Tollemache Qualifier – Suffolk Win!

An article I thought I might never write. At last! Suffolk have qualified for the Tollemache Final. Each year I describe that the event in November in which the county annually competes is just the qualifier for national inter-county teams-of-eight. Since its inception as a county association some 29 years ago (and possibly a year by invite before that), a Suffolk team has gone to the qualifier and come back disappointed.

There have been high but not high-enough finishes in the past but this year was a revelation: Suffolk led their group from start to finish and were a match clear at the end. It was closer than that and with two matches to finish, some of our lead had evaporated. Moreover we had a delicate positions against would-be qualifiers Merseyside & Cheshire and Yorkshire in both. When the dust had settled Suffolk improved against the former from 12-8 to 15-5 and completely reversed the latter, converting a 3-17 half-time losing score into a 16-4 win. This was one of the deals that did it:

Game All
Dealer West
  • KJ6
  • K1087
  • QJ104
  • 54
  • 109543
  • A5
  • 98
  • QJ63
N
W
E
S
  • 2
  • 96432
  • AK76532
  • ---
  • AQ87
  • QJ
  • ---
  • AK109872
West
North
East
South
Gobert
Yorks
Chambers
Yorks
J. Moore
Yorks
A. Moore
Yorks
Pass
Pass
3
5
X
End

At both tables where Suffolk were East-West the auction was sensible; East did not over-egg his mixed offensive/defensive hand and West had a clear double of South's overcall. I say clear but five clubs might have made on other layouts (for example had West been 4-3 in the majors) but Suffolk duly recorded +200 in each room.

West
North
East
South
Yorks
Price
Yorks
Green
Pass
Pass
5
X
End

Jonathan Green selected double rather than a rash adventure to the six-level, David Price was not tempted to bid anything and they had an excellent +800. At the last table North was equally pleased to be offered the chance to defend:

West
North
East
South
Yorks
Sutcliffe
Yorks
Gemmell
Pass
Pass
3NT*
Pass
4
Pass
4
X
End

Three no-trump was some quality of minor suit pre-empt. Whatever the details he was two down in his contract and that was another Suffolk positive, +500. These four scores were worth 52 IMPs.

So ends almost thirty years of hurt – Suffolk now have a date in February for the final.

Suffolk at the Tollemache qualifier 2009
Represented by:
David Price (Capt.), Jenny Price, Jonathan Green, Jim Gobert, Chris Chambers, Peter Gemmell, Peter Sutcliffe, Jane Moore, Andrew Moore

Beat: Warwickshire 20-0, Lancashire 18-2, Yorkshire 16-4, Merseyside & Cheshire 15-5, Northants 14-6, North-East (Q2) 14-6, Worcestershire 12-8
Lost: Norfolk 6-14

Published Saturday 5.Dec.2009