The "Quad"

Waikanae hosted Levin, Otaki and Paraparaumu to contest the 2026 edition of the Horowhenua Kapiti Quadrangular match (the "Quad") on Saturday 19th September.

The full-day event was played as a teams competition over 6 rounds, and I'm delighted to report that it was won once again by Waikanae, who therefore retained the shield (which we have held for several years).

Detailed results are available here. 

I'd like to thank Maureen Pratchett who was both Director and Scorer, and also:

• Nicky Bradley, who organised the event
• Vicky Young, Anne Ricketts and Dianne Horton who looked after the kitchen and other arrangements on the day, and
• Derek Snelling and Pryor Rowland, who organised and ran the bar

and of course all the club members who played in the competition itself:

Open -

Pryor Rowland and John Donbavand
Derek Snelling and Isobel Ross

Intermediate -

Miriam Lewin and Suzanne Duncan
Karen Eriksen and Jude Lucas

Junior -

Stephanie Cheeseman and Jim Gordon
Hugh Wolfensohn and Judi Vernau

Congratulations on a great team effort!

Bridge Base Online (BBO)

On 17 August 2026, BBO moved to a membership model. Players received a free Premium period, and its length varies. Many long-standing and regular players were given a full complimentary year. Others received one or two months.

Players with the complimentary year are not affected by anything below.

For everyone else, when the free Premium membership ends, they move to Basic. Basic is free and includes 6 deals a day in free casual games.

Free tournaments do not use the daily deals, and most stay open to everyone, including Basic. Some tournaments are Premium only.

Paid tournaments and paid challenges are not affected, and membership is not required to play them.

Further information is available below.

Club Championship & Malcolm Hyland Trophy

NZBridge - Online Lessons

Link available here:

New Zealand-wide Pairs (formerly Loveblock Pairs)

Please support what I'm sure will be an enjoyable evening.  The sign-up sheet is now available on the top table in the club room.

Recent Results

KHAP Round 7

Congratulations to Rae Lutman and Murray Lobb on finishing 3rd in the latest round, held on 17th September.  Nicky Bradley and Pryor Rowland were in 6th place. Full results available here.

Victoria Intermediate Pairs 13th September

Vicki Boffa and Rachel Patrick won this event with a score of 63.38% (they were 3rd E/W in the morning session and 1st E/W in the afternoon session) - many congratulations to them on an excellent result.

(Photo: Roger Palmer)

Victoria Junior Pairs 13th September

In the morning session Lori Dianne Fernando (the only Waikanae player in the event) and her partner were 4th E/W.

Wellington Region "Hui"

Judi Vernau and I attended the Wellington Region All Clubs meeting held at the Wellington Bridge Club at 1.00pm on Saturday 12th September.  John Donbavand also attended in his capacity as a Wellington Region Bridge Committee member.

The meeting was chaired by Alan Grant.  Peter Newell (Chair, NZ Bridge) attended.

The agenda for the meeting (which lasted for 3 hours) was as follows:

The Chair provided three reports - these are reproduced below.  The Financial Report was also tabled by the Treasurer - I have a copy if anyone's interested.

Chair Report Page 1

Chair Report Page 2

Club Championships report

Interclub Report

I'll publish the Minutes of the meeting when they become available.

Level Crossing Works

If you're involved in the Kapiti/Horowhenua Quadrangular tournament next weekend, you might like to allow some extra time for your journey to and from the Club!

Club Secretary - Email Address

The new email address for our esteemed Club Secretary, Rae Lutman, is secretary@waikanaebridge.nz.

Please use this address for all your communications with Rae - and update your contacts accordingly.

Wellington Sixes

The annual Wellington Sixes tournament took place on Sunday 6th September at the Wellington Club.

Results - Jim Gordon and Steph Cheeseman were 2nd in the Junior section. In the Intermediate section, Miriam Lewin and Suzanne Duncan placed 5th, with Murray Lobb and Viv Gray in 6th place.

Overall the Grand Gatsbys were 4th and the Hatters 6th - congratulations to both teams.

Well done also to the Grand Gatsbys, who won the "Best Dressed" prize (the second year running that the prize has been won by a Waikanae team).

(Best Dressed Winners:
Photos courtesy of Nan Wehipeihana)

(Also ran)

Reka Solomons

I'm very sorry to have to tell you that Reka Solomons died peacefully on Wednesday 26th August 2026, at Waikanae Lodge.  She was 95 years old. 

Reka was a former President of our Club (2004-2005), a keen and accomplished player and a very popular and much loved member.  She was involved in many other local activities and was always an enthusiastic supporter of music and the arts.

