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Christchurch was the place to be last weekend for 192 bridge players, along with the many involved with the event’s organisation. A turn-out of 48 teams was a wonderful number and hopefully, all enjoyed the weekend.

There was a humungous amount of lovely food which added to the enjoyment of the participants who got to play 7 x 16 board matches over the two days. The bridge organisation went very smoothly too, thanks to the directors, Murray Wiggins and David Stephen, scorer Kevin Walker, and the friendly caddies, dealers and helpers. Thanks also to club manager, Susan Edwards, to Thea Mapletoft, and all those who helped Lizzie Thompson, the caterer.

The following are those who were the most successful at the table. Congratulations to:

 

1st

Brown

Matt Brown, Michael Ware, Peter Newell, Martin Reid

109.3

2nd

Westoby

Jonathan Westoby, Malcolm Mayer, Tom Jacob, Brian Mace

97.47

3rd

Schumacher

Tim Schumacher, David Skipper, Leon Meier, John Davidson

95.35

4th

Tislevoll

Faith and GeO Tislevoll, Ashley Bach, Michael Cornell

91.83

5th

Solomon

Richard Solomon, Anna Kalma, Barry Palmer, Neil Stuckey

90.94

6th

Fisher

Blair Fisher, George Masters, Jo and Sam Simpson

89.19

7th

Davies

Kate Davies, John Patterson, Graham Stronach, Sandy McKirdy

84.03

Top Restricted

Burford

Jim Burford, Bill Mecchia, Neville Newburn, Dorothy Bain

Top Intermediates

Hampton

Jo Hampton, Caroline Caseley, Tony Quinlivan, Sam Gurney

 

  2nd placed                                                    Top Restricted                                         Top Intermediates

        
Tom Jacob, Brian Mace, Jonathan Westoby     Jim Burford, Neville Newburn, Bill Mecchia      Jo Hampton, Sam Gurney,
and Malcolm Mayer                                           and Dorothy Bain                                       Tony Quinlivan and Caroline Caseley

It is typical that when one asks the winners for a memorable hand, they produced two, one which cost them 4 imps (board not shown) and the other 17 imps! I suppose the latter was memorable because not many boards cost them that many imps! This board was a grave-yard for many:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Ware started and finished with a double on his strong South hand but suffered a very quick -850 when only his two red aces scored tricks.

 

Meanwhile:

 

West              North            East                South

 

Martin Reid     Barbara Hutton Peter Newell  Lydia Turley

 

                                                     1 ¹                  1

 

Pass ²                   Pass                 2                    2

 

2                    3                    4                     5

 

X                      All Pass

 

¹ 14+ any shape            ² 0-9 any shape

 

Martin Reid called his 10 opening lead as an “alarm clock” wake-up call for his partner to win and find a club switch (Peter Newell, East, could work out Martin had at least 5 spades and therefore was requesting a switch to the lowest suit.)

 

So, a club switch duly came though Peter’s 2 bid was a wake-up call, too, for Lydia Turley, South, who played low when Peter exited a low club. Martin got his ruff but the remaining 11 tricks went to Lydia, + 650 to make a nice total of 1500 or 17 imps to Lydia’s team, an impressive haul against the eventual winners.

Victorious overall but not on the above hand. Martin Reid, Matt Brown,
Michael Ware and Peter Newell

A Good News Story

 

One of the good news stories of the week-end featured the young Christchurch player, Leon Meier. Aged 17 and having only learnt the game 18 months ago, he featured in the Schumacher team which finished in 3^rd place. Indeed, only a cellphone violation and a wrongly entered score prevented them from ending as runners-up. Here is Leon taking positive action, twice, when it was required.

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like a simple 3NT for East-West to bid and make. However, at the start of their match, Matt Brown, North, heard his opponents agree that over his strong no-trump opening, that double would show both minors.

So, Matt decided to test his opponents’ system by opening in 3^rd seat not vulnerable with the weakest strong no-trump you have seen for a long time!

Michael Ware transferred to spades (2). Matt did not want to hear his partner bid 3NT next time round as then an opponent’s double would have a rather different meaning. So, he passed 2 telling the world, well anyone at the table, that his first bid was a little questionable!

Leon doubled 2 and then bid 3NT in very unfamiliar territory for him. It is doubtful that he had had to overcome such a psyche before and impressed his opponents by the positive actions he took.

  3rd placed

Tim Schumacher, Johnny Davidson, Leon Meier and David Skipper

Leon also took very positive action on this board:

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting East, Leon did not mess around when North made a pretty obvious take-out double. Leon “took it out” to game! His partner obliged with a doubleton diamond and the game was cold as long as Leon took a heart finesse, which he did. Indeed, a defensive slip gave him an overtrick. Only 12 East players bid and made 4 out of a field of 48.

More successes for sure are ahead for Leon. A great weekend’s bridge. Here’s hoping for the same at the next big bridge players’ gathering at New Plymouth for their “not so mini” Congress in early March.

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

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