If the numbers of cars in the carpark of the Church Road Bowling Club are anything to go by, the Kaitaia Bridge Club continues to enjoy a surge of popularity that would make it the envy of any local sporting club.
Having leapt into the modern era by introducing electronic scoring, and making results available online, the club is also focusing on capitalising on its recent momentum by providing great tutors who coach/teach new players who are interested in learning this challenging and exciting card game.
Club president Ngaire Wright said the game was as popular as it had ever been, but admitted the two local clubs' numbers were boosted by around half a dozen 'swallows', i.e. Northern Hemisphere players who travel to the Far North to enjoy the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Wright also took the opportunity to look back at the history of the club from the time it was formed in November 1970 by then president Harry Presswood and secretary Nan Andrews, and play first began on Monday evenings in the Kaitaia College Library. The club soon became affiliated with the Auckland Bridge Club and then the New Zealand Bridge Association, while several of the more competitive and skilful players travelled to other clubs and returning having won many prizes.
As membership and interest grew, a group from the eastern fringes formed the Doubtless Bay Bridge Club in 1984 and played on Wednesday evenings in the Taipa Area School library. About 20 years ago, Pat Parker instigated Friday bridge sessions in the Church Road Bowling Club rooms playing from 10.30am to 2.30pm which continue to the present day. And when the Kaitaia College embarked on a massive building alterations including to the library and office, the Far North cardsharps took up permanent residence at the bowling club on Church Road.
