INTRODUCTION
2001 has been a good year for members of the club. In 2000 Manchester bridge players swept the board in all the major national knockout events, but in 2001 our players have gone on to gain international honours. Michelle and Rhona fought their way through the ladies trials to be selected for the Lady Milne Trophy. This is a teams event between England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland which the England team won. Then followed the European Championships in Tenerife where Michelle and Rhona not only ended up with Gold Medals, but also finished as the top ranking ladies pair overall in the championship. From there they went on to play in the World Championships where they won through to the last eight, but lost to an on form American squad. Meanwhile Barbara Stawowy (now Hackett) playing for Germany won Bronze in the European Championships and eventually Gold in the World Championships. We are immensely proud that the above players have been invited to go to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where history will be made when bridge will be demonstrated as a sport for the first time.
Also in Tenerife Paul Hackett, Bernard Goldenfield and Bill Hirst were the official representatives of England in the Seniors Teams. In a very strong field they just finished outside a medal position.
Club Chairman Eve Lighthill together with Professor Barbara Lewis successfully represented England in the friendly against Sweden in Stockholm in May.
Our Juniors have also done us proud this year. In January Michael Byrne and Edward Levy represented England in the Peggy Bayer Trophy, the home international event for under 20's and won. Together with Alexander Morris and Craig Fisher, they all went to the World Junior Pairs and World Junior Camp in Poland, where they all gave a good account of themselves. It was in the under 25 trials that Michael played with Alex and Edward played with Andrew Woodcock from Preston that they proved their worth- both pairs have been selected for the under 25 squad, which is being trained by Jason Hackett. Edward and Andrew played for England in the Channel Trophy in Ostend and finished second to a very strong Dutch team. Alex and Michael have been selected to play for England in the Junior Camrose in January 2002.
One of their most impressive results as a team was 6th place in the English OPEN trials. Here the top fifteen teams in the country (except for five exempt teams) played two weekends of head to head matches and 6th place with plus 59 IMP's was an excellent result at this level. Other Manchester players also did well with Steve Capal and Jeff Smith finishing fifth and Michelle Brunner, John Holland, John Hassett, and Bill Hirst finishing fourth. Unfortunately only the top three teams went through to the next stage to join the five exempt teams but the club still has representation in two teams in the last four with Jason & Justin Hackett in one team and Paul Hackett in another.
Finally in one of the most significant developments for bridge, Manchester Bridge Club has been at the forefront of the organisation of a Commonwealth Nations bridge event, to be held as part of the Festival of Friendship prior to the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. The importance of this event cannot be overestimated as it provides a shop window for bridge in this country and a platform for the recognition of bridge as a sport.
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DOMESTIC COMPETITIONS
Once again Manchester Bridge Club players have been very successful during 2001. Pride of place must go to Jason and Justin Hackett who retained the Gold Cup after narrowly beating Paul Hackett's team in the semi-final.
Michelle and Rhona became English Women's Pairs Champions in February 2001 and narrowly missed the double by losing in the final of the English Ladies Teams Championship in December.
Boris Ewart playing with Welshman Jim Luck won the Thwaites Easter Festival of Bridge
Charlie Rich and Alex Morris won the Harry Scully Trophy at the Young Bridge Challenge with a near perfect score of 99 out of 100 vps
Congratulations to Mark Halliwell & Mike Ardron on finishing second out of field of 84 pairs in the Lancashire/Merseyside One day Green Point Swiss Pairs held on the 4th August 2001 and to. Boris Ewart, Dave Barton, Bernard & Rhona Goldenfield who won the Lancashire/Merseyside Green Point Swiss Teams the next day
Joy and Irving Blakey won the Swiss Pairs at the EBU Summer Congress at Shrewsbury in June.
Michael Byrne and Alex Morris achieved a first when they became the youngest pair to win the Great Northern Swiss Pairs at Risley. Together with Ed Levy, Andrew Woodcock another pair from the under 25 squad they played in the Lederer Memorial Trophy in London, which is the most prestigious invitation teams event held in this country each year, with only eight top ranking teams participating. The highlight of the boy's weekend was a surprising victory against the All Stars Team. Manchester selectors showed great confidence in the boys by selecting Alex and Michael to play in the Tollemache Team - the major inter county event of the year. Although the team did not qualify for the final the boys gave a good account of themselves.
