Greater St. Louis Bridge News

News from Greater St. Louis Unit 143

Editor:  Sheryl Finkenstadt, St. Louis MO   sheryl@finkenstadt.com


Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, they will never cease to be amused.

199er Championship

On March 1, St Louis’ semi-annual 199er Championship brought out 48½  tables in an exciting tourney. A whopping 73.55% game by Tom O'Reilly-Pol and Harvey Laux took first overall in the morning event, which drew 34.5 tables. Fourteen tables were in play in the afternoon session. The next 199er Championship is on Sept 27, 2008.  Y’all come!


Morning Flt A:
Tom O'Reilly-Pol & Harvey Laux, 73.55%

Morning Flt B: 
Lynda & Mitchell Fish, 64.56%

Morning
Flt C: Ellen Svenson & Katy Mullins, 62.77%

Afternoon
Flts ABC:  Karen Pahuski & Mark Ziegelman, 60.98%

StaC Week Success

Kenny Bland and Carol Schaffer posted an incredible 77.08% in the District 8 field of 70.5 tables on Saturday, February 9.  This was the highest game posted in the entire February 2008 District 8 StaC Week.

Wireless scoring

In February, some St Louis club games tried out the new wireless score pads for about a month.  North enters the result on an electronic handset about the size of a calculator, and EW approves the entry with their private password.  The results are transmitted wirelessly to the director’s computer. The learning curve for this new method of scoring was fewer than 10 minutes. Results, of course, are available literally as soon as the last board is recorded on the table’s handset.  Most players liked the process.  But it takes some getting used to, as old habits die hard.  Floating plaintively through the air at the end of the first round: “I don’t have any travelers!”

Club corner

Bridgehaven is holding a Charity Week April 7-13. Every game held at Bridgehaven that week is a charity game for Backstoppers, Inc., with Bridgehaven matching each player’s $1 charity contribution. In addition, every 3rd Sunday night in every month is a Swiss Team charity game for Backstoppers. The March 16 game raised $75.

Bridgehaven is a cheerful, moderately-sized storefront club, limited to 18 tables, with plenty of free parking.  It hosts six ACBL games a week (by various game owners), as well as an ABA monthly game. The club also holds a special game, complete with potluck, on a Saturday evening every second month. Nothing like good food to attract bridge players! 

(left) Bridgehaven players enjoy bridge after one of the club's potluck dinners.
 

Congratulations to these members who have advanced in rank in 2008:

Junior Masters (5-20)

Kathy Foresman

Artul Hajela

Linda Helm

Becky Hubert

Betty Moriarity

Cheryl Prante

Susan Shogren

 

Club Masters (20-50)

Jackie Baker

Susan Kilo

Patricia Mendel

Kristin Palmer

Betty Placke
 

Sectional Masters (50-100)

Doris Fairgrieve

Navin Shah

Regional Masters (100-200)

Miggie Collins

Sharlene Morgan

Dan Spangler

Margaret Taylor

Janet Woodley

 

Life Masters (300-500)

Kay Cohen

 

Bronze Life Masters (500-1000)

Arthur Stepp

 

Diamond Life Masters (5000-7500)

Kenny Bland

Sheldon Margulis

Upcoming Tournaments

May 16-18, 2008 -- Sectional in St. Charles

August 11-17, 2008 -- Mississippi Valley Regional with four NEW "Prime-Time" KOs

September 27 -- 199er Championship

October 17-19, 2008 -- Sectional in St. Charles