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Wise Head on Young Shoulders

It was a case of wise heads on young shoulders when Paula Martin partnered 12 year old Libby Winyawonk on Wednesday’s C grade night at New Plymouth on 7th February. 

Can you imagine the excitement when the Grand Slam was not only bid but made?  Well done to Libby, who according to Paula, should take all the credit for recognising that Paula’s jump bid of 3NT showed 18-19 points, and then doing the math to realise that they were in slam territory.  Ace asking then followed.

The bidding went:

  
                 Paula and Libby. Libby did not let an overcall which was just a little weak, put her off.
The moral of the story is "always trust your partner and not the opposition!"

Paula admitted that she was shaking like a leaf, but in the event it was an easy contract for her to play. Both players wished to acknowledge the valuable help from their bridge buddy Helen Lang who has worked with them regularly since they completed the 2017 course of lessons. 

Tournament News

As usual, the tournament year started with Picnic Tournaments “out west”  with Sharon and John Mosely winning in Wanganui and Teresa Roberts and Nicholas Conaglen in Hawera.

These three events are handicap events based on rating points ... which is helpful for those players in the Junior/Intermediate range.  The handicapping method is remarkably fair and accurate because only 10% covered the first 35 pairs.  The winners At Wanganui, Sharon and John Mosley, have recently moved to Waverley.  Steve Baron/Tani Blackburn ran 2nd followed by Robyn Nightingale and her partner Susan Hardy who makes an annual trek from Rotorua to take part in this tournament.

Many pleasing comments were passed regarding the quality of the lunch provided on the day .. so a special thank you to Kittiya  O'Callahan and her happy team of helpers.

                                 

Handicap Picnic Champions, Lou Stolte                                 Winners at Hawera: Nicolas Coaglen
and Barry Marsh                                                                     and Teresa Roberts, with club President
                                                                                                Glenice Houghton

 

The handicapper did well at Hawera too.  Less than 1% covered the first three.  Teresa Roberts/Nicholas Conaglen held on from Paul Whittle/Ian Greenbank with Glenice Houghton/Carol Mack 3rd. Nicholas had recently returned from the Summer Of Bridge Congress held in Canberra. These events are very popular with 20 tables at Hawera and 25 at Wanganui.

 

The next Picnic Tournament in the region is at Marton on March 18th.  This is always a very popular outing but entrants need to make up their minds early because the club rooms are bursting at the seams with 16 tables!

 

The Taradale Intermediate Pairs was won by the consistent Rob Armstrong and Michael Caris who won both sessions.

Not all CD players went to the Gold Coast as at Feilding there were 16 tables for their Open Pairs. Three North-South pairs had large morning scores in the mid 60’s, Evelyn and Bob Hurley, Carolyn Yeomans- Alister Buchanan and Mike Park – Barb Robinson. They all scored in the 50’s in the second session with Evelyn and Bob increasing their lead while Mike and Barb climbed up to 2^nd. That was a great result for Mike and Barb who are Intermediate players. Barb had indeed just stepped off the plane from the Gold Coast, a Congress she loved.

Meanwhile, a great result for George Masters whose team finished second in the recent South Island Teams....and also success in Canberra for two Central Districts stalwarts:

 
Pat Carter, Julie Atkinson, Russell Wilson and Alister Stuck, winners of the NZ High Commissioner's
Trophy for the top finishing Zone 7 team (without any Australian players) at this year's South West
Pacific Teams in Canberra.

With four days to go, Palmerston North have 33 teams entered so far for the North Island Teams. Also, coming up very soon,
March 10-12th is the Taranaki Congress , a very good reason to head to New Plymouth.

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