showed that they are still a force to be reckoned with, winning the Open Swiss Pairs.

Alison and Marie, winners of the Open Swiss pairs.


Pam and Ian Moore had a very successful Congress, being runners-up in the Senior Teams, and coming fourth in the Senior Pairs. They also won a special award as they for best team on Day One that did not qualify for the final of the Open teams. And Liz and Michael Wilcox were fourth from a large field in the Open Restricted Pairs. Well done to all who played in the Congress.

Ian and Pam Moore, along with team members Noel Woodhall and Ian Clayton, and Allan Morris chairman of NZ Bridge second from left, receiving their prize for being the top team on Day One of NZ Open teams who did not qualify for Round of 16. They were 3rd overall on Day One.

Ib Thulin 2018

A very enjoyable day was had by all on Sunday, playing in the Ib Thulin Rotorua handicap tournament, for club members only. The event was won comfortably by our UK imports Chris and Angela Overton, with Neil and Mary Dravitski winning the raw competition. Neil and Mary were second on handicap with Margie Robbie and Marie Milsum coming third. Well done to all placegetters! A huge thanks to James Twist from Craig Investment Partners for their ongoing sponsorship.

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Winners Chris and Angela Overton with James Twist from Craigs Investment Partners.

Ruth – NZ Bridge Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to Ruth Lewis, who has very deservedly been named as NZ Bridge’s Volunteer of the Month for August 2018.

Ruth has been a member of the Rotorua Bridge Club for well over thirty years. During that time she was on the committee for nearly thirty years including two terms as President, has directed Wednesday night bridge and took the beginners’ lessons for ten years.
Ruth is probably best known throughout the North Island as the organiser of Rotorua Bridge Club’s Christmas tournament which had been extraordinarily popular for seventeen years. With her band of elves, they create a Christmas extravaganza which includes the finest Christmas quilts, glorious decorations, a delicious Christmas dinner and generous prizes. There is often a waiting list to fill the 39 tables available for players of all grades.
However, her quiet commitment to dealing boards for all the events at the club is remarkable. Week in week out, for approximately 14 years the boards are ready for each session regardless of whether Ruth is away on holiday or has family commitments.
It is people like Ruth Lewis who ensure a club functions well and has events of which we can be proud, so it is great that the club can show her some recognition in this way.

Big win for Mary Dravitzki in Wellington

Mary’s win in the Intermediate Teams in the Wellington Congress was made all the sweeter because she was not selected for the family team to play in it (Neil just made the cut with the lowest rating points in team), so she asked the organisers to pair her up to play in the intermediate section and they found a very compatible partner.
The flash family team started both competitions well but faded and finished in the top third but no prizes.
However Mary was made captain of her team and even though they had not met each other before they were leading narrowly going into the last round – four teams within four victory points.
Daughter Pam gave her the mantra ABCD (Alert, Bold, Confident & Disciplined) and she made a big contribution to their ultimate win with hand seven (see below).
She decided to upgrade her twenty one count from a natural two no trump to a game forcing two club. A three diamond response from partner showing seven plus points and five diamonds – then four clubs – one ace – five clubs – one king and (every imp counts) – six no trumps. On the lead of the ten of diamonds twelve tricks were cold after forcing out the ace of spades. Of the ten tables – only one other in six no trumps and one in six diamonds – the other seven including the other pair just in game so a 13 imp pick up and they won by just three imps.

Success in Northland

Marie and Alison


On January 6th and 7th Kerikeri hosted a two day event sponsored by Craigs Investment Partners. Marie Milsum teamed up with her partner of old, ex-Rotorua player Alison Beer to play in this and they won the Bay Of Isands’ Holiday Pairs, held on the Sunday, (as well as being also runners-up in the Swiss Pairs on the Saturday), rounding off the day with a whopping 71.27% !
Many people from all over the country attended this popular event, so well done to Marie and Alison! Obviously distance hasn’t affected their partnership.

Interclub Teams Final

The finals for the Waikato Bays interclub teams were held in Cambridge on Sunday 27th August. The Rotorua Open team (Pam & Ian Moore and Tom Henwood & Tom Winiata) won the Open event winning all their matches. Unfortunately the original Intermediate team who qualified were unable to play in the final, but Rotorua were well represented by Roger Dempster, Leonie Pritchard, Kevin Jensen and Paul Rogers. They only lost one match and came third overall.
Well done everyone!

The victorious Open team with their trophy.

Fun and fashion at the Cambridge Sixes

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Dashing 1920s style and some black magic and sorcery were on show when the Rotorua teams competed in the Cambridge Sixes Tournament on Saturday 12 August.

The event, held at the Karapiro Convention Centre, is now the largest one day tournament in NZ, the fun formula of great bridge, trivia and some old fashioned fun of dress up and spot prizes proving very popular. Each team consists of an Open, Intermediate and Junior pair, which makes it a great way for players at different stages of their bridge to join together, and this year there was a total of 44 teams of 6, the largest field ever.

The Geyser Squad finished 12th out of 44, with the Open pair of Ian and Pam Moore coming 5th in their grade. The other Rotorua team, The Sulphur City Scorcerers comprising Heini Lux and Alan Dick, Leonie Pritchard and Mark Bendall, Maggie and Peter Bentley finished 27th overall – the Bentleys came 13th in the Junior grade which was an excellent result in such a big tournament.

It was a great day for all with fantastic food, prizes and raffles.

Interclub Bay Teams 2017

The Bay Teams Interclub competition was held at Rotorua on Sunday 30 July with teams from Mt Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Te Puke and Whakatane taking part. Each club fielded a team in the Open, Intermediate and Junior grades.
It was a very successful day for the host club with Rotorua taking out the overall prize with 204 Victory Points across all the grades. Tauranga were second with 173 and Whakatane third with 166.
Within each grade, both the Rotorua Open and Intermediate teams won their competition and the Junior team came a very creditable third in theirs. The Open Rotorua team scored 61 VPs and Tauranga were second with 59. The Rotorua Intermediates amassed a whopping 90 VPs, followed by Whakatane on 57. In the Junior section, Whakatane were first with 65 and Tauranga second with 56. The top two teams in each section go through to the Waikato Bays final to be held in Cambridge on 27 August. (Because the Whakatane Intermediate team wasn’t eligible to go through, the third placed Tauranga will take their place.)
It was a very enjoyable day. Many thanks to the Rotorua members who organised the event, helped in the kitchen and provided a wonderful morning and afternoon tea, to Heini for directing, and well done to all the players!

The intermediate team relaxing after a good day’s work at the bridge table – from left Elspeth Goodrick, Joyce Reid, Cathy Ward and Wendy Blackman

Support our Sponsors


Here is Pam Moore’s experience:
Recently Ian and I decided to sell a rental property we have owned for twenty years. Having enjoyed Scratchies, bidding pads and pens at our bridge club supplied by Stu Phillips, we decided to offer Stu our property to market and hopefully sell.
The house went under contract (at a premium price) a day after it went on the market and three weeks later became unconditional. There were a few minor bumps along the way, which Stu dealt with positively, knowledgeably and with good humour. All my overreactive phone calls were dealt with respectfully and patiently.
So if you’re looking to buy or sell your property- the Moore’s advice is -call Stu. 021 780 785
Extra bonus: we had $1000 worth of free advertising which also worked in our favour to sell the house.