Congress 2023

A sizeable contingent of players from Whangarei descended on the Baypark Arena in Mt Maunganui for this year's National Congress. In the Open division were Neil Ruddell and Tania Brown, John McIntosh and Roger Bell, and Honorable Member, Jane Stearns. The rest of the team were all intermediates; Lee Orton and her sister Mandy Kelly, Kim Thomas and Kevin Grundy, Jayne Broome and Laurie Brockliss, and Rod and Gail Christensen.

Results were somewhat varied, but leading the way were Tania and Neil with 4th place in the Congress Match Point Swiss Pairs event. In the Intermediate Pairs, Kim and Kevin managed a 7th place finish, while in the Intermediate Teams event, their other pair of Graham Duhs from Warkworth and local player Julie Downs, met only 5 minutes before play began. Graham and Julie performed really well under the circumstances and the team managed an 11th place finish. They were hotly followed by the team of Mandy, Lee, Jayne and Laurie in 13th spot. Mandy and Lee were a creditable 16th in the Intermediate Swiss Pairs but, unfortunately, Jayne and Laurie had to miss this event in order to make their flight home. Nothing more need be said about Kim and Kevin's performance in the Swiss Pairs!

Detailed results for all of the events can be found posted in the club.