Illinois Senior Olympics -- Wednesday, September 2, Springfield IL

A big 65.96% game earned Leah Newell and Larry Wilcox the gold medal in the 2014 Illinois Senior Olympics Bridge Tournament. Silver medalists were Pam Ames and Vicki Valley and the bronze medal went to Mary Allen and Marilyn Stickel.

This 11th annual contest drew 25 tables of players ages 50 and over. Congratulations to the winners and runners-up: 

Looking back . . .

35 years ago in Central Illinois (1979):

Art Webber of Urbana passed away in April at the age of 59. Art played in every local club, every session, and when he failed to show up for the Tuesday-night game at the Jolly Roger restaurant, everyone knew he must be ill. Two of his regular partners -- Bob Frost and Dr. Fred Crockett -- donated a traveling trophy for the first annual Art Webber Pairs Charity Club Championship and were the winners of the 16-table game. The Champaign Duplicate Club still holds this event every summer.

The Decatur club held a party in June to honor five new Life Masters -- Bob McCann of Decatur, Virginia Larsen and Chris Johnson of Taylorville, and Olivia Messick and Georgiane Davison of Mattoon. The game hosted 19.5 tables plus a 3-table novice section. Open Pair winners were Martha Hobbs and Jean Gray.

Len Kaufman, CIBA treasurer, submitted the Unit financial report showing a balance of $11,363. Income during the previous year included $3000 from tournaments and $2300 from ACBL dues and interest on CDs.

Winners at the Peoria Sectional in July included Mel Regal & Phyllis Rahn (Open Pairs), Gary Kessler & Kimmel Jones (Master Pairs), Mary Houston & Mary Stecher (Non-Master Pairs) and Frank & Joann Martens (Open Consolation). Mike Reid of Peoria made Life Master by placing second in the Unmixed Pairs with partner Bernie Riley.

Lou Matusiak of Bloomington provided witty analysis of six bidding problems in the Unit newsletter's Junior Master Solvers feature. An excerpt of an exchange with one of the panelists:

BOB GIESELMAN: "3C. Sets the trump suit and leaves room for an intelligent follow-up action."

LOU: I always like to see you trying something new. 

Club News

 Club Appreciation Month -- October 1-31

ACBL designates October as Club Appreciation Month and offers all clubs the opportunity to host extra club championships, with no added fees. Each sanctioned session can can host one pairs championship and one Swiss Team championship anytime during October, in addition to its regular quarterly club championship. The games offer extra masterpoints (black points, 85 percent of sectional rating). Team games also pay 5-percent gold points. Ask your club manager for the dates of the games in your area.

 Silver Point Sectional-Tournament-at-Clubs (STAC) -- Saturday through Friday, October 25-31

Loads of silver points will be available for