Manchester Bridge Club were holders of the Garden Cities Trophy at the start of the year. This time Manchester Bridge Club B team reached the final and almost pulled off a sensational victory finishing just 2imps adrift of the winners in a very tight finish. Nevertheless well done to the team that represented the club in the final-Howard Kay, Bob Cooke, Jeff Smith, Steve Capal, Boris Ewart, Tracy Capal, Mike Ardron and Mark Halliwell
At Peebles last year's teams winners Irving and Joy Blakey, Howard Kay and Dave Baskin finished fourth in this years teams but Dave Debbage and Mike Byrne did really well in the pairs finishing second in a field of 140 pairs. Mike Byrne also recorded another good second earlier in the year finishing second in the teams at the EBU Spring Congress at Buxton At the same congress Adrian Kenworthy and Mike Goldsmith finished second in the pairs in a field of 161 pairs.
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CLUB & COUNTY COMPETITIONS
Manchester's Congress at the beginning of the year saw a win for John Holland/Bernard Goldenfield in the pairs, Paul Hackett and Richard Paul won the men's pairs trophy, Elena Rosenbaum and Barbara Lewis won the women's pairs, Eve Lighthill and Sid Travers won the Mixed Pairs and Mike Ardron, Mark Halliwell, Jeff Smith and Royce Alexander won the teams. The Roy Higson Memorial Cup was won by Dave McDouall, John Holland, Adrian Kenworthy and Mike Goldsmith and the Ben Franks Trophy held in December was also won by Dave McDouall playing with John Holland.
In Club Competitions, the Monday night duplicate event the Geoff Nuttall Memorial Trophy, was won by Mike Byrne and in the Cheadle Royal Cup the winners were Guy Harlem and Frank McCarthy.
In our teams events, the Ruia cup was won by Mike Ardron, Mark Halliwell, Alec Smalley and Mike Goldsmith and the Rhodes Racing Cup was won by the young team of Tracy Capal, Ed Levy, Alex Morris and Mike Byrne.
Bernard Goldenfield this year became Club Champion fighting off a close challenge from wife Rhona and Dave McDouall
The Club Mixed Pairs was won in fine style by Mark Halliwell and Irena Grugulis and the par contest so ably organised by Raymond Semp was won by John Hassett and Bill Hirst with the consolation event being won by Dave McDouall and Adrian Kenworthy. The Santa Claus Pairs was won this year by Dave Debbage and Eve Lighthill with runners up Mike Byrne and Alex Morris.
Our Tuesday night rubber bridge competition for the Charles Wade Trophy has seen three winners this year. The first holder of the trophy was Carol Frost who won it on a play-off against Bob Preston. Bob then got his revenge by winning it on the second set of thirteen weeks and Nan West was a popular winner on the third set.
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Club News
Members of the club have commented most favourably on the improvements to the club's facilities during the last year. Particularly pleased have been the Ladies with the complete (and expensive) revamp of the ladies toilets. Recently the front part of the car park has been resurfaced to make an almost completely covered area both front and back.
Earlier this year we were delighted to celebrate the joint 170th birthday of Mary Higson and Henry Huggill with drinks and a superb cake. More recently David Whyte married Sally Nagel on 1st June 2001. We wish them a long and happy marriage. Best Man was Alan Mould and many Manchester bridge players past and present were among those who attended the reception in Birmingham. Some names of those present who no longer live in Manchester included Barry Myers, Steve Eginton, Margaret McCarthy, Sally Gingell, Ros Hunt and Mike Waller.
A GALAXY OF INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE STARS DESCENDED ON MANCHESTER OVER THE WEEKEND OF 1ST - 2ND SEPTEMBER TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF MANCHESTER'S JUSTIN HACKETT TO GERMAN LADIES BRIDGE INTERNATIONAL BARBARA STAWOWY
Guests came from all over the world including close friend, World No. 1 bridge player, Geir Helgemo (31) from Norway, China's top player Fu Zhang (34) from Beijing and Miho Shekr from Japan. Other guests attended from America, Canada, Barbados, Singapore, Sweden, Denmark and France and of course included Barbara's team-mates, the glamorous German Ladies Bridge team.
