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The last couple of months have seen TOTS players slog it out over 3 tournaments, Marlborough’s Zonta Charity Pairs, Golden Bay’s 3A and Westport hosting the Region’s 10A in the middle of November.  Pretty much sell out crowds at all three.  There is a great camaraderie in our region, due in part to the interclub support and willingness to travel to each other’s tournaments, often making a weekend of it; especially the Westport Crew.  Small club and invariably at least a car load rock up.

Charity Pairs at Blenheim

Thanks Carolyn Wood for this write- up on the Zonta Charity Pairs on 15th October.

“Recently the Zonta Club of Marlborough held their annual Cathie Young Memorial Charity Bridge Tournament at the Marlborough Bridge Club. It continues to have a good following of bridge players who welcome the opportunity and challenges of this special day. Robin Young directed 18 tables of players from the Marlborough region and Nelson.

Cathie Young was well known in bridge circles and was active in Zonta for over 30 years. She was passionate about women's rights and the proceeds from this tournament supports Zonta International’s programme for 20 gender responsive schools in Vietnam. Gender based violence in and around schools is highly prevalent in Vietnam and is one of the main barriers to girls’ education. 

Results from the day’s tournament are as follows: 

1st  Ed Roggeveen and Chris Marshall

2nd Jane Jordan and Carolyn Wood

3rd  Barbara Fechney and Denise Urquhart

Everyone had a great day and there were spot prizes, raffles and gifts for all.”

 Couples to the fore in Golden Bay

A couple of weeks later, 29^th October, Craig Shanahan from Rangiora directed 21 tables at Golden Bay’s 3A tournament.  Try as they might, the 84 bridge players couldn’t do justice to the food on offer - country hospitality at its best.  The weather wasn’t so kind, and many of those who came from ‘over the hill’ had to contend with the snow on the return journey!  It was a great day for married couples, with Roger and Carol Minchin taking out first place, John and Linda Dow, second and Jim and Fran Jessep, third.   Great achievement for all, but particularly John Dow, a junior, first Open tournament and first A points.  Fantastic.  The local awards, Clem Mead Memorial Trophy for the top Golden Bay pair was won by Christine Mead and Jean Beatson and the Lone Star Trophy for best Golden Bay pair on handicap was won by Margaret Bell and Jean Wedderburn.  Jean W is pretty new to bridge so Golden Bay club is rightly delighted for her and Margaret.

                                  

Jean Beatson and Christine Mead, top Golden                       John and Linda Dow. John got his first A Points in his first Open

Bay pair.                                                                                  tournament.

Spades           

1          Roger and Carol Minchin

2          Jim and Fran Jessep

3          Wayne Smith and Phil Rutherford

 

Hearts

1          John & Linda Dow (second overall)

2          Shirley Lattimore & Diane Groom

3          Vicki Russell and Jane Worthington

Diamonds

1          Chris Henry & Marge Scott

2          Ralph Lattimore & David Cartwright

3          Bet Glengarry & June Tippett

                                     

Chris Henry and Marge Scott                                                      Ralph Lattimore and David Cartwright surrounding Golden Bay 

                                                                                                   President, Jenny Cooper. Our spy tells us that Ralph taught

                                                                                                   Jenny when at Lincoln.

Michael beware at Westport

12 and 13th November saw a full house at Westport for the TOTS 10A tournament, generously sponsored by NBS and directed by Murray Wiggins.  Again great bridge, great hospitality and great whitebait.  Thanks Ray for this summary of your weekend.

“Westport players gained impressive placings in the NBS Top of the South 10A Pairs bridge tournament held in Westport over the weekend.

Wayne Smith and Val Mundy finished second in the Diamonds sections with an overall average score of 53.35%.  This gave them 12th place overall after they went into than weekend ranked 37^th out of the 48 competing pairs.  Pat Dolamore and Jo Gear were placed third in the Hearts section and 13^th overall.

Top ranked New Zealand player, Michael Ware from Auckland in partnership with Christchurch’s Tim Schumacher, were the tournament winners averaging 62.53%.  Christchurch players John and Jane Skipper finished second with Trish and Peter Downward from Ashburton in third.

Westport's  Pat Dolamore and Jo Gear being congratulated by Regional Chairperson, Rebecca Osborne(centre), for finishing third in their section.

A notable feature of the tournament from a Westport perspective was the performance of bottom ranked pair Ian Wallace and Erica Cooper.  The pair had limited experience together prior to the tournament with Ian being called in as a late replacement.   They finished in 23^rd place, 25 places above their ranking.  Reputations counted for little when they sat at the table with Michael Ware and Tim Schumacher.  On one board, Erica doubled Michael smoothly in 3.  The double was left in with the contract going one-away giving the local combination a 91% board."

 

 

It seems Michael and Tim bid one level too high on the East-West cards in a competitive auction. 3 is a very sound contract for North-South with 3 even one down a fair score for East-West, except when they are doubled. Even then, the contract is very close to making unless North gets to lead a high heart before two rounds of trumps are drawn. Ian and Erica got the defence right to score the magic part-score +200.

Good Representation in New Zealand Wide Pairs

New Zealand Wide Pairs was sandwiched between the Golden Bay and Westport tournaments.  All clubs were represented with Richmond players travelling to Nelson and Marlborough players to Picton. Congratulations to Jenny Cooper and Beth Burdett, Golden Bay, who came 23^rd overall, 1^st in TOTS and 4^thIntermediate.  Other TOTS players to make it in the top 100 were: Nancy Garlick and Kay McKellar 29^th Picton; Pat Dolamore and Jo Gear 51^st Westport and Martin Gimpl and Reg Nicol 59^th Picton.

 Other TOTS News

In other news Nelson has been trialing Wednesday afternoon learning sessions – both a lesson and an opportunity to bring a question to ask the more senior players.  These have been a success and hope to be a regular feature from 2017. 

A new Committee at Richmond

Richmond held its AGM in mid October and their new committee is:

Helen Jones, President;              Vicki Russell VP;             Barbara Gordon, Secretary;

Shirley Burt, Treasurer                Jackie Aldridge, Ann Bruce, Lyn Carrodus, David Cartwright, Margaret Waterman and Jane Worthington are Committee Members.  Good luck David keeping all those women in check!  Madge Johnston continues as Patron and Ruby Aberhart as Welfare Officer. 

 New ranking for Phil

Westport’s Phil Rutherford picked up enough A points at Congress to become a National Master; the first Westport player to achieve this.  Well done, Phil. Westport is also delighted to have Michelle Ritchie return to bridge.   Family commitments have meant she has not played for the a few years, but was a champion youth player (as Michelle Murphy) and is showing the Westport club that she hasn’t forgotten much.  Good on you Michelle. 

 Club Champions

Club Championship Pairs or equivalent is coming to an end.  Congratulations are due to Phil Rutherford and Ray Curnow in Westport; Adrian Abraham and Jo Price (senior) and Ralph Lattimore and David Cartwright (Junior) in Richmond; Roger and Carol Minchin, Nelson; Reg Nichol and Jennifer Cunningham, Open winners, Picton and Marty Gimpl and Adrienne Healy, Picton’s runners up and winners on handicap.

Just a word to say that all TOTS players are thinking about all those affected by the Kaikoura earthquake. We hope your lives can return to normal very soon.

So it’s on to Christmas parties and some slightly lower key bridge from now on until the New Year, when we all come back for more.

 

 

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