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Wellington started the short three-match third day in command of both the Open and Intermediate competitions and by virtue of those positions firm favourites to retain the Dougal McLean Trophy as well. They were also challenging Canterbury in the Seniors’ event.

In the Intermediate, three more sizable wins saw Wellington victors by 31 vps from Waikato Bays. Congratulations to the winning team of Simon Louisson, Mariusz Tumilowicz, Tegan Bennik and Jeremy Morley who recorded 10 wins and one minute loss in their 12 matches. I am sure her three teammates will not mind my highlighting the great potential that young Tegan has in our game.

Intermediate

1st	Wellington	197.77
2nd	Waikato Bays	156.64
3rd	Top of the South	151.53
4th	Otago-Southland	134.13
5th	Canterbury	131.62
6th	Central Districts	118.81
7th	Auckland-Northland	117.50

 

Open

The Open event ending was strange. Wellington had virtually won the competition after their win over Otago-Southland in the first match of the day while Auckland-Northland lost. They then stuttered to victory having lost 4 of their last 5 matches including to a rampant Central Districts team which had 4 large wins in the second round-robin to end up runners-up.

 

The most significant board in Wellington's loss to Central Districts was the above board where Ker-Grant failed in 4 by 2 tricks after the 10 lead though Charles Ker-Mark Noble made 5x at the other table after the Q lead did not produce the desired ruff. Not just that but the heart loser disappeared as well with 14 imps going to Central Districts.

Nevertheless, another impressive performance from the very experienced quartet, Anthony Ker, Alan Grant, Nigel Kearney and Karl Hayes.

Open

1st	Wellington	178.04
2nd	Central Districts	163.61
3rd	Auckland-Northland	156.17
4th	Waikato Bays	149.23
5th	Otago-Southland	139.63
6th	Canterbury	116.86
7th	Top of The South	104.46

 

Wellington win the Open                                                and the Intermediates

                                         
Karl Hayes, Nigel Kearney,                                                 Tegan Bennik, Simon Louisson,
Alan Grant and Anthony Ker                                               Mariusz Tumilowicz and Jeremy Morley

North-South battle in Women's competition

Auckland-Northland had just a 0.63 vp advantage over Otago- Southland in the Women’s competition at the start of the day. However, after a small loss to the southerners in the first match of the day and a huge Otago-Southland win in the second match, it was Otago-Southland which had an 8.5 vp advantage going into the last round.

Mothers are not always right

The following fun board from Round 13 tricked many including Auckland-Northland’s Carol Richardson.

 

With a pretty reasonable 8 card suit and a positive noise from her partner and daughter, Andi, Carol took control and bid the slam opposite one key card. Carol would have been hopeful when the heart finesse worked but less so when South discarded on the second round of hearts…down one. Meanwhile, Central Districts stayed a level lower to gain 11 imps.

It's hard to put down such a strong 8 card suit as a side-suit in dummy though this time, it was Andi’s suit which needed to be trumps. Getting rid of West’s two small spades could be a problem (less so if North leads a spade) though 6 is the slam that can make. ( on a trump lead… win, take heart finesse, ruff a heart and win the second round of trumps with dummy’s jack…and you will make an overtrick!)

However, Auckland-Northland won their last match against Waikato Bays by 50 imps while Wellington beat Otago-Southland by 7…enough for victory to go to Auckland-Northland. Congratulations to Fuxia Wen, Christine Wilson, Andi Boughey and Carol Richardson.

Women

1st	Auckland-Northland	179.16
2nd	Otago Southland	175.50
3rd	Wellington	155.65
4th	Waikato Bays	154.44
5th	Top of The South	126.62
6th	Canterbury	120.18
7th	Central Districts	96.45

 

Women's winners - Auckland Northland            Top Seniors' team - Canterbury

                               
Andi Boughey,Fuxia Wen,                                      John and Jane Skipper,
Christine Wilson and Carol Richardson                  Paula Gregory and Michael Johnstone
(not forgetting chef de mission, Douglas Russell)

Canterbury win Seniors event

Finally, to the Seniors where Canterbury started the day 1.69 vps ahead of Wellington. Canterbury had a small loss and a reasonable win and had a huge thank-you to say to the Otago-Southland team who beat Wellington by 45 imps in Round 13. With one round to go, Canterbury led Wellington by 10 vps and were playing their closest challengers in the last round.

Two slam swings sealed Wellington’s fate. Bidding one off two cashing aces was not a success and then they failed to bid slam on the following:

 

The above was the simple slam sequence of Jane and John Skipper from Canterbury. From John’s seat, small slam seemed very possible opposite 15-17 and a good suit. He was right. Wellington played 4.

Thus, congratulations to the Canterbury team of Jane and John Skipper and Paula Gregory- Michael Johnstone.

Seniors

1st	Canterbury	184.56
2nd	Otago-Southland	171.35
3rd	Wellington	171.15
4th	Auckland-Northland	139.07
5th	Top of the South	118.90
6th	Central Districts	112.73
7th	Waikato Bays	110.24

Dougal McLean Trophy

With two wins and two third places, it was “no contest” and for the 4^th year running, the trophy will reside in Wellington.

                             "Capital" Winners

  Wellington chef de mission, Lynda Rigler, displays the trophy

Overall- Dougal McLean

1st	Wellington	42
2nd	Otago Southland	30
3rd	Auckland-Northland	27
4th	Waikato Bays	22
5th	Canterbury	21
6th	Top of the South	16
7th	Central Districts	14

 

We hope all participants enjoyed the event, very well organized by the Canterbury Region and Christchurch Club. Results came through promptly and accurately on-line and the event was well directed and scored by Murray and Caroline Wiggins. Interested viewers around the country were able, mainly, to watch a match per round on BBO.

Roll on 2020… next time in Wellington.

Richard Solomon

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