HBCInc's blog

• Vil Gravis is running a question and answer time for beginner players on Monday 28 January and Monday 4 February 7pm to 8:30pm. All players welcome.
• Vil Gravis is introducing “Midweek Reviews” from February 2019. These will be of interest to readers who want to learn, improve and brush up on some basics. The series will be available by email and will be free to readers. If you are interested in receiving these articles you can email Vil directly on villyn@xtra.co.nz

• Congratulations to Sue Boaden who has received a Certificate of Proficiency.
• Vil Gravis is introducing “Midweek Reviews” from February 2019. These will be of interest to readers who want to learn, improve and brush up on some basics. The series will be available by email and will be free to readers. If you are interested in receiving these articles you can email Vil directly on villyn@xtra.co.nz
• Just a reminder the office is open for limited hours this week. These hours are Wednesday and Friday 11am to 1pm. Normal office hours will resume Monday 14 January.

• During the Wellington Christmas Cheer tournament held on Sat 8th Dec Maciej Szczesny (in the photo below with all the trophies/awards received on the day) and his partner Mariusz Tumilowicz (from Karori Bridge Club) were the best Junior Pair of the tournament:
  
  After the tournament the annual prize giving happened. Junior Hutt 1 team were officially awarded a trophy for winning Junior Interclub 2018 competition - congratulations to all members of the team: Andeana Pilalis (captain) (with the trophy in the photo below), Susan Flavin, Jane McDougall, Julie Newsome, Raewyn Dowman, Graham Goudge and Maciej Szczesny.
  
  Also, awards were given to the winner and runner-up of the Junior League 2018 - congratulations to Maciej Szczesny and Andeana Pilalis (with Regional Bridge Mate Katherine Gough in the photo below)!
  
• The office will be closed from Wednesday 19 December and will reopen on Monday 14 January. Bridge commences Monday 7 January and there will be limited office hours during this week. The office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11am to 1pm.

• The closing sessions for Monday and Friday are this week.
• All members are welcome to join Friday afternoon players on their last afternoon of Bridge, 7th December. Please bring a plate. Lunch is at 12pm and play commences at 1pm. Table money is $4.
• Vil’s new book, “Thirteen Tricks and Evil Acol” is now available from the office or contact Vil, $20 or $24.50 if by mail. The book will be of interest to all players who want to develop their bridge skills.

• Thank you to all who attended the Quiz and donated prizes. Special thanks to AJ for being a great MC again and to Raewyn and the Committee who beavered away in the background and in the kitchen making it another very successful evening. Check out the winners here.
• A couple of people would like to move from the Wednesday evening session and play on the Thursday night session next year. If you are available to do a session or two with them next year could you please contact Megan in the office to arrange.
• All members are welcome to join Friday afternoon players on their last afternoon of Bridge, 7th December. Please bring a plate. Lunch is at 12pm and play commences at 1pm. Table money is $4.

WOW! Approximately 60 people fronted up on Friday night for the Hutt Bridge Club Quiz! It was a night of fun and laughter and mental stimulation!

A huge thank you goes to our members, family and friends for attending the evening as well as a big thank you to those who donated an amazing array of prizes! Special thanks to AJ who acted as a Quiz Master.

1^st Prize was won by The Cobblers (same as last time!):

L-R: Peter Snethlage, Dianna Snethlage, Janice Butterfield, Martyn Dowman, Linda Forsyth, Reg Murphy

• The National Teams were held at Wellington Bridge Club over the weekend: Maciej Szczesny was a member of the team that won Best Team under 750 rating points prize. Maciej's team was in fact the lowest rated team of the tournament and had victories over teams that included current members of the NZ national team. Congratulations to Maciej!
   
  Best Team under 750 rating points - from left: Mariusz Tumiłowicz, Maciej Szczęsny, Paul Maxwell (Wellington Regional Committee Secretary), Helen Fitzgerald, Sophie (Zofia) Atkin:
• The final Interclub results for 2018 have now been confirmed. Junior Hutt 1 team captained by Andeana Pilalis, despite a small loss in the last round, managed to stay at the top of the ladder and win the whole Junior competition. In addition Intermediate Hutt 3 captained by Jill Marsden came second overall in the Intermediate field. For full ladders click here.
• The final ladder of the Junior League for 2018 has also been confirmed. Both the first and second place getters were from our club. Congratulations to Andeana Pilalis for coming second and Maciej Szczesny for winning the Junior League! For full ladder click here.
• The 2019 programme book is here and is in a named envelope in the foyer for you to pick up.
• A couple of people would like to move from the Wednesday evening session and play on the Thursday night session next year. If you are available to do a session or two with them next year could you please contact Megan in the office to arrange.
• Wednesday players: If you have attended beginner classes this year you may be interested in Super Social Sundays. The last Super Social Sunday for the year will be on Sunday 25 November at Victoria Bridge. See the flyer on the noticeboard for more information or click here.

• Congratulations to Maciej Szczesny and Mariusz Tumilowicz (from Karori Club) for winning the Waikanae Junior Tournament held 11th Nov and also to Andeana and Jacob Pilalis (who completed lessons this year) for coming 4th in the field of 20 pairs in the same tournament!
   
  Waikanae Junior Winners:
  
• Congratulations to Jan Devereux and Susan Flavin who have achieved the rank of Local Master! Congratulations also to Jan Marment who has achieved the rank of Club Master!
• Many thanks to those who contributed to a very successful working bee on Saturday. The Club looks great!
• We have two card holders missing. These have been recently purchased. They are labelled with HBC. Please return if you have accidentally taken one of these.
• Vil is hosting two refresher evenings aimed at Junior players but all players are welcome. These will be held on Monday 12 November and Monday 19 November from 7:30 to 9:00pm at the Hutt Bridge Club.
• Wednesday players: If you have attended beginner classes this year you may be interested in Super Social Sundays. The last Super Social Sunday for the year will be on Sunday 25 November at Victoria Bridge. See the flyer on the noticeboard for more information or click here.

• The club is holding a working bee on Saturday 10 November from 9am to 12midday. We need some more helpers please so if you are able to give an hour or two of your time write your name on the sheet located on the noticeboard. Your help will be very much appreciated!
• Vil Gravis will be hosting two refresher evenings aimed at Junior players but all players are welcome. These will be held on Monday 12 November and Monday 19 November from 7:30 to 9:00pm at the Hutt Bridge Club.
• Quiz night is on Friday 23 November. There are two sign up forms on the wall, one to join a team and one if you already have a team. Donations of wine, chocolates and goodies would be much appreciated. These can be left in the box in the foyer. Please support this fundraiser. It is going to be a fun night! Last Quiz Night was a great success - see details here.

• Wellington Regional Club Champs was held on Sunday 28 October. It was a great day! A big thank you for all the baking and the helpers who made the day such a success. Our Hutt team came third. Congratulations to Paul Badcock & Bryan Cunliffe, Marian Loader & Jeffry Craanen, Madeleine Askew & Simon Webber, and a special mention to Maciej Szczęsny and Andeana Pilalis who were first in the Junior section. Well done Team!
   
  Junior Winners - Andeana Pilalis and Maciej Szczęsny:
• Vil will be hosting two refresher evenings aimed at Junior players but all players are welcome. These will be held on Monday 12 November and Monday 19 November from 7:30 to 9:00pm at the Hutt Bridge Club.
• The club is holding a working bee on Saturday 10 November from 9am to 12midday. If you are able to give an hour or two of your time write your name on the sheet located on the noticeboard. Any help will be appreciated!