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Alan Turner- QSM

Need I say more. Of course…

Every sport is made up of players, some reaching elite status, and administrators. Seldom do you see a combination of an elite player and an administrator. Alan was the exception. He was an elite player and an accomplished bridge administrator.

I first met Alan about 20 years ago. I learnt how much I had to learn. Saying he was an accomplished player is an understatement. Through his playing career he accumulated 5101 A points and 2266 B points. Number 7 on the all-time master points list. He won just about every national title:

• NZ Pairs 1979 and 2010
• NZ Teams 1975, 1979, 1982, 1991, 1992, 1993
• Open Interprovincial Teams 1985, 1989, 1995
• North Island Pairs 1986, 1996, 2012
• North Island Teams 1982, 1987, 1993, 2001
• Centre Island Pairs 1981
• South Island Pairs 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

Not a bad haul- 23 national and regional titles, for those who were not counting. I should also mention he won the Australian National Teams. However, to accumulate over 5000 A points you must be a regular winner not only at National and Regional events but on the regular tournament circuit. That he was.

He also represented New Zealand on 5 occasions over 21 years. More impressively he acted as non-playing captain on a staggering 23 occasions. Clearly, he enjoyed travel.

Whilst his playing career is impressive his involvement administering the game needs to be applauded on all levels. It stems back to the late 70’s when he was Vice President and then President of the Waikato Bays Centre. It didn’t stop there being appointed Vice President of the New Zealand Contract Bridge Association, the predecessor of New Zealand Bridge. Then President of NZCBA in the early 90’s. He was a member and chair from 1994-1996 of the Management Committee.

You would think 18 years of service far exceeds anyone’s voluntary contribution into the welfare of our game. Not for Alan. He was a board member of New Zealand Bridge from 2009 to 2017, holding various roles - finance, strategy, international, and remuneration. He represented NZCBA and NZB as a delegate at WBF, APBF, and Zone 7 meetings. That should be enough, no! How about revising and rewriting the NZCBA master point scheme; director exams for director training; international manual and code of conduct. But above all his legacy might rest with his contribution to our teaching regime.

In conclusion

1.   There are a few who have and others who now give their time, at no small cost, to represent New Zealand.

2.     Then there are many, many volunteers, right around the country, who have and others who continue to give their time and experience to the conduct and wellbeing of our game.

BUT there is only one person who has scaled our Everest giving so much as a player and as a volunteer. A man who shall be remembered for what he gave-Alan Turner.

Rest in Peace.

 

 

 

 

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