Newsletter 13 November 2025

In our newsletter this week...

• President's Message
• Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree Appeal
• Beginners Lessons 2026
• Youthish Night
• Workshop with Will Jenner-O'Shea
• Friends of Youth Bridge
• Online Lessons 
• Upcoming Events
• Results
• Lighter Moments

Presidents Message

I would like to thank all the little elves who “appeared” at the Club yesterday afternoon and put up our new Christmas tree and decorations! The clubrooms look wonderfully festive, and we are now excited and ready for the holiday season!
Particular thanks go to Vanessa Brown, who went on a shopping spree to find the perfect tree and decorations to brighten up our club. Your efforts have truly brought the spirit of Christmas to life for us all! Thanks also to Alison Russell-French, Kate Latimer and Will Jenner-O’Shea for your assistance.

- Mary

Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree Appeal

It’s the season of giving, and this year we are once again proud to support the Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree Appeal, which collects gifts for children of all ages who might otherwise miss out on Christmas presents.
If you would like to contribute, please bring unwrapped gifts for boys and girls attach a tag and leave them in the boxes provided under our Christmas tree. While gifts for any age are greatly appreciated, Barnardos often finds it hardest to provide suitable presents for teenagers. Gift vouchers for movies, bowling, JB Hi-Fi, or sports stores, as well as hygiene or pamper packs and clothing, are especially welcome for that age group.
In addition to gifts, food donations such as Christmas puddings, chocolates, and other non-perishable items including tinned food, jam, and Milo are also very much appreciated.
Barnardos also provides a list of gift ideas for all ages, and you can find plenty of inspiration here:
https://barnardos.simplygiving.com.au/about.cfm?&subdomain=barnardos

Let’s help make this Christmas a little brighter for children and families in need.

Beginners Lessons 2026

Did you know that most of our beginners learn bridge because of a friend or family member suggested they should learn? The Club's Beginners Lessons will be starting on January the 7th Wednesday at 10 am or 7:30pm. So please encourage your family and friends to come to our lessons.

The 6 weeks course is $90 and includes a text book.

• Click here to register

Youthish Night

The next monthly Youth-ish night for all ACT Bridge Players under 40 years will be held at the Canberra Bridge Club on Friday 28 November 2025.
Entry is FREE and there will be a Pizza dinner!
All ages and experience levels are welcome, no partner required.

Come to either session or both!

• Friday 28 November 2025
• Session 1: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• Dinner: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
• Session 2: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Workshop with Will Jenner-O'Shea

The ever popular workshop with Will is back at the Canberra Bridge Club. His next lesson concentrates on Things to Discuss to Improve your Partnership: Some useful Conventions for partnerships to play, 2NT Enquiry After Weak Two Openings and Rating you partner as an aggressive or conservative bidder (and yourself!).

• Sunday November 16th, 10am to 3pm
• Cost including morning tea and light lunch $60
• Click here to register

Friends of Youth Bridge 

Are you interested in being a friend of Youth Bridge?  

• Bringing or recommending someone to a Youth session
• Participating in sessions playing with and/or against Youth players
• Being on the Youth Sub-Committee
• Giving a talk (or series of talks) about becoming a better bridge player
• Helping with outreach to schools 

If you’re interested in any of the above or have other ideas for improving the development of our Youth players, please contact CBC Youth Coordinator Suz Wilkinson  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

New Members

Canberra Bridge Club welcomes the following new and returning members to our club:

• David Lane
• Liz Hanna
• Charles Gray

Online Lessons

Will Jenner-O'Shea is running online lessons  suitable for all club players most Thursdays starting at 9:30am.

You can attend the Zoom live, or receive the recording, notes, and replayable hands afterwards. 

• November 20th - Signalling on Our Leads
• November 27^th - Signalling on Discards. What to Throw, What to Keep
• December 4^th - The Stopper Asking Cue Bid
• December 11^th - Fourth-Suit Game Forcing
• December 18^th - The Gambling 3NT Opening

Upcoming Events

The next Tuesday night competition is the State Open Butler Pairs running for 3 weeks starting on 18th November.

• Click here to Enter

Results 

2025 Cooma Congress Swiss Teams:

• Open teams 1st - Wilkinson: JADE WILKINSON - ALEXIS WILSMORE - VANESSA BROWN - WILL JENNER-O'SHEA
• Restricted teams 1st - THE BIXBIES: ADAM ROBINSON - JACQUES CHERBUIN - PAUL BIRKBY - DEBRA BIRKBY

2025 Cooma Congress Swiss Pairs:

• Restricted Pairs 1st: CRAIG BECCONSALL / BRICET KLOREN 
• Novice Pairs 1st:  BELINDA MOSS / JENNY BELL 

Lighter Moments

• What do you call a kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?
  A rebel without a Claus!
• Why don’t crabs celebrate Christmas?
  Because they’re shell-fish!
•  What did one Christmas tree say to the other?
  Lighten up!

I know it is a bit early but seems that we find ourselves once again playing in between the North Pole and the South Pole... or was that always the case? 

Just as a matter of trivia, I am happy to report that our "North" is actually facing about NE30, so for those who were wondering why we haven't assigned North towards the main entrance I guess the answer is because it is not.

Have a great week everyone!

Elizabeth