Monday Afternoon Trophies
Mary Weatherly Trophy
Mary Weatherly learnt to play bridge at the Karori Club in the mid 70s, and from then up until 2018 there had to be a pretty good reason for her not to be playing each week, or several times a week once Saturday bridge started. She often played with her daughter, Sally.
During her time at the Club, Mary become a Club Manager where one of her many achievements was following up with people to obtain background information for trophies. She returned for a second stint as manager before fully retiring in 2007.
This beautiful trophy was donated in memory of Mary by her children Geoffrey, Sally and Kim in 2018. They wanted something stylish and different from the existing trophies that didn’t need polishing. It is awarded to the winner of the first series of the year on Monday afternoons (different partners), a session Mary particularly enjoyed.
Mary Weatherly learnt to play bridge at the Karori Club in the mid 70s, and from then up until 2018 there had to be a pretty good reason for her not to be playing each week, or several times a week once Saturday bridge started. She often played with her daughter, Sally.
During her time at the Club, Mary become a Club Manager where one of her many achievements was following up with people to obtain background information for trophies. She returned for a second stint as manager before fully retiring in 2007.
This beautiful trophy was donated in memory of Mary by her children Geoffrey, Sally and Kim in 2018. They wanted something stylish and different from the existing trophies that didn’t need polishing. It is awarded to the winner of the first series of the year on Monday afternoons (different partners), a session Mary particularly enjoyed.
Caffell Price Trophy
Lyla and Caffell Price were both foundation members of the Club, and bought this trophy in London. They donated the trophy to the Club in 1971, and it is awarded to the winner of a nine session, different partners, ladder event played in February and March.
Lyla was born in Christchurch of Irish and English heritage. She and Caffell settled in Wellington and Karori in 1947 when Caffell took up a senior head office position here. Amongst other things, Lyla enjoyed travelling, the piano, dancing, handcrafts and bridge which became her greatest relaxation. Lyla outlived her husband by many years and died early 2001 aged 96.
She was the Club’s first manager.
Lyla played bridge for 75 years and swore it kept the brain cells active and blotted out any worries she had. Until failing sight and poor health forced her retirement from the game, she played three times a week into her old age and was thrilled one year to win the trophy that she and Caffell had donated. According to her daughter, Lyla’s life included about 40,000 games of bridge.
Lyla and Caffell Price were both foundation members of the Club, and bought this trophy in London. They donated the trophy to the Club in 1971, and it is awarded to the winner of a nine session, different partners, ladder event played in February and March.
Lyla was born in Christchurch of Irish and English heritage. She and Caffell settled in Wellington and Karori in 1947 when Caffell took up a senior head office position here. Amongst other things, Lyla enjoyed travelling, the piano, dancing, handcrafts and bridge which became her greatest relaxation. Lyla outlived her husband by many years and died early 2001 aged 96.
She was the Club’s first manager.
Lyla played bridge for 75 years and swore it kept the brain cells active and blotted out any worries she had. Until failing sight and poor health forced her retirement from the game, she played three times a week into her old age and was thrilled one year to win the trophy that she and Caffell had donated. According to her daughter, Lyla’s life included about 40,000 games of bridge.
Eileen Cumming Salver
Eileen Cumming, after whom this salver is named, and her husband Sandy were both foundation members of the Club.
After training as a nurse, Eileen went to London where she met and married Sandy. They lived in Sandy’s home country of Scotland until the 60s when the family moved to New Zealand.
One of Eileen’s favourite sayings when playing social bridge was “early ripe, early rotten” when she started a session with too many winning hands. Eileen died when she was in her early sixties after a long illness. She is remembered as always smiling even in the face of adversity.
This salver was first awarded in 1990 and goes to the winners of a four session pairs event.
Mary Macintosh Trophy
This trophy is awarded to the winners of a three session pairs event played in May/June; it was first awarded in 2013.
Mary Macintosh was a good friend of Audrey Thomson’s; they first met in 1984 and enjoyed their games of bridge together. Mary always wanted to add to her skills by adopting something new right to the end of her playing days.
Around the age of ninety, Mary had back surgery and talking to the surgeon afterwards was told that her heart had stopped during the procedure. “I told you I didn’t want to be revived” was her comment; the surgeon replied “No, your instruction was no life support, not no resuscitation!”
Audrey suggested Mary return to bridge after an absence of about two years. Audrey picked her up one Monday, and she was delighted with the welcome she received that afternoon. She continued to play for several more years.
Mary was a delightful lady who died in 2012, a few weeks before her 98th birthday; she was still playing bridge earlier in that year.
