Suffolk Championship Teams Qualifier

Last Sunday was the Suffolk Championship teams or, perhaps more accurately, the first two rounds. The format has changed from a complete draw - like Wimbledon - to that which is used, well, in most top bridge competitions. Sunday was a two session event, after the first the field divided, the top half playing to provide four qualifiers for the knock out stage, the winner having the choice of opponents for added fairness, not to mention, spice.

Those that did not make the cut competed for the Plate, played to a conclusion in that second session. With a mix of teams and the ability to 'restart' if you didn't begin well, it is surprising there were not more teams present. We were one such poor starter, our opponents seeming too often to do the right thing against us:

Love All
Dealer North
  • 72
  • 97
  • K1074
  • A9643
  • AQ109643
  • 10
  • Q
  • J852
N
W
E
S
  • KJ85
  • A6542
  • 93
  • K7
  • ---
  • KQJ83
  • AJ8652
  • Q10
West
North
East
South
Wilmer
Chambers
Honess
Gobert
—
Pass
1
3
3
5
5
End

The auction was brisk and East-West did well to bid five spades and get no higher. I led the diamond king and switched to a low club. Anne Wilmer drew all the right inferences; leading away from an ace is more tempting than a queen (your trick might disappear) and secondly, if she was left to her own devices, she would have to play a club to the king and we are not known to be on her side. Up went the king for a well played +450.

In the other room North-South reached the par contract of six diamonds doubled and West led a spade, missing out on her heart ruff. That meant only one down for +100 to our side but 8 IMPs to the HONESS team. It was a surprise to meet them again in the Plate, but at least that provided a small measure of revenge…

Suffolk Championship Teams 2007
Qualifiers for the Jim Petit Cup
1.Sherer (Mike Sherer / Eric Newman, Rick Hanley / Bill Tweddell)65 IMPs
2.Price (David & Jenny Price, Andrew & Jane Moore) 49
3.Davies (Barry Davies / Din Gudka, Graham & Pauline Hanson)37
4.Waters (Rick & Fleur Waters, Martin Caswell / Nigel Napier)4
Sherer chose Waters, the other semi-final is therefore Price v Davies
Plate
1.Less (Norman Less / Helen Mason, Chris Chambers / Jim Gobert)52 IMPs
2.Honess (Mark Honess / Anne Wilmer, Joan Mayhew / Basia Malinowska31

Published Saturday 8.Dec.2007