Newsletter 23 December 2022
In this week’s newsletter...
- President's Message
- Warm up Pairs - Thursday 29 December & 5 January
- Summer Festival of Bridge Program for January 2023
- Lighter Moments
President's Message
Well, here we are in the holiday season, enjoying the relaxing party atmosphere at the end of a difficult 2022. Covid, the eternal pandemic, remains a background issue which is interfering with many of our members' enjoyment of face-to-face bridge at the club. Thankfully we all seem to be sufficiently vaccinated so the mortality rate remains low.
On Wednesday three long tables of members enjoyed a Christmas feast never before encountered within the halls of CBC. Prawns, chicken, ham, and salad followed by delicious pavlovas were demolished by the ravenous hoard. This sumptuous feast was prepared by our resident expert, social committee organised par excellence, Anne Fleming, and her team of helpers, Nicole Finn, Michele Grant, Jennie Walpole and Jennifer Yeats. The Christmas raffle was drawn and won by Julie McPhail (hamper), second prize Joyanne Gough (Christmas cake), and third prize Kate Ward (crackers).
Barnados collected the extravaganza of presents overflowing beneath the Christmas tree on Tuesday and were overwhelmed by the variety and generosity of the bridge club members who contributed. You remain anonymous but please feel an inner glow of satisfaction that you will be helping many people feel so much happier because of your generosity.
On behalf of the CBC Committee please enjoy a happy, safe, and healthy Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you all back with us again in 2023.
Tim Mather
Editor's note - Everyone who went to the Christmas Party said the food and the event was wonderful! Well done Anne and team! Thanks Tim for all your help too! Tim was among the last to leave and the first in the next day to help with the clean-up.
Warm-up Pairs
We are closing out 2022 and bringing in 2023 with a 2-week competition on Thursday evening - 29 December and 5 January at the club. Play starts at 7.15pm.
Details and entry list here. Please enter by 10am on Thursday 29 December.
Upcoming Sessions
Our weekly sessions are almost the same as last week - see our homepage. The Butler is back running on Thursday mornings assuming we have a viable number of tables.
Links to online sessions are on our RealBridge page. The Club is open every day except Christmas Day so please come in for a game over the Christmas New Year period.
Supervised play is on Wednesday evenings at 7pm and Friday mornings at 9.30am. An experienced player will be available during January to answer any questions.
If you want a partner, phone the office (6282 2382) or email the office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) a day or two beforehand and we will attempt to match you up with someone. For RealBridge sessions go to the link and chat with the Director if you need a partner.
Master the Basics
Master the Basics virtual lessons will resume on 2 February 2023 on Thursdays at 9.00am. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to be added to the Zoom class. It's $6 for members and $8 for non-members. The lessons run for 30 minutes.
Barb wishes everyone a safe and happy Christmas break! The Club will be open every day except Christmas Day.
Upcoming Events
Canberra Summer Festival of Bridge 10-22 January 2023
The Summer Festival of Bridge is on at the Rex Hotel Northbourne Ave. This is the first F2F event since 2020.
The Festival offers events for players of all levels. There are events for players with fewer than 100 masterpoints, to under 300, 500, 750, 1000 and many open events.
There are single day and multi day events with all events providing Gold Masterpoints.
A full program is on on the notice board at the Canberra Bridge Club, and also available on MYABF or at https://www.myabf.com.au/media/Congress-downloads/2022/10/31/sfob2023.1pdf
Summer Festival of Bridge - Help Wanted and Free Entry!
We are looking for volunteers to help set up and pack up the Summer Festival of Bridge (SFOB). We are looking for help on Monday afternoon, 9 January and 19-20 January. If you can spare a couple of hours on any of these days, please help out as these events cannot run without volunteers. No skills are needed. Please contact Roger Brake if you can help out (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0466 009 426).
We are also encouraging novice players, in particular, to enter the SFOB. It is a great way to play a national tournament and the tournament organisers are committed to making this a welcoming and enjoyable event for novice players. Also, in recognition of the assistance provided by CBC to run the SFOB, we can enter up to 32 novice players for free! Please contact Roger Brake if you wish to nominate for the novice events.
We also need volunteers to play as last minute substitutes. This is also free entry. We also want to enter two additional womens teams, with discounted entry. Please contact Perelle on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0450 961 935 if you can help and a remember this provides an opportunity to win GOLD masterpoints.
Canberra Summer of Bridge - Pair wanted
Two players from the Sunshine Coast Bridge Club Queensland are still looking for a pair to enter the Under 750 teams competition on 16, 17 and 18 January.
They are travelling to Canberra to compete in the Summer Festival of Bridge in January 2023 in the Under 750 team event .
Both their rankings are Silver Life.
Fay Stanton ABF 88455
Gabrielle Elich ABF 837881
If you are able to help please email alicefaystanton@gmail.com.
Lighter Moments
Why couldn't the pony sing a Christmas carol?
- she was a little horse
What do you call a boomerang that won't come back?
- a stick (NB Remember this one as we might give it a rerun on Australia Day)
How are false teeth like Christmas lights?
- they come out at night
Loving see all the blue and white agapanthus flowerets in the club's garden standing proud. Perhaps they're celebrating that Argentina won the World Cup!
Cafe D'lish closes next Friday 23 December and will reopen 9 January 2023. We will be open every day except Christmas Day. The office won't be staffed on public holidays.
This will be the last newsletter for the year. We will enjoy bringing you more news/entertainment in 2023.
Safe travels and a Merry Christmas from us. Be kind to each other
Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)