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Kerikeri winners, Neil Ruddell and Andrew Liu

Once again we are in the Winterless North and while we hope to have a nice Easter Weekend, they don’t call it “Whangarainey” for nothing.

Life is slowly getting back to normal after the Christmas Break though I, for one, haven’t yet returned to club bridge. There have however been a smattering of tournaments and we start with the Pak n Save tournament held here in Whangarei on February 10th. While the winners were not a surprise with a very respectable 65.36 % in the morning and a 69.52% after lunch  (Paul Carson -Weymouth and Bill Humphrey) board 9 definitely was.

 

North opened 1. Playing as East with Matt Brown, NZ Open Representative, as my partner I was in a total bind. I decided to play it safe and make a forcing bid of 2 (Michaels).  2 was bid by South and Matt obliged by bidding 4.

Board No: 9 [Replay Deal]
NS	EW	Contract	By	Lead	Result	Score		MP
						NS	EW	NS	EW
1	12	4	E	♣2	=		620	17	11
2	14	3	E	♣3	+2		200	24	4
3	1	4	E	♣3	+1		650	6	22
4	3	4	E	♥K	=		620	17	11
5	5	4	E	♦A	+2		680	0	28
6	7	6	E	♦A	-2	200		28	0
7	9	4	E		=		620	17	11
8	11	4	E	♣3	+1		650	6	22
9	13	3	E		+1		170	26	2
10	15	4	E	♣3	=		620	17	11
11	2	4	W	♦6	+1		650	6	22
12	4	4	E	♠3	+1		650	6	22
13	6	4	E	♠3	+1		650	6	22
14	8	4	E	♣3	=		620	17	11
15	10	4	E	♣3	=		620	17	11

 

It was interesting afterwards to note we were the only pair where West played the hand. Of course afterwards it was mentioned to me that I should have just bid 4 outright but I was also told in his years of playing (which to be honest are not as many as most of us), and the boards he has played (probably up there with most of us) he has never seen a deal like that.

Over the hills to Dargaville

Next up were the Dargaville Swiss Pairs on February 24th. Full credit to Dargaville who, as a small club that struggles for numbers, put on a fabulous day for all. You can’t ask for a better run tournament and a nicer lunch, which was supplied. Everything right down to the morning tea was superbly run and I would ask that if you are ever in the area and feel like a game, to contact the club as you will be made more than welcome.

Whangarei won this one with our very own Margaret Hooson and Richard Bland taking away the honours.

 
Margaret and Richard either side of  Dargaville
representative, Peter Ball
and north to Kerikeri

From there we moved onto the Kerikeri Dolphin Pairs on March 10th.  As you can see, we like to move things around in the North so if you are anywhere in the area, contact one of the clubs. There is bound to be something happening.

I wasn’t at this tournament. However, our wonderful director not only did her job as director on the day, she also kept me informed of what was happening and the scores. Heaven forbid my usual partner does better with someone else! She also did a fabulous job as official photographer.

First place was my usual partner Neil Ruddell and Andrew Liu who hasn’t been playing a lot lately but usually does very well when he does.

and back to "Whangarainy"

Last but certainly not least Whangarei hosted the Barrells 100% A Open Teams on March 24th. It was lovely to see so many from Auckland make the trip. Obviously the young ones did because they had heard of the fabulous food and hospitality. However there were a few “regulars” as well who always support this tournament and for whom we are always grateful.

The thunderous rain a couple of times between the bright blue sky convinced everyone here was the place to be. And winning this was not Whangarei, Kerikeri or Dargaville but an Auckland team of George Sun, Alice Young, June Lei and Gong Yunfei.

Whangarei winners,George Sun, Alice Young, June Lei and Gong Yunfei.

Auckland also came second and third with third being a youth team which we are thrilled made it up as none looked old enough to drive. (signs of advancing age in that comment, Tania!) It looks like NZ Bridge has some real talent coming on.

(Five of the eight players in the 2nd,3rd placed teams are under 22: Feitong Chen, Jeremy Fraser- Hoskin (both drove home from Whangarei!) Jacob Kalma, Vincent He and Zachary Yan....and all are in the New Zealand Youth Squad.)

The most noteworthy event for the Kerikeri Club in the last couple of months was, undoubtedly the Gold Coast Congress.  This year 7 pairs (14% of the total Club membership!) from the Club competed and much fun was had by all!  It was a great social week for the players who went and enjoyed eating and drinking together.  Of course, the bridge was great as well and there were a couple of outstanding results from Kerikeri players.  Bill Humphrey and Paul Carson had a very successful week achieving well in every single event they competed in during the week:  2^nd overall in the Weekend Matchpoint Swiss Pairs 0 – 500, 7^th overall in the Monday Butler Swiss Pairs 0 – 500, 6^th overall in the Intermediate Teams (playing with Marilyn Kennedy and Anna Chappell – also from Kerikeri) and 3^rd overall in the Ivy Dahler Butler Swiss Pairs – Intermediate.)

This was the first trip Paul and Bill had made to the Gold Coast and I’m sure it won’t be the last (although because of these results they will have to play in the Open sections next year!)  There are more Kerikeri players keen to join the group next year.

Take care everyone and Happy Bridging.

 

 

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