Have you discovered the Cards Club at the Nelson Suburban Club? If you're not yet part of this fun weekly activity now's the chance to give it a whirl! Helen Banks is the "Queen of Cards Club" so we asked her to answer a few questions so you know what to expect when you decide to join...
Q - How did you get involved with the Cards Club at the Suburban Club?
A - I joined the Nelson Suburban Club around 35 years ago to play cards and go dancing. I am still playing cards, but the dancing has been rather infrequent over the last few years. My husband was already playing cards, and so I joined him. Through playing cards, we have met a lot of people from all round NZ, and have made some very good friends. Over the last few years, we have hosted National and South Island Tournaments and the Masters Games.
Q - What are the benefits of playing card games?
A - It is very easy to carry your sporting equipment! It keeps the brain going - especially trying to win against some of the more experienced players.
Q - What card games do you play at the Suburban Club card club?
A - We play Euchre, Cribbage, Forty-fives and Flag 500.
Q - Who can come along?
A - Anybody is welcome to join us. If you are not a member of the Club or an affiliated Club, we can happily sign you in.
Q - When do you meet?
A - We play Euchre every Thursday evening in the Members Bar. Names in by 7.20pm - Play starts at 7.30pm.. $4.00 for the evening. We play to 10.00pm.
Cribbage is played every second Tuesday evening in the Ken Ching Room. 7.30pm start. Currently we are running coaching sessions, so, at the moment, the evening is free. (This is a particularly good mind-game)
Our Winter Card Tournaments - every Sunday in July - are played from 11.00am - 3.00pm (approximately), with a break for lunch. Names in by 10.45am. $5.00 per person.
Sunday 14 June - Euchre Pairs Forty-fives
Sunday 5 July - Cribbage Pairs. Forty-fives
Sunday 12 July - Euchre Singles Forty-fives
Sunday 19 July - Flag 500 Forty-fives
Sunday 26 July - Euchre Singles Forty-fives
Forty-fives (which is a Heritage Card game, played by the miners on the West Coast) is played in the late afternoon, after our Winter Card Tournaments. Next game Sunday 14 June, then every Sunday in July. Starting time 4.00pm until approximately 6.30-7.00pm. Again, if anyone wishes to learn to play, coaching will be given.
We play Euchre monthly against Club Waimea, on a home and away basis, and twice a year against Clubs of Marlborough from Blenheim. (We currently hold the Blenheim Trophy, and will travel to Blenheim to defend it at the end of August.)
We have the opportunity to travel to Blenheim six times a year to compete in their tournaments, and they come over to Nelson to play in ours.
We also compete in both National and South Island Competitions for Cribbage and Euchre. We hosted the South Island Euchre Pairs Tournament in March, and a team traveled to New Plymouth in April to compete in the National Cribbage Singles. Our next big Tournament will be the National Euchre Singles in Blenheim in August, followed by the South Island Cribbage Pairs at Cashmere Club, Christchurch, in September.
At the end of September, Nelson Suburban will host the South Island Masters Games Card Sports. Starting on Monday 28 September we have four days of Cards - Cribbage Singles, Cribbage Pairs, Euchre Singles and Euchre Pairs. We play from 9.00am - 5.00pm (approximately). A great, fun time. Come and join us. Registrations are open now.
Q - Do I need to bring my own playing cards or are they provided?
A - Everything is supplied for the games.
Q - What are your three top tips to becoming a top card player?
A - Practice and play as much as you can. Keep an open mind so you can pick up tips how to do better; and, of course, good luck on the day!