NATIONAL EVENTS
Gold Cup
The ultimate event in British Bridge was won this year by Jason and Justin Hackett for the third time.
Manchester Bridge Club finished runners up in the Garden Cities final, just losing out to Coventry bridge club despite beating them in the final match. Well done to the team of David Debbage, Michael Newman, Bill Hirst, Michael Byrne, Jeff Morris, Jeff Smith, Dennis Robson and David Adelman.
In the Pachabo Cup held at West Bromwich on June 12th/13th Manchester got off to a slow start but emerged 4th out of the 35 counties.The team was John Hassett, Bill Hirst, Michael Byrne, Alex Morris and Michael Newman. In the Corwen Trophy Jeff Smith and Mark Halliwell finished 8th –making it nine times that they have finished in the top ten in this event.
The Great Northern Swiss Pairs was won by John Holland in partnership with Clive Owen from the North East. John had previously won the event in 2000.
Michelle Brunner, Rhona Goldenfield, Jeff Smith and Bernard Goldenfield narrowly lost the final of the Spring Fours at Stratford over the bank holiday weekend in May. This event which is a double elimination teams of four competition is considered to be one of England’s most prestigious competitions.
The Seniors Pairs Championship in Daventry on November 4th- 6th was won by Kath and Alan Nelson. They swept the board in this very well attended competition, finishing top of the qualifying, 2nd in the semi final and emerging victorious from over 120 pairs in the main final. It has been a good year for the Nelsons because they have just come back from the Year End Congress at Blackpool with the Mixed Pairs Trophy and the Swiss Teams Trophy and in November finished in second place in the Llangollen Swiss Teams with team mates Michael Byrne and Steve Auterlechnie.
Also doing well at Blackpool were David Adelman who finished 2nd in the Swiss Pairs and Michelle and Rhona who finished third. Blackpool is a good venue for David as he and Tracy Capal already hold the Swiss Teams Trophy from the Easter Congress and he and Jeff Smith were holders of the Swiss Teams trophy from last New Year.
Well done also to Irving and Joy Blakey who have returned from their travels to win one of Scotland’s most challenging events -the Gold Cup Congress Pairs Championship at Peebles.
National Bridge Organisation
The club continues to contribute highly significantly to the organisation of bridge in England with Denis Robson being re-elected Chairman of the English Bridge Union, Jeff Morris and Alan Nelson elected to the board of the EBU. Alan Nelson is also now Chairman of Tournament Committee to which Paul Hackett has recently been elected. Jeff Morris has been appointed the EBU representative to the Central Council for Physical Recreation in addition to his responsibilities for Mind Sports.
Area Events.
The Manchester Congress continues to be a very popular competition and last years results are still available on the MCBA web site. This year we are back to playing at the fabulous Renaissance Hotel and I would urge everyone to support our flagship County event. This year we are privileged to have the holders of the Gold Cup,Dame Janet de Botton and her team, participating in our event.
The County Cup was won this year by Michael Byrne, Michael Newman, Bill Hirst and John Hassett.
This is the third year in a row that Michael has won Manchester’s qualifier for the Pachabo. Peter Jones and Peter Foster won the other county qualifying event when they won the Ben Franks Trophy early in December.They and the other top four pairs qualify to play in the Corwen Trophy in June.
Club Competitions
Geoff Nuttall – This individual competition held on a Monday night in the weeks running up to Easter was won by student Mark Reeve, now a member of the England under 25 squad.
Ruia Cup – Brian Cornelius’ team of Mike Alexander, Paul Hackett, Justin Hackett, Barbara Hackett emerged victorious last June in a three horse race with Barbara Lewis (Sam Herman, Ian Pendlebury, Dave Smith) and Michael Byrne (Kath Nelson, Craig Fisher, Alan Nelson)
Eve Lighthill Cup - Pete Foster’s team of Boris Ewart, Peter Jones, Phil Callow and John Rudolph took the Eve Lighthill Cup in convincing fashion, finishing ahead of Michael Byrne (Michael Newman, Craig Fisher, Rhona Goldenfield, Bernard Goldenfield) .
