Rangiora Bridge Club

Give it a go - everyone is welcome

Bridge is a card game that has been around for centuries in various forms. It is the sport/game that has the most participants of all ages in the world. New Zealand has produced several world champions. 

Most people who learn the game find it very addictive and challenging. It can be played at a club, at home, on holiday and online with other people throughout the world. A session of club bridge usually takes about 3 hours, but anywhere else it can be shorter or longer. Bridge is a game anyone can play at any time, and it has the advantage of not being affected by weather.

The Rangiora Bridge Club has existed for 55 years and has about 220 members.  It is situated behind the Rangiora Museum on Good Street.  A short history of the club follows:

The club was founded in 1967. Its first Annual General Meeting was held on 28 February 1968. At that time the club had been operating for nearly 12 months and it had 37 members. The club was also running a tuition class that had started on 14 February 1968 with 31 participants. Bridge was played at the Rangiora Nursery School. The club had an annual subscription of $2.00 and a 30-cent fee was charged for each session of play. Mr T M Penny and Mr A F Scoggins were chairman and secretary.

On 11 July 1973, a Special General Meeting of the club decided to purchase the Kaiapoi Golf Pavilion and have it moved to a site on the Rangiora Borough Council’s reserve at Good Street. Bridge started in these clubrooms in 1974. The 40th anniversary of the club was held in these rooms. In 2012 they were removed to Oxford after new clubrooms were completed. 

The new clubrooms: Club members raised funds to build new clubrooms. Fundraisers included bridge tournaments, a garden party, an auction, and a quiz night. A building committee was set up.

Pile driving started in October 2010 and steel framing was assembled in November, December and January. The roof and wall cladding were applied in March and April 2011. The interior fixtures and fittings were installed, the rooms were painted and carpet was laid. The building was opened officially  on 3 September 2011 by David Ayers, Mayor of Rangiora, and Janice Pocock, chairperson of the Building Committee.

The club has several competitions during the year and members can attend any session of bridge. Players can be competitive and qualify for the various competitions or just play for fun. The club actively encourages young people to play bridge although many have other higher-priority interests. Information about the club is on its website (www.rangiorabridgeclub.co.nz). 

LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE FOR FREE!! The club will hold lessons for 11 weeks commencing on Monday 2 May at 7pm. Lessons will be free and will be taught by a top tutor. ALL WELCOME!! Please register by emailing rangiorabridge@xtra.co.nz or visit the club’s website www.rangiorabridgeclub.co.nz.  

You will be contacted following your registration.