Best Man was Justin's former Junior World Champion team mate, Danny Davies from Sheffield and Master of Ceremonies was distinguished International Lawyer and current Chairman of Scottish Coal, Professor J. Ross Harper CBE.
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OBITUARIES
Inevitably there is sadness to record.
It is with deep regret that we report the death of Jim Antia. In spite of poor health in recent years Jim made a huge effort to attend the Club and participate in its activities. He was a valuable member of the Club Committee and his contribution to club life will be greatly missed. His sons, Vincent and David who organised a gathering back at the club after the funeral, have indicated that they would like to donate Jim's collection of bridge books to the club to be the basis of a bridge club library in Jim's memory.
Members of the club were devastated to learn of the death of Howard Spencer (affectionately known as Redouble) on the 30th August. Howard was a keen rubber bridge player for very many years but was probably best known for his phenomenal expertise at quiz competitions. He appeared on television a number of times and was the captain of the Manchester Bridge Club Quiz team that won the Didsbury Rotary Club's Corporate Challenge Trophy. Howard's sudden death from a brain haemorrhage at age 53 has left his friends and family deeply shocked. Our Sincere Condolences go to his family.
Jill Bentley who died just before Christmas, was one of the best lady players in our area and had been a stalwart supporter of the club since our Central Road days. Jill had fought ill-health bravely for a number of years, which had curtailed her bridge. For many years she played very successfully in the Manchester League with husband Bill and the Goldenfields representing Whitefield Golf Club, Jill's team won the National Bridge event for Golf Clubs, the Golfprint Challenge, two years in succession. She was deeply loved and will be sadly missed.
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THE FUTURE
In the New Year there are a plethora of events to enter. On Monday nights the Geoff Nuttall Memorial Competition starts on the 7th January and the first of our beginners classes in 2002 begins on Tuesday 8th January so please tell your friends who have been saying for years that they want to learn. Please also tell your golf-playing friends about the bridge competition for Golf Clubs to be held on Thursday 17th January 2002 at 7.30pm. Called the Golfprint Challenge this is an excellent opportunity for Golf Clubs to get a team together for a fun event. Each team can have at most one player of regional master or above.
After a great deal of consideration we will be trying a morning duplicate with lunch in the New Year. It is proposed to start this activity on Wednesdays starting Wednesday 16th January at 11.00pm. Buffet lunch will be served at half time and it is anticipated that the duplicate will finish between 2.30 and 2.45pm.
On the 24th January 2002 there is a qualifying competition for the national newcomers pairs and on the 31st January there is a National Pairs Qualifier. If you are interested please add your name to the list in the hall. On Sunday 3rd February there is a heat of the Gazette Trophy for teams of eight and the format is much more laid back this year so if you fancy playing in a team from the club please let me know.
Thursday 14th February we are going to hold a special event a Valentine's Day Pairs. Although not strictly a mixed event there will be a certain amount of mixing. Later in the month there will be two simultaneous events in aid of the Junior Europeans and then in March the club will be the venue for the Portland Pairs over the weekend of the 16/17th March.
Of course 2002 will be dominated by the Commonwealth Nations Bridge Event in July. The dates are set from 15th to 20th July at the Whitworth Hall, University of Manchester and there will be plenty of opportunity to become involved. Helpers are required for all sorts of things but if you just want to watch there will be an excellent vu-graph facility with top-notch commentators.
It remains for me to conclude my report to thank the members of the Club for their support during the last year. In particular I would like to thank the Club Committee so ably chaired by Eve Lighthill for making this year such a success. I would particularly single out two members of the committee for special thanks. Merton Cantor has been unstinting in his efforts to help whether it be behind the bar on duplicate nights or raising money for the Annual Staff Collection which this year hit a new record thanks mainly to Merton's efforts. I would also like to single out Ann Kennedy for the enthusiasm and commitment she has shown in revitalising the Tuesday night rubber bridge competition.
I would like to thank my staff for their efforts in what has been a difficult year with Mary's accident then subsequent illness.
Finally I would like to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.
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