Gunnedah Bridge success at Quirindi

Twelve members of the Gunnedah Bridge Club travelled to Willow Tree in order to participate in the two day Quirindi Bridge Club Invitation Weekend hosted at the Willow Tree Bowling Club.

The Gunnedah contingent consisting of Ann Luke and Fran Dunn, Elizabeth Heath and Helen Clift, Amanda White and Lizzy Blake, Jenny Hughes and Ann Marie Waugh, Di Hasler and Sandra Curran and Terry Curran and Owen Hasler joined 80 other players from clubs across NSW including Glenn Innes, Maitland, Mudgee, Muswellbrook, Quirindi, Scone, Sydney and Wollongong to participate in the annual event.

Twenty-three rounds were played on the Saturday with all pairs on one side playing each of the pairs on the other side which then saw them allocated to three divisions for the final rounds on Sunday.

This included the Championship Round, The Plate Round and the Consolation Round.

This meant a further 13 games for each pair were completed on the Sunday morning.

When the Gunnedah club members attended the presentation session during lunch on Sunday they were very excited to hear that Gunnedah players Helen Clift and Elizabeth Heath had gained first place in the Consolation Round with Raylene Ferguson and Veronica Sullivan of Mudgee in second place while Ann Brownhill and Belinda Fisher of Quirindi came third.

The excitement continued with the announcement that Sandra Curran and Di Hasler had taken out the overall Championship Round Award with an overall total of 67 per cent.

This award, the Founders Plate Champion Pair Award, was first presented in 2015 by Bronwyn Reid and Dennis Lee.

Second place in this section went to Louise Russell and Tammy Hubbard of Quirindi and third place getters were Dennis Lee and Bill Willmott also from Quirindi.

“The Plate” placegetters included Barbara Hunter and Hugh Cone from Scone in first position, Alaine Murrell and Di Eastway of Sydney in second position while Gina Anderson ( Quirindi) and Sally Gilder (Glenn Innes) took out third place.

Speaking when receiving their awards Gunnedah Bridge Club president Elizabeth Heath, stated: “Thanks to the Quirindi Club for hosting another memorable event. You excell at organising such a large event with over 90 players and the hospitality is superb as we have recognised for a number of years now.”

These comments were reflected by Helen Clift’s summing up when she said: “A most enjoyable weekend.”

When accepting the Founders Plate Champion Pair Award, as overall winners Sandra Curran stated: ” It was a tough competition and we were very excited to win against some very experienced and talented players. We are very proud of our achievement at this years event and look forward to returning in 2026.”

These comments were supported by Di Hasler who explained: “The results achieved by the Gunnedah members is a testament to the high standard of play at the local level that we experience at our club.”

Founders Plate Champion Pair Sandra Curran and Di Hasler with Consolation Round Winner Elizabeth Heath and Helen Clift.