We send our sincere condolences to Reka's family and her many friends in the community.

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ יְיָ אֶחָד

Wellington Region Bridge Committee

Nominations for the Wellington Region Bridge Committee opened this week.  Up to four positions are available this year.

John Donbavand is currently serving on the Committee, with a little more than 2 years to run of his 3 year term.

Why stand for the committee?

The committee is where decisions get made about what bridge in the Wellington region looks like — tournaments, interclub, leagues, the website, and the regional newsletter. It works best when it reflects the full range of players across the region, from Juniors through to Open, and nominees don't need to be top-ranked players or have prior governance experience.

The role involves a monthly meeting in Wellington (remote online attendance is fine), a three-year term, and whatever area of committee work best suits the nominee's strengths & interests — tournaments, communications, club support, or strategic, directing, or scoring support.

Key dates and process:

Nominations close: 30 September 2026
A nomination must come through a club, signed by the President, Chairperson, or Secretary
Forms can be emailed to secretary@wellingtonregionbridge.nz, handed to any current committee member, or left at Wellington Bridge Club

The following documents are available on the Wellington Region Bridge website Resources page:

• Committee flyer
• Benefits of joining the committee
• Terms of Reference
• Nomination form

Anyone curious but unsure is welcome to have a no-pressure chat with John or any other current committee member.

Intermediate Pairs Tournament

 Calling all Intermediate (and Junior) players:

Please support this annual event, kindly sponsored by Parkwood Retirement Village.

Duty Officer Convener

Ann Verboeket has informed me that - for health reasons - she is stepping down from the role of Duty Officer Convener with immediate effect.

If there is anyone who is willing and able to take over this role, would you please contact me.

I would like to thank Ann for all her efforts in the role over a number of years - she's done a great job behind the scenes in running the duty officer roster efficiently and effectively, and the Club is indebted to her.

Ann will provide a detailed handover to her successor.

Prostate Cancer

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  It provides a timely opportunity to promote greater awareness of prostate cancer and to encourage men in their 40s, 50s and 60s to have regular prostate health checks with their doctor.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ and Calvin Chua Philanthropic Trust have prepared the following short information piece on prostate cancer to encourage men to have regular prostate cancer checks with their doctor:

Horowhenua/Kapiti Quadrangular Tournament

This year's Horowhenua/Kapiti Quadrangular Tournament (colloquially known simply as the "Quad") will take place at Waikanae on Saturday 19th September.

The Waikanae team for this event is selected by the Bridge Advisory Group (BAG), who would like to thank all those who expressed interest in playing for our club, noting that “it was a challenge ... to separate those chosen from the other pairs”.

The team is as follows:

Open -
Pryor Rowland and John Donbavand
Derek Snelling and Isobel Ross

Intermediate -
Miriam Lewin and Suzanne Duncan
Karen Eriksen and Jude Lucas

Junior -
Stephanie Cheeseman and Jim Gordon
Hugh Wolfensohn and Judi Vernau

Waikanae players are asked to bring a plate for morning tea.

If you would like to assist in any capacity on the day please contact Nicky Bradley, who has kindly volunteered to organise the event.

NZBridge Tournament Regulations

NZBridge have advised that the NZBridge Manual will no longer be produced, as all the information it contains is available on their website.

From 1st October the latest Tournament Regulations will come into force: they are available here, along with an accompanying explanatory note.

Practice Sessions for Juniors at Otaki

Otaki Bridge Club invites Juniors, especially Novices, to play in their guided practice sessions. The sessions are on Wednesday evenings from 7pm and will run until approximately the end of November.  Table money is $5. 

Junior/Novice Tournament

As a new initiative, we're organising a half day tournament for Junior and Novice players only, to be held on Saturday 10th October.

Details are as follows: 

• one session only commencing at 1.00pm
• entry fee $20.00 (payable to our Bank Account [02-0591-0005881-00] in advance or in cash on the day)
• strictly limited to junior and novice players below the rank of Club Master
• XG handicapped
• played under our "Monday Rules" (a copy of which will be provided in advance and displayed at each table on the day)
• C points only
• no more than 26 boards
• drinks and finger food on completion

Entries from Paraparaumu, Otaki and Levin are warmly welcomed.

You can enter by email to waikanaebridge@gmail.com.

I'll provide more detailed information nearer the time.

Vice President

I'm delighted to announce that the Committee at its meeting yesterday (10th August) unanimously elected Judi Vernau as Vice President of the Club.

Under our Constitution the Vice President is "the Officer elected by the Committee to deputise for the President as required".

Congratulations Judi!