May 13, 2025 • 7 mins
The card game bridge is seeing a resurgence, with younger players taking it up as a new way to meet people.
The Afternoons team spoke to Kate Terry, a New Zealand Bridge board member who is heading to China to represent New Zealand.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk. Z'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
On the line, We've got Kate Sierry. She is a
board member at New Zealand Bridge and also traveling to
China to represent New Zealand. Very soon, Kate, very good
afternoon to you.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Good afternoon, lovely to chat.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Now, Kate, are there a lot more younger people joining bridge?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
You know what there are? I think that as people
think about mind sports, think about sports and events and
games that really challenge them but they can do forever,
We're starting to see some amazing young people come into
the game. And as that happens, of course they bring
in more of their friends and other people see that
they are young people playing bridge. So yes, absolutely, and
(00:57):
it's sorry, Kate brilliant to see yeah you go, oh no.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Sorry, But Kate young as a relative term. So when
you say younger people coming in, what's young for a
bridge player?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Young for a bridge player in their late teens, early twenties, wow,
and sometimes even younger you know, some classes have Yeah,
there is young Yeah, yeah, there are some players who
are definitely in that age bracket and a lot that aren't,
but some that are.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
How smart do you have to be to play bridge?
Because I've never played it? But it's just it's famously
as you as you describe it. Did you describe it
as a mind game? It's mind sport, Yeah, mind sport.
It's you know, you can probably learn the rules to
start with, but to go and be successful out of it,
you have to be very smart, don't you.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well you have to have a love of cards, an
enjoyment of people, be a bit competitive, and then take
it on from there. I mean, sure there's some very
smart people playing bridge, but there's some people who just
love the game and play it for enjoyment as well.
So it's smartness isn't a prerequisite. It's more about a
love of cards and a bit of a mind that
solves problems.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Have you seen any relationships blossom at your.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Class oh one or two over the years and around
the around the bridge circuit. Absolutely, and it's a beautiful
thing to see. But as well as romantic relationships, which
of course are awesome, one of the brilliant things about
bridge is the social connection that gives people, and that
is remarkable. And you know, people of every age who
(02:28):
play the game. That social connection, that friendship is incredible.
I mean, I'm lucky enough to have played bridge in
a few countries and it's something you can do all
around the world for many, many years, and you just
meet some fantastic people doing that.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Have you got the same bridge partner all the time?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
No? No, my bridge partner I'm playing within China lives
in Wellington, so she and I are playing traveling later
on today I am going out there, but I play
with people here locally, And yeah, you play with different
people in different events. And obviously, you know, playing at
the club here in Torona is different to playing the
(03:06):
big tournaments and events, and the club Bridge just such fun,
amazing people. They're actually there this afternoon. They'll be having
their lovely Tuesday afternoon session, having a good time and
then going home. And who knows, new friendships sparking at
the table today.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Perhaps Yeah, Oh well that's interesting. And so look, how
do I put this? Are you more likely to you know,
succeed as a as a romantic couple if you're if
a couple is north south, you know that that sort
of you know, connection, husbands and wives or whatever, the connection.
(03:43):
Then if you're your friends. Is there is an advantage
and love being part of it?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Well as at all of these things, it's yes and no,
isn't it. Some there are some fantastic couples who play
amazing bridge together, I mean live in blair Fisher or
off to China, and obviously Lessandra and Tim amazing their
first international event coming up in China. And then there
are some couples who perhaps it's best that they don't
(04:09):
play bridge together. And there are other bridge partnerships with
people who obviously good friends, who trust one another, who
enjoy the game together, mother and daughter combinations, friends, all
sorts of different combinations. But yeah, from time to time
the couple who play well together just fabulous to see.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah, Hey, I've got a question for you. If you're
north south, are you're also always north south? Or if
you are a north south, can you flip to east
west if you know what I'm saying? Or is that
just where you're having to sit down at the table?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Depends on the format of the game. So for a
club session, you'd stay north south all afternoon and you'd
be visited by the East west pairs. They travel around
the room, and in tournaments they often mix it up
so that you might be north south in one session
and then east west in another, so you'll be lost
south for a period of time, but you definitely don't
have to stay always in one seat or the other.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Have you ever been in a situation where you're playing
north south and then someone from the east starts heading
on someone from the north south? If you know what
I'm saying, didn't possibly come. You definitely can't be doing
it north south because that'd be some kind of would
be seen as some kind of tricky communication, wasn't it.
