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Canterbury News with Max Robb
Geraldine 8B February 21st.
There were two noteworthy surprises at this tournament. On the weekend before I had broached with my partner Neville Newburn, what system we might play, Neville once again said “Listen Max we don’t go to Geraldine to win the tournament, we go down to win the raffle!”
I bought 10 tickets when I arrived. We discussed our system for 5 minutes and played an average tournament. To my surprise I won 4 raffle prizes for the second year in a row!
At the end of the second session, there was a buzz in the crowded room as players realised that two strangers to the tournament had scooped first place. A young man, Matt Geare from the south, playing with his friend Dennis Norman, had blitzed the field by a clear 7%, scoring 72% in the second session. There is hope for the rest of us as Dennis is over 90 years of age! The defending champions Lesley Andrew and Kay Nicholas filled 2nd spot. Two pairs Karen Rarere/Ron Griffiths and Pauline Prendergast/Uneta Denly can be very pleased with their efforts to take out the next two highest tournament places. %
Tournament Winner Matt Geare/Dennis Norman 127
Spades Lesley Andrew/Kay Nicholas 121
Karen Rarere/Ron Griffiths 120
Rewa Kyle/Mary Buckland 118
Hearts Pauline Prendergast/Uneta Denly 119
Sam Gurney/Tony Quinlivan 108
Saul Sheehy/Sonia Gill 107
Diamonds Glynis Sullivan/Shona Stoddart 104
Shawn Adriel-Ai/Leon Meier 103
Keith Nicholas/Peggy Shaw 97
Ashburton Anniversary Pairs 8B March 6th
The day belonged to South Canterbury as in the morning Dorothy Bain and Jim Burford topped the percentages with 66.94%, and in the afternoon Sue Rosevear and John Fechney were also well clear with 64.5%
Over the two sessions Michael Johnstone and Paula Gregory topped the scores, just edging out a new pair on the tournament scene Liz Fitzgerald and John Kruiniger
%
1st Michael Johnstone/Paula Gregory 123.99
2nd Liz Fitzgerald/John Kruiniger 123.81
3rd Jane Skipper/John Skipper 118.04
Rangiora 5A March 21st
The three pairs section winners in the morning session were David Taylor/Jane Lennon, Pavla Fenwick/Mehboob Chiba, and Jane Skipper/John Skipper. David and Jane were allowed to set a stellar standard with 68.94%
In the afternoon it was Mary Buckland/Trish Downward who set the pace with 66%, and the other session winners were Pavla Fenwick/Mehboob Chiba and Paula Gregory/ Michael Johnstone.
The most consistent pairs shared the podium and in particular Katherine Tennant with Hayden Seal acquitted themselves well in both sessions.
%
1st Jane Lennon/David Taylor 134.4
2nd Pavla Fenwick/Mehboob Chiba 125.4
3rd Katherine Tennant/Hayden Seal 125.3
Canterbury’s Ascending Star
Max Robb congratulates Leon Meier on his success in Auckland
A 17-year-old is creating quite a stir in Canterbury. Leon Meier has only been playing two years. Last October I asked Leon if he would like to play in the 12-night Championship Pairs, and he readily agreed. I thought I could be his mentor, but within a few months the boot was on the other foot. In November he won his first A point, and surprised all those at the South Island Teams where he did his bit in propelling his team to 3rd in this nationally ranked event.
However, I write this because of his astonishing success at Easter. Unable to find a partner from the Christchurch club he throws his name in the hat and scores Grant Jarvis as his partner for the Auckland 10A Easter tournament. He flies to Auckland and in a very strong field, they win the Pairs championship!
I thought this was so astounding, as a convenor, I decided to congratulate him in front of his home club. To do so I had to call him away from his tasks as director of two movements of 26 tables on our Senior night. He has handled this contribution to the running of our club with quiet assurance.