Mary’s speciality was her biscuits that she would bake and bring to the club on the last round of her cup day for everyone to enjoy. These biscuits are still enjoyed to this day (as at time of writing, Feb 2023), courtesy of Audrey Thomson and Jenny Mills.
Mary’s Kornie Biscuits recipe:
4oz butter ¾ cup sugar
1 egg 1 cup flour
2 cups cornflakes 1 tspn baking powder
2 cups sultanas and currants
Drops vanilla and lemon essence.
Cream butter and sugar, then add egg, vanilla and lemon essence, followed by flour and fruit, cornflakes last. Put small spoonfuls on a greased tray, and bake 15 mins 180degC.
This trophy is awarded to the winners of a three session pairs event played in May/June; it was first awarded in 2013.
Mary Macintosh was a good friend of Audrey Thomson’s; they first met in 1984 and enjoyed their games of bridge together. Mary always wanted to add to her skills by adopting something new right to the end of her playing days.
Around the age of ninety, Mary had back surgery and talking to the surgeon afterwards was told that her heart had stopped during the procedure. “I told you I didn’t want to be revived” was her comment; the surgeon replied “No, your instruction was no life support, not no resuscitation!”
Audrey suggested Mary return to bridge after an absence of about two years. Audrey picked her up one Monday, and she was delighted with the welcome she received that afternoon. She continued to play for several more years.
Mary was a delightful lady who died in 2012, a few weeks before her 98th birthday; she was still playing bridge earlier in that year.
Mary’s speciality was her biscuits that she would bake and bring to the club on the last round of her cup day for everyone to enjoy. These biscuits are still enjoyed to this day (as at time of writing, Feb 2023), courtesy of Audrey Thomson and Jenny Mills.
Mary’s Kornie Biscuits recipe:
4oz butter ¾ cup sugar
1 egg 1 cup flour
2 cups cornflakes 1 tspn baking powder
2 cups sultanas and currants
Drops vanilla and lemon essence.
Cream butter and sugar, then add egg, vanilla and lemon essence, followed by flour and fruit, cornflakes last. Put small spoonfuls on a greased tray, and bake 15 mins 180degC.
Mabel MacFarlane Trophy
Mabel MacFarlane was a very active member of the Club. She was on the committee for some six years and was very involved with the lessons, helping new players and with Monday/Friday afternoon bridge.
She is remembered affectionately as ‘a lovely and very down to earth person’.
Mabel always sat in the bottom left hand corner of the room and from there she “shushed” everybody at the start of play. Mabel continued to play bridge at the Club until she died.
This trophy, originally a water jug, is awarded to the winners of a four session pairs event played in May/June; it was first awarded in 1988.
The current trophy is a replacement.
Mabel MacFarlane was a very active member of the Club. She was on the committee for some six years and was very involved with the lessons, helping new players and with Monday/Friday afternoon bridge.
She is remembered affectionately as ‘a lovely and very down to earth person’.
Mabel always sat in the bottom left hand corner of the room and from there she “shushed” everybody at the start of play. Mabel continued to play bridge at the Club until she died.
This trophy, originally a water jug, is awarded to the winners of a four session pairs event played in May/June; it was first awarded in 1988.
The current trophy is a replacement.
Christina Mander Salver
Christina Mander donated this salver to the Club in 2009, as there had been no trophy for the Mid Year Pairs series played on Monday afternoons. Christina was delighted when she and her partner, Jennifer Jenner, were the first winners of the trophy.
Christina joined the Club in the mid 70s, shortly after the Club moved to the present rooms. She directed Monday afternoons in the early days of paid directors, has been Lady Vice President (a euphemism for Catering Manager!), and President. She served on the committee for a number of years.
She was very involved with the catering for a number of years, first with Rae Baker, then Hazel Milliken and later Naciye Bagci.
Christina also managed to get bridge articles in the local papers of Johnsonville and Karori to help publicise the Club, no mean feat.
Christina Mander donated this salver to the Club in 2009, as there had been no trophy for the Mid Year Pairs series played on Monday afternoons. Christina was delighted when she and her partner, Jennifer Jenner, were the first winners of the trophy.
Christina joined the Club in the mid 70s, shortly after the Club moved to the present rooms. She directed Monday afternoons in the early days of paid directors, has been Lady Vice President (a euphemism for Catering Manager!), and President. She served on the committee for a number of years.
She was very involved with the catering for a number of years, first with Rae Baker, then Hazel Milliken and later Naciye Bagci.
Christina also managed to get bridge articles in the local papers of Johnsonville and Karori to help publicise the Club, no mean feat.
Jean Madgwick Trophy
Jean Madgwick’s husband donated this trophy to the Club after Jean died in 1984. The trophy is awarded to the winner of a four session, different partners, event held in August.
