The TBA Committee met on March 14th from 2.45pm. Present were Julie Rhodes (P), John Grosvenor (VP), Trish Colles (S), Leigh Blizzard (T), Sue Falkingham, Pam Murphy, Paul Fredheim, Fran Healey, Robin Barnes, Malcolm Sherlock, Simon Edler and Laura Bauermeister. The following matters were discussed:

Individual Championship April 26th 9.30 am

Just a reminder that the Individual Championship is coming up on Sunday April 26th.

The Individual Championship was brought back in 2021 as a way to celebrate the life of Bert Forage who was the first person to still be playing bridge regularly at the TBA at the age of 100 years. Bert loved that day so much that he wrote to the TBA saying that playing in that event had given him more pleasure than all his letters from the Queen, Governor General, and Prime Minister combined! Kay Potter was the winner of that event.

Last year we ran the Individual Championship again as a fund raiser to help Hugh with his travel expenses to represent Australia in the Seniors Team playing in China. This time, John Grosvenor was the winner.

Everyone had so much fun that we decided to reintroduce the Individual Championship as a regular event. No partner required and you get to play with lots of different people on the day. It is chaotic but a lot of fun. So enter now on MyABF if you have just been thinking about it!

System Cards

It is very important that you and your partner have a System Card. This is not only a courtesy to the opponents, but means that you and your partner have actually discussed your system! For many competitive events, systems cards are mandated, and it is policy at the TBA that anyone playing in a non-supervised session should have a system card.

People walking in without a partner should especially bring a system card. This is so that the person you are playing with will have an understanding of the system that you are comfortable playing.

However, we realise that since the carboard system cards that used to be in the cupboard are no longer available through the ABF, it has been difficult to prepare a system card.

Help is here. There is a supply of simple system cards that are suitable for all beginning and improving players. Paper copies are located near the box of personal scoresheets in the North-West corner of the playing area.

More experienced players should complete the more comprehensive system card.

This ABF page has downloadable files of the simple and standard system card formats, and useful information about system cards and system classification. System cards can be completed electronically on the PC in the Vera Houdek room, and then printed and even laminated.

Directional Parking

This has now been implemented by HCC. The correct way to now enter the communal carpark is to keep left along the rowing sheds, following the directional arrows, then turn right at the sewage treatment works.

Liam Milne Training for Everyone

The TBA has organised for Liam Milne (a former and current Australian player) to conduct the State team training this year in May. In addition, he will be running a session which will be open to everyone. It will run from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Friday afternoon May 29th at a cost of $25 for TBA members and $30 for non-members. The topic is :

“Slam Bidding Workshop - Bid better slams and stay out of poor ones!”

A very useful topic for all of us – who doesn’t need help improving their slam bidding? - I will certainly be attending! You register for this workshop on MyABF or just turn up on the afternoon with your $25.

Coming Up - Tassie Swiss Teams – Get your team together!

On May 16th and 17th we will be running the Tassie Swiss Teams at the TBA. This is a chance to have fun and get some red master points, but you will need some team mates. Start thinking about who you might like to team up with and enter via MyABF when you are ready. If you need help finding some team mates, talk to Pam Murphy and ask her to help you.

We just might put on another free lunch, since the one at the TBA Congress was so delicious.
Keep an eye out for future notices about this event.

Tasmanian Representative Teams

The selection of teams to represent Tasmania at the 2026 Australian National Championships (ANC) has been completed. The ANC will be held in Canberra from 4 July. The teams are:

Open:
- Hugh Grosvenor & Tania Lloyd
- Erica McCoull& Jeremy Reid
- Julie Rhodes & Hilton Francis

Womens:
- Pam Murphy & Barbara Giizel
- Maggie Crawford & Julia Corr
- Mardi Grosvenor & Annie Bartlett

Senior:
- David Marshall & Merryl Darby
- Felicity Wivell & Catherine Elliott
- Pam Lidl & Fiona Hickey

Promotions

Congratulations to the following members who have received rank promotions last month:

• Suzanne Coleman, Craig Coleman, Dorothy Niddrie and Annie Squires to Club Master (>5 MPs)
• Lee McCaghern and Sally McCracken to Local Master (>15 MPs)
• Ken Chilcott and Jack Pashev to Bronze Local Master (>25 MPs)
• Graham Bury to Silver Local Master (>35 MPs)
• Lynn Barlow, Christina Buell and Laurie Queay to Regional Master (>50 MPs)
• Robin Barnes and Anne Francis to State Master (>100MPs)
• John Panckridge to Bronze State Master > 100 MPs
• Irene Chau, Julia Johnson and Shirley Reddin to National Master (>150 MPs)
• Jeremy Reid to Bronze Life Master (>400 MPs)
• Judith Oxley and Rebecca Rooke to Silver Life Master (>500 MPs)
• Chris Girvan and John Grosvenor to Gold Life Master (>800 MPs)
• Richard Cooke to Grand Master

Bridge Etiquette – Tip of the Month

We have talked previously about how it is the correct thing to call the Director to the table if there is any anomaly. However, it is much nicer to call “Director please,” rather than just "Director!". Also, make sure that you raise your hand so the Director can see who is calling.

Julie Rhodes
President

The 2026 TBA Congress was held on 11th and 12th April 2026. Saturday was Matchpoint Pairs with Open and Novice sections (20 and 8 pairs respectively). Sunday had 38 pairs playing IMP scored Swiss Pairs. The TBA provided a light lunch each day, which was partially catered by students at Rosny College.

The Open Matchpoint Pairs was won by David Robinson and Phil Beck. Dallas Cooper and Barbara Holland came second. Hilton Francis and Julie Rhodes came third. In the Novice section Yolande Boost and Sharlene Campbell came first. Lee McCaghern and Anne McEntee came second. Full results are available here: Open, Novice.

In the Swiss Pairs the Open winners were Gulum Kocak-Sunamak and Guray Sunamak. Hilton Francis and Julie Rhodes came second. Pam Murphy and Barbara Giizel came third. Prizes were also awarded for the Novice and Restricted catagories. The highest placed Novice pair were Ross Addison and Jack Pashev. The top placed Restricted pair were Anne Fancis and Jegs Nuttal. Full results are available here.

Thanks to Simon Edler and Sue Falkingham for directing. Thanks also to Pam Murphy for being the event Convener. Thank you to all members who brought plates to share for morning and afternoon tea.

Tasmania's premier bridge event of the year, the Tasmanian Festival of Bridge has finished. This was a record year for the Festival, with 216 tables in play for the first two days, and record fields in most of the events. The ABF also ran stage one of the Australian Mixed Playoff on the weekend sharing the fantastic MyState Bank Arena venue, with stage 2 of the Mixed and the Seniors' Playoffs being held at the TBA clubrooms from Monday to Wednesday.

For a full report of all of the winners and photos of the event, see the TFoB 2026 page.