Timaru Congress 15A April 10th/11th
The Timaru Club must be congratulated again for providing for three divisions. The open division was closed off at 96 participants, and the Intermediate attracted 36 players. Timaru is the only Canterbury Club that regularly runs a Junior Competition and this year there were four and a half tables of newer players prepared to devote a weekend to bridge.
Open Teams
1st Arleen Schwartz/Chris Ackerley/Margaret Perley/Paul Freeland 87
2nd Kevin Skoropada/Bruce Batchelor/Donna Ruwhiu/Kristin Collins 80
3rd Jeremy Fraser-Hoskins/Ann-Marie Russell/Paul Carson/Jack James 79
4th Jane Skipper/John Skipper/Jane Lennon/Alan Grant 78
5th Max Robb/Peter Van Leeuwen/Ernie Sutton/Jean-Olivier Begouin 76
6th Michael Ware/Tim Schumacher/David Skipper/Graeme Tufnell 75
winners: Paul Freeland, Margaret Perley, Arleen Schwartz and Chris Ackerley
Intermediate Teams
The Denly team were the only team to only lose one match [narrowly], and were clear winners of the competition:
1st Uneta Denly/Pauline Prendergast/Grant Patterson/Wendy Taggart 138
2nd Judy Russell/Pam Hodgkinson/Murray Barron/David Larson 114
3rd Junelle Redmond/Margie Baird/Theo Jordans/Darrell Sidon 108
Intermediate winners, Wendy Taggart, Uneta Denley, Grant Patterson and Pauline Prendergast
Open Pairs
Two young men from the North Island showed that to win a Tournament consistency matters. While others had a big session win, Jack and Jeremy improved from 56 to 60 and then topped the percentages for the day with a stunning final round of 67. %
1st Jack James/Jeremy Fraser-Hoskins 183.27
2nd Margaret Perley/Paul Freeland 175.47
3rd Greg Buzzard/Moss Wylie 171.78
Jack James is congratulated by 2nd placed Paul Freeland and
Pauline Prendegast, Tournament Margaret Perley
Organiser
Intermediate Pairs
The morning session winner were Wendy Taggart/Grant Patterson and Debbie Seddon-Sewell and David Sewell. In the afternoon Wendy and Grant won North-South again but it was Caroline Caseley and Jo Hampton who nearly took the Intermediate division with the highest percentage for the day, 67%
%
1st Wendy Taggart/Grant Patterson 123.08
2nd Caroline Caseley/Jo Hampton 116.98
3rd Donna Skoropada/Jo Smith 112.34
Junior Pairs
Three Junior pairs did well to average better than 50 percent in the same rotation as the Intermediate. Actually, Blair and Carl’s results would have placed them 3rd in the higher division – a very good day for them.
%
1st Blair Corlet/Carl Pedersen 114.10
2nd Hans Limacher/Claire Williams 102.72
3rd Angela Spence/Gavin Spence 99.36
Mid-Canterbury Pairs 5A Ashburton 17th April
In the morning the nicest surprise was Kathy Hamilton/Ewan Chapman scoring the highest score [62.75%] and scoring an A point for their efforts.
Five other pairs were within close range and could entertain the prospect of winning the tournament. But in the afternoon the Skippers left nothing to chance and blitzed the Howell with a superlative 72%
%
1st Jane Skipper/John Skipper 134
2nd Max Morrison/Jane Lennon 122
3rd David Taylor/Sarah Garland 117
4th Chris Bras/ Melody Bras 115
5th Michael Neels/John Kelly 113
6th Ewan Chapman/Kathy Hamilton [ winners of under 400] 111
7th Lesley Chubb/Judy Butler 110
8th Matt Geare/Brian Papps [ winners of under 175 ] 109
overall winners, Jane and John morning winners, Kathy Hamilton 2nd placed Jane Lennon and 3rd David Taylor and Sarah Garland
Skipper and Ewan Chapman Max Morrison
It was nice to see visitors from the Waikato Bays area playing, and performing well.
It is also nice to be able to report that David Taylor has become the Region's and country's latest Grand Master. Congratulations, David.
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