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Dai Redshaw before his "hairy" moments. 

A “Hair-raising” Charity event in Dunedin.

Today, we salute Dunedin bridge players who raised $4,000 for a local good cause, one particular player there who "lost plenty" in the cause and a Junior pair who performed very well in the fund-raising tournament, filled with strong Open players.

Otago Bridge Club member Dai Redshaw was the “loser” in the fund-raising event  for Dunedin social business Cargill Enterprises last Sunday. Cargill helps people with intellectual disabilities get a variety of qualifications, from NCEA credits to their driver’s licence.

 Company Chief executive Geoff Kemp said "It gives the guys the right tools if they desire to transition to the open market."

Dai had been growing his hair since 2023 and until Sunday he had always had "longish hair". The deal was for money to be placed into a 2-litre measuring cylinder with more hair being lopped off Dai’s head depending on how full it got.

The haircuts to be inflicted on Dai included a shaggy cut with hair down to his shoulders, a Paul McCartney-style mop top, short back and sides, a No 1 buzz cut and finally a clean-shaven head.

 
Dai... after the scissors attack!

The generosity of bridge club members meant his hair had to go. Dai regarded the haircut was a way for him to help a good cause.

"It was just an obvious, no cost to me, way of helping." He found it gratifying that he helped raise $475 on the club’s charity tournament day. Geoff Kemp added: “"I saw the beautiful silver locks that he had prior to having them cut off and I thought that was a great commitment. We really appreciated that gesture. The financial support and recognition of its work by the club meant a lot.”

More than hair-cutting

Event organiser Gillian Alexander said the haircut was not the only fundraiser on the club’s charity day, which raised $4,000. The fund-raising included a 40 pair strong field. The top Junior pair, Shirley Jones and Clive Ronson, finished a very creditable 16th overall, scoring 53.07%.

Board 24 was an excellent example of their play where they were only 1 of 4 pairs (the other three all Open players) to successfully make the two overtricks in their 4 contract.

 

 

 

On receiving K lead, West can win A in dummy and play a diamond towards the king and then a second diamond. South wins and plays a second heart, ruffed by declarer. Next comes a diamond ruff, a second heart ruff and a second diamond ruff with a high trump in dummy. West can play dummy's remaining high trump and then claim 12 tricks. 

Had South returned their remaining trump, instead of the second heart, declarer can win in hand and play AK just in case anything good happens…and with Q falling singleton, there is indeed very good news. 10 can be played and whether or not South covers, the club suit provides a discard for West’s remaining low diamond. Thus, 12 tricks should be made on any defence, even an unlikely trump lead.  

Yet, only 4 West players out of 20 managed 12 tricks. Credit therefore for Shirley being one of them.

The bridge was won by Marilyn and Philip Noye with 65.68%. A “shorn” Dai Redshaw managed 14^th aided by Bob Lawrence though the real winner was Cargill Enterprises. Well done, Otago.

Richard Solomon

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