Waikato Bays has added five Swiss Pairs events to the annual I-J Leagues programme.
These run as Restricted Open 3A Swiss events commencing with the Te Awamutu event in May and finish with the 5th in October at Matamata. Three of these events replace existing Restricted 8B events, the Waitomo event is new to the Waikato Bays Region programme with the last event being a change in grading to the Matamata 5A Swiss Pairs event.
There has been confusion regarding the Restricted 3A title - it is NOT equivalent to the 8B Restricted where any open players may partner with non-open players BUT is limited specifically to players up to the Open National Master grade level only. The NZ Bridge 3A point category is designed for players who are between high-level intermediates and lower-ranked open grade participants hence players will no longer encounter higher-ranked open players such as grand masters. This however does not stop less experienced players competing.

These events have generous sponsorship: the first four from WB Committee member Judith Howard with the last from Nulook Waikato - Matamata

Read the Waikato Bays announcement - click here

Cambridge last Saturday held their annual Junior and Novice tournament with 6 Hamilton Pairs taking part in the Junior event (24 pairs) and 1.5pairs (8 pairs) in the Novice event.

Congratulations to Annette Downey & Aini Su for Second place overall and Kevin Lawrence & Sean Dwyer for winning the afternoon session.

P.S. Thanks to Cambridge for the photos

Thank you to our Sponsors   

Welcome to the 2025 Hamilton Bridge Club's Intermediate and Junior Pairs

Saturday 14 March commenced the Hamilton Clubs 2026 Tournament schedule with the Intermediate and Junior Pairs. Numbers in both events were down compared with last year. What was not down were the compliments for what was a very stylish and yummy afternoon tea - thanks to the ladies who prepared it !
The breakdown of the grades of the players in the two events is different - the Junior Pairs is mostly players from Hamilton and the smaller centers in the Waikato. However, the Intermediate Pairs appears to have a far larger percentage from at bigger cities - Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland. A result maybe of more Open players in the large population areas raising the playing levels ?
The Club says sorry for delay for issues with both events - sometimes things just don't work out as planned.....

The bridge wasn't bad at all......

The winners were -
( click any of the photos for a larger view )

Intermediate Pairs Michele Liddle & Mathew Chestnut Matamata / Cambridge

Junior Pairs Aini Su & Annette Downey Hamilton / Hamilton