Club Championship – Michael Byrne recaptured the trophy which he won in 2003, finishing just ahead of Rhona Goldenfield.
The Santa Claus Pairs was won for the second year in a row by father and son combination Tony and Alex Wilkinson.
Our Tuesday night rubber bridge competition for the Charles Wade Trophy has seen the cup won most recently by Louise Vincent who was thrilled to be presented with the trophy by Farokh Engineer. Past winners this year have been John Parsons and joint winners Ann Luke and Ann Rosenblum.
Club News
Members of the club have commented most favourably on the improvements to the Club during the last year. The club has been completely redecorated internally and new curtains and blinds bought for the downstairs rooms. The car park both front and rear has been cleared to create more room.
On our staffing side we are sorry to report that Maimie who had been with the club since its inception in 1978 and prior to that with the Central Bridge Club has retired. Members will be aware that a fund raising benefit event in the form of a Mixed Pairs was held for her in May and that Maimie came along on the evening to say a personal thank you to members of the club who were there.
It gives me great pleasure to report of the club’s not inconsiderable investment in new technology. I am of course referring to the Bridgemate system of scoring computers on each table without the need to fill in travellers. As with all new technology there have been teething problems but with the help of Jeff Smith and Craig we are improving the facility all the time. We are grateful to the generosity of a member of the club who has helped us with the purchase of the system.
Inevitably there is sadness to record. It is with deep regret that we report the death of Raymond Tynas. Raymond was a retired judge and in his own estimation a novice at bridge. He was nevertheless an enthusiast who was very fond of the club and devoted a generous amount of his time to club matters, particularly by serving on the Club Committee and handling issues which affected the club with the authority of his considerable experience. The club is extremely grateful to Raymond for all that he did and it is an understatement to say that he will be greatly missed.
Geoff Storry also passed away his year and although ill-health had prevented him from attending the club over the last few years he always had the interests of the club at heart and served bridge in this area with considerable devotion being a delegate to the EBU and County Membership Secretary for many years.
Forthcoming Events
Lots of events in the New Year as usual.. On Monday nights the Geoff Nuttall Memorial Competition starts on the 9th January 2006- which is also a BGB Simultaneous.The first of our beginners classes in 2006 begins on Tuesday 10th January 2006 so please tell your friends who have been saying for years that they want to learn. There is another Simultaneous on Wednesday 11th January.
Please also tell your Golf-Playing friends about the bridge competition for Golf Clubs to be held on Thursday 2nd February 2006 at 7.30 pm. Called the Golf print 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.
On the 26th January 2006 there is a qualifying competition for the National Pairs. If you are interested please add your name to the list in the hall.
On Sunday 5th February 2006 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.
In March the club will be the venue for the Portland Pairs on Sunday 19rd March a one day National Mixed Pairs Event. Entry forms are in the hall.
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Also in March there will be a heat of the National Newcomers Pairs. This is a great opportunity for Newcomers to play in a National event without having to travel as it is played simultaneously in clubs around the country yet scored Nationally. The Manchester Bridge Club will have a section playing at the club at 1.00pm on Sunday 26th March 2006.
Concluding Remarks
It remains for me to conclude my report to thank the members of the Club for their support during the last year. Manchester Bridge Club has continued to be a centre of excellence for bridge producing considerable numbers of talented players at all levels of the game.The Club supports Bridge both locally and Nationally and is the venue for a variety of activities –events, qualifying competitions, newcomers and charity events. It is also a resource for the County Association for meetings and a venue for such diverse activities as Junior Training Weekends and EBU teachers courses.
To maintain this resource, which gives so much to the bridge playing community, we need the support of local bridge players not only in our regular competitions but also in their commitment to membership of the club.
Finally, 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 Merton Cantor for his unstinting efforts to help and I would also like to record my appreciation of the excellent contributions made by Mike Green on his time on the Committee. I hope that Mike will be able to return when he finishes his spell as Chairman of Withington Health Trust.
A Happy and Healthy New Year to all our members. |