You definitely couldn't play foot seats under the table because
(05:19):
if you were on the same team, because then that
would be they would be seen as cheating, wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Well, there are ways of the ways that that possibly
would be. But I think you know, if the chemistry
is there, then you've probably got the before the session,
after the session, and manage manage the chemistry during the
during the session. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
And final question, can you make as can you make
a lot of money touring and playing in different places
and bridge tournaments? Is there a bit of cash involved?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Not really in New Zealand. I mean with some of
our most amazing players Michael Wibley whose incredible player you know,
Bridge is pretty much his life, and Ashley Bark who's
also bridge professional Nick Jacob. But in New Zealand there's
not a huge market. But around the world, yes, there
are people who make a lot of money as bridge professionals.
(06:07):
And our very own Matthew Bred awesome player, also young,
and has been invited to prestigious international events with significant
prize money. But for the New Zealand player typically it's
a game you love and you're not really in it
for the prize money.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
How good lady, Well, good luck in China, and thank
you so much for talking to us today.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Thank you very much, and hopefully we'll have more people
coming and joining. Are you what's the great game?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
What's the best way to join bridge? If you're interested?
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Well, if you can't, look at the New Zealand Bridge
website and playbridge dot co dot enz, have a look,
talk to someone and we'll see at the table.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Well just quickly, Kate, I know next to nothing about
bridge if I just turn up. Is there someone that
you've got at the club who has to have the
punishing job of trying to teach me how to play
bridge or would you like me to school myself up
a little bit before I tune up to the club?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
No? No, We actually have lots of lessons going on
all around the country, so if you contact your local club,
they'll tell you when they are and then people come
along and learn together and then play together, which is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
How good there you go, and maybe even fine love.
That's Kate Tierry, board member of New Zealand Bridge.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
For more from news Talks at B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk. Z'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
On the line, We've got Kate Sierry. She is a
board member at New Zealand Bridge and also traveling to
China to represent New Zealand. Very soon, Kate, very good
afternoon to you.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Good afternoon, lovely to chat.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Now, Kate, are there a lot more younger people joining bridge?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
You know what there are? I think that as people
think about mind sports, think about sports and events and
games that really challenge them but they can do forever,
We're starting to see some amazing young people come into
the game. And as that happens, of course they bring
in more of their friends and other people see that
they are young people playing bridge. So yes, absolutely, and
(00:57):
it's sorry, Kate brilliant to see yeah you go, oh no.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Sorry, But Kate young as a relative term. So when
you say younger people coming in, what's young for a
bridge player?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Young for a bridge player in their late teens, early twenties, wow,
and sometimes even younger you know, some classes have Yeah,
there is young Yeah, yeah, there are some players who
are definitely in that age bracket and a lot that aren't,
but some that are.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
How smart do you have to be to play bridge?
Because I've never played it? But it's just it's famously
as you as you describe it. Did you describe it
as a mind game? It's mind sport, Yeah, mind sport.
It's you know, you can probably learn the rules to
start with, but to go and be successful out of it,
you have to be very smart, don't you.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well you have to have a love of cards, an
enjoyment of people, be a bit competitive, and then take
it on from there. I mean, sure there's some very
smart people playing bridge, but there's some people who just
love the game and play it for enjoyment as well.
So it's smartness isn't a prerequisite. It's more about a
love of cards and a bit of a mind that
solves problems.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Have you seen any relationships blossom at your.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Class oh one or two over the years and around
the around the bridge circuit. Absolutely, and it's a beautiful
thing to see. But as well as romantic relationships, which
of course are awesome, one of the brilliant things about
bridge is the social connection that gives people, and that
is remarkable. And you know, people of every age who
(02:28):
play the game. That social connection, that friendship is incredible.
