Central Districts Regional Bridge

DAN GIFFORD RUBBER BRIDGE Competition for 2025

Free entry! $1,000 prize money to the overall national winners!!

Rubber Bridge enthusiasts, or any others who want to enjoy this different style of bridge – enter now.

In this form of bridge those who get lucky cards can beat even the most skilful players.

Email your entries through now for the Rubber Bridge Central Districts Regional playoffs. This knockout competition determines the top pair to represent our Region in the National play-offs held at the National Bridge Congress between the 8^th and 15^th November 2025.

The lucky winners from our region will compete on a knock-out basis against the top pair from each of the other 6 Regions. Please support this worthwhile, free fun event that is welcoming to players of all abilities.

We will continue with the usual knock-out format played at homes or clubs after doing a random draw by ballot. Where possible we will endeavour to play the preliminary rounds within your own area e.g. Taranaki/Whanganui, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu/Horowhenua contestants will play amongst themselves in at least the first round. This is to minimise travel.

It would be appreciated if clubs could promote this event amongst their own members.

We require entries from individual pairs in the Central Districts Region to be sent directly to the Convenor, Bryan Green, by 31st March.  We will want to complete the first round of matches no later than early May and the Final by the end of September,

Entry Fees - the Regional Committee has decided that entry to the Rubber Bridge Regional knock-out event will be free for 2025. A travel allowance may be available only for the final round

Format - For the first round 3 separate draws will be done  for each of Taranaki/Whanganui, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu/ Horowhenua contestants. This will continue into round 2 if there are sufficient entries. This is to minimise travel for the first two rounds

So, why not enter with your favourite partner and give it a go!

-       Top prize money at the National Congress ($1,000 to the winning pair)

-       Luck of the cards can have a major bearing on the result

-       Less experienced players are encouraged to participate by allowing only systems used in Junior tournaments (unless otherwise agreed to by both pairs, with no coercion)

-       Different from both regular Pairs or Teams play and more relaxing

-       Knockout format with a random draw, each round comprising 30 deals against another pair until we come up with a winning pair (possibly two) to represent the Central Districts Region at National Congress in early November, with some financial subsidies for the qualifiers

-       Played at a time and location (usually at home) mutually agreed by you and your opponents, or if necessary, by the Convenor’s ballot

-       Depending on interest, a tutorial and practice session may be arranged

-       Full updated rules of the contest will be emailed to all contestants after entries are received, along with the initial draw for those not playing in a club heat

-       Entries or enquiries to the Convenor: Bryan Green by 31 March

Bryan Green  bryangreen@outlook.co.nz

Good bridging everyone!!

Welcome to the

DAN GIFFORD RUBBER BRIDGE

Competition for 2025

 CLOSING DATE 31st March 2025

•  FORMAT: This is a knockout competition. The winners will be the last ones standing!! Matches will be played at a venue agreed upon between the competitors for rounds 1 – 4. This can be in your home or Bridge Club. If a venue cannot be agreed upon please contact a Committee member who will decide or toss a coin.

•   LENGTH OF MATCHES: Matches will be of 30 boards. You are reminded that ALL hands are dealt at the table. A passed in hand constitutes a deal.

•  INCOMPLETE RUBBERS: If only one side has a game they will be credited with 300 points. If only one side has a part-score in an incomplete game they will receive 50 points.

•  TIE-BREAKS: Ties at the end of a match will be broken by successive 2-board playoffs.

•  SYSTEMS ALLOWED: As per the NZ Bridge Manual Rules, Only systems playable in a Junior tournament are permissible. Please take a manual with you in case of any disputes. See pages D6-D9

•   RESULTS: After a match has been played please forward your Official Score Sheet, to Bryan Green by emailing to cdregion@nzbridge.co.nz

•  Matches WILL default if results are not received within one week of the Round completion date. NO EXCEPTIONS.

•  TRAVEL: The committee has looked at the cost of running this competition across the region and has decided against implementing an entry fee. Instead, travel allowance will only be available if there is an east/west playoff at the rate of $15 per hour of return travel.

•  NATIONALS: The winning pair of our competition will represent this Centre at the National Finals at Congress. The Centre with the largest entry number will receive a second entry. Should we qualify for a second entry (this will be known before we get to our finals) our finalists will both be entered in the Dan Gifford Competition.

Good bridging everyone!!