The game of bridge is alive and well in North Battleford and area.
This past weekend, the North Battleford Sectional Tournament took place at the Gold Eagle Casino Events Centre. The event is presented by North Saskatchewan Unit 575 and the North Battleford and Meota Bridge Clubs. It is sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League, which holds bridge tournament events across Canada and the United States.
The tournament ran for three days from July 6 to 8.
The players come from all over, including Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Calgary and even the United States.
Turnout this year was a little low, organizer Gerry Fenandes said, but normally they expect 19 or 20 tables, or about 80 people, to show up.
Local businesses donated prizes for the event and 50/50 tickets were sold.
This is the third year the tournament has been staged at the Gold Eagle Casino Events Centre. Meota previously hosted the event for a decade and a half.
“Everybody likes this place,” said Fernandes, chair of the tournament committee, in describing why they keep coming back to the Events Centre.
Fernandes said “it’s comraderieship” that brings people to the tournament. The game “keeps your mind active.”
