KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand women's team has made a rollicking start to the world bridge championships being held in Shanghai, China.
At the end of the first day's play in the event, the kiwis topped the field, well clear of pre-tournament favourites the USA and Germany.
The women's team is Jan Alabaster, Jan Cormack, mother and daughter pair Christine and Jenna Gibbons, and Shirley Newton and Jenny Wilkinson.
New Zealand also has teams in the Open and Senior (60 years and over) categories at the world championships in China.
The Open team were lying around halfway in their field early on, while the Seniors had a tougher start and were near the bottom of the field.
The event consists of seven days of round-robin play, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final.