Jean was a foundation member of the Club and was President for two years in the early 80s.
After playing auction bridge from an early age, Jean learnt the duplicate form at the Karori Club. Her niece, Geraldine Reader (nee Foot), was also a foundation member, and her daughter and son-in-law, Philippa and John Larkindale, have been members of the Club. Phillippa remembers her mother as always having to go down to the Club to ’do the computer’ the day after people played.
Jean lived in Karori from 1947 until her death in 1984. Before her family arrived, she was a pharmacist. She then became active in Plunket and with the schools her children attended, and served on Wellington Girls College Board.
NOTE: As at Feb 2023, this trophy is missing the bottom of the left back foot; in addition the end of the front left foot has been repaired (it has been soldered on). The trophy still balances completely ok.
Jean Madgwick’s husband donated this trophy to the Club after Jean died in 1984. The trophy is awarded to the winner of a four session, different partners, event held in August.
Jean was a foundation member of the Club and was President for two years in the early 80s.
After playing auction bridge from an early age, Jean learnt the duplicate form at the Karori Club. Her niece, Geraldine Reader (nee Foot), was also a foundation member, and her daughter and son-in-law, Philippa and John Larkindale, have been members of the Club. Phillippa remembers her mother as always having to go down to the Club to ’do the computer’ the day after people played.
Jean lived in Karori from 1947 until her death in 1984. Before her family arrived, she was a pharmacist. She then became active in Plunket and with the schools her children attended, and served on Wellington Girls College Board.
NOTE: As at Feb 2023, this trophy is missing the bottom of the left back foot; in addition the end of the front left foot has been repaired (it has been soldered on). The trophy still balances completely ok.
Barbara Crooks Salvers
Barbara Crooks donated two salvers to the Club after winning a pairs event and feeling very disappointed when she and her partner were presented with little certificates while other event winners walked off with gleaming trophies. She had wanted to buy antique salvers but was unable to find a matching pair.
Barbara joined the Club in the late 70s when, after some 26 moves with her husband who was in the airforce, the family settled in Karori.
She has never had a lesson but has played bridge all her life. As the only child of parents who played Culbertson, she was often told to ‘take a hand’ when her parents were playing with friends.
Barbara has four daughters, two of whom have also played bridge.
These salvers were donated to the Club in 2001, and are awarded to the winners of a four session pairs handicap event held in the Spring.
Barbara Crooks donated two salvers to the Club after winning a pairs event and feeling very disappointed when she and her partner were presented with little certificates while other event winners walked off with gleaming trophies. She had wanted to buy antique salvers but was unable to find a matching pair.
Barbara joined the Club in the late 70s when, after some 26 moves with her husband who was in the airforce, the family settled in Karori.
She has never had a lesson but has played bridge all her life. As the only child of parents who played Culbertson, she was often told to ‘take a hand’ when her parents were playing with friends.
Barbara has four daughters, two of whom have also played bridge.
These salvers were donated to the Club in 2001, and are awarded to the winners of a four session pairs handicap event held in the Spring.
Joan Morgan Trophy
Joan Morgan joined the Club in 1973 shortly after her husband died. She contributed to the administration of the Club, and was co-opted onto the finance subcommittee in 1988 to assist the treasurer. She banked the table money from Mondays and Fridays for 20 years. For much the same time, she manually scored the boards from Friday afternoons.
After she was made a Life Member in 1994, she donated the Joan Morgan Trophy for play on Monday afternoons as a ‘thank you’ to the Club.
This beautiful rosebowl trophy was first awarded in 1997 for the winners of a three session event that was formerly known as the Monday Pairs and before that the Spring Pairs.
Thelma Ayers Trophy
Thelma Ayers joined the Club in 1975. She was first elected to the committee in 1977 and elected Vice President in 1980 and 1981. Although she retired from the committee in 1982, Thelma continued to actively support the Club. She arranged social occasions like the Fun Day in 1986 and fundraising functions for the building renovations and seismic strengthening. She was a Grade Captain for Monday afternoons and organised and directed Friday afternoons.
Thelma was made a Life Member in 1987.
She donated the Thelma Ayers Trophy in 1991 for the winner of the last series in the year (different partners) played on Monday afternoons.
Glanville Salvers
Thyra Glanville was a foundation member of the Club.
The Glanvilles donated these salvers for an event initially called the Monday Pairs and they were first awarded in 1976.
The Glanville Salvers event is the premier event on Monday afternoons, it is a pairs event that is run over eight sessions throughout the year and the salvers are presented to the winners at the ‘end of year’ Christmas party.