I mean, I'm lucky enough to have played bridge in
a few countries and it's something you can do all
around the world for many, many years, and you just
meet some fantastic people doing that.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Have you got the same bridge partner all the time?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
No? No, my bridge partner I'm playing within China lives
in Wellington, so she and I are playing traveling later
on today I am going out there, but I play
with people here locally, And yeah, you play with different
people in different events. And obviously, you know, playing at
the club here in Torona is different to playing the
(03:06):
big tournaments and events, and the club Bridge just such fun,
amazing people. They're actually there this afternoon. They'll be having
their lovely Tuesday afternoon session, having a good time and
then going home. And who knows, new friendships sparking at
the table today.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Perhaps Yeah, Oh well that's interesting. And so look, how
do I put this? Are you more likely to you know,
succeed as a as a romantic couple if you're if
a couple is north south, you know that that sort
of you know, connection, husbands and wives or whatever, the connection.
(03:43):
Then if you're your friends. Is there is an advantage
and love being part of it?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Well as at all of these things, it's yes and no,
isn't it. Some there are some fantastic couples who play
amazing bridge together, I mean live in blair Fisher or
off to China, and obviously Lessandra and Tim amazing their
first international event coming up in China. And then there
are some couples who perhaps it's best that they don't
(04:09):
play bridge together. And there are other bridge partnerships with
people who obviously good friends, who trust one another, who
enjoy the game together, mother and daughter combinations, friends, all
sorts of different combinations. But yeah, from time to time
the couple who play well together just fabulous to see.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah, Hey, I've got a question for you. If you're
north south, are you're also always north south? Or if
you are a north south, can you flip to east
west if you know what I'm saying? Or is that
just where you're having to sit down at the table?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Depends on the format of the game. So for a
club session, you'd stay north south all afternoon and you'd
be visited by the East west pairs. They travel around
the room, and in tournaments they often mix it up
so that you might be north south in one session
and then east west in another, so you'll be lost
south for a period of time, but you definitely don't
have to stay always in one seat or the other.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
Have you ever been in a situation where you're playing
north south and then someone from the east starts heading
on someone from the north south? If you know what
I'm saying, didn't possibly come. You definitely can't be doing
it north south because that'd be some kind of would
be seen as some kind of tricky communication, wasn't it.
You definitely couldn't play foot seats under the table because
(05:19):
if you were on the same team, because then that
would be they would be seen as cheating, wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Well, there are ways of the ways that that possibly
would be. But I think you know, if the chemistry
is there, then you've probably got the before the session,
after the session, and manage manage the chemistry during the
during the session. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
And final question, can you make as can you make
a lot of money touring and playing in different places
and bridge tournaments? Is there a bit of cash involved?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Not really in New Zealand. I mean with some of
our most amazing players Michael Wibley whose incredible player you know,
Bridge is pretty much his life, and Ashley Bark who's
also bridge professional Nick Jacob. But in New Zealand there's
not a huge market. But around the world, yes, there
are people who make a lot of money as bridge professionals.
(06:07):
And our very own Matthew Bred awesome player, also young,
and has been invited to prestigious international events with significant
prize money. But for the New Zealand player typically it's
a game you love and you're not really in it
for the prize money.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
How good lady, Well, good luck in China, and thank
you so much for talking to us today.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Thank you very much, and hopefully we'll have more people
coming and joining. Are you what's the great game?
Speaker 4 (06:33):
What's the best way to join bridge? If you're interested?
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Well, if you can't, look at the New Zealand Bridge
website and playbridge dot co dot enz, have a look,
talk to someone and we'll see at the table.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Well just quickly, Kate, I know next to nothing about
bridge if I just turn up. Is there someone that
you've got at the club who has to have the
punishing job of trying to teach me how to play
bridge or would you like me to school myself up
a little bit before I tune up to the club?
Speaker 3 (06:57):
No? No, We actually have lots of lessons going on
all around the country, so if you contact your local club,
they'll tell you when they are and then people come
along and learn together and then play together, which is fantastic.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
How good there you go, and maybe even fine love.
That's Kate Tierry, board member of New Zealand Bridge.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
For more from news Talks at B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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