The first three months of the year is always a busy period for your committee with the managing of subscription payments, preparing for the Tasmanian Festival of Bridge and several important club and state events. The committee has been working diligently to ensure that these activities are all proceeding to plan.

New Members

The following new members have joined the club this year and we welcome their participation in club events.

  • Pam Allen
  • Craig Anderson
  • Sarah Bolt
  • Kay Clifford
  • Tony Clifford
  • Victor Coombe
  • John Green
  • Glenn Johnson
  • Sally McCracken
  • Keyran Pitt
  • Ros Pitt
  • Lawrence Queay
  • Anne Travers

Masterpoint Promotions

The following TBA members earned Masterpoint promotions in January:

  • Bronze National: Clare Handbury
  • Bronze Regional: Ruth Nogajski, Henry Nogajsk
  • Bronze Local: Angie McDermott
  • Club: Diane Gain, Don Macleod
  • Graduate: Sally McCracken, Chris Woolley

Congratulations to all.

Multi Session Results for January

Each month the TBA runs multi-session rankings for most regular sessions. The rankings are based on the best three results across the month. Green masterpoints are awarded to the top half of the pairs who play enoughs sessions to be included in the multi. Winners also receive TBA etched glasses.

The January multi winners were (click the links for full results) :

Annual General Meeting

The notice of the Annual General Meeting on Saturday March 23 has been published on the TBA website and is also prominently displayed within the clubroom. I encourage you all to read this notice as it includes an important motion regarding the proposed increase in annual membership fees from $60 to $75. The committee has decided that this increase is necessary to cover the increase in cost of the goods and services that the club requires to function and also increases in the State Bridge levy and ABF capitation fees.

It is several years since the annual fee was increased to $60 and at that time was comprised of : Club Membership $30, State Levy $15, ABF Fee $15. Since then the ABF fees have increased annually to $18, the club having paid that increase out of general funds. The ABF have advised that the fee for 2024 will be $20, and have foreshadowed additional increases in coming years. Also at the recent State Bridge meeting of affiliated clubs held in October 2023 the State Bridge Levy was increased to $20. The acceptance of this motion is strongly advised.

Section 10.1 of the TBA constitution states:

The annual subscription of the Association and the State Bridge Levy shall remain fixed at their current rates unless changed at a General Meeting after a notice of motion has been given in advance in the agenda of such meeting. A simple majority of members present will suffice to pass the motion.

Tasmanian Team selection

Nominations are now invited from pairs who wish to be considered for selection for teh Tasmanian representative teams to the Interstate Teams Championships at the Australian National Championships (ANC). Three pairs will be selected from nominations for each of the Open, Women's and Seniors teams, provided such nominations are suitable qualified, otherwise 2 pairs will be selected. Pairs will be selected on their performance in Open events held in Tasmania and interstate national events held since the last Tasmanian Festival of Bridge.

Pair please email nominations to: simon.edler@bigpond.com with a cc to tba@tasbridge.com.au by 8pm Thursday 7th March 2024.

The tournament panel will convene both prior to and immediately after the conclusion of the Tasmanian Festival of Bridge. The Interstate Teams Championship component of ANC is scheduled to commence on Sunday 7th July.

Changes for the GNOT

The format of the Grand National Open Teams (GNOT) has changed this year.

The qualifying rounds will be held at clubs as usual. At the TBA they begin in August, with sessions on Fridays and/or Mondays. The regional Finals will be on September 8th to select a Tasmania South and Tasmania North teams. To add excitement, we have responded to the invitation to add a third Tassie team, and this will be called Tassie 3 On-line team. Qualifying heats will be organised and will take place via the RealBridge sessions on Wednesday evenings.

The resulting three teams will then compete online over a 3-day weekend September 20-22nd. Twelve teams will then receive subsidies to play in Sydney November 23-24. Places have been reserved for eight non-metropolitan teams like us. This is the time to join in on Wednesday evenings - red points remember.

Education Sub Committee

The advice sent to members by Sue Falkingham proposing the creation of a Bridge education committee has been extremely well received by members, and any one interested in being part of that committee please make sure that you notify Sue as soon as possible.

Table Numbers

It is extremely encouraging to see that player participation is almost back to pre-covid levels in most sessions. Daytime sessions have increased significantly, while evening sessions have increased slightly during the last 12 months.

It was great to see 18 tables at the club this last Saturday!!

Finally remember that the TASMANIAN FESTIVAL OF BRIDGE is a tremendous opportunity to compete in a national bridge event at all levels, novice, restricted, and open. And the festival dinner at the myState Arena on the Saturday night is a great social opportunity to relax and socialize with your fellow bridge enthusiasts.

Look forward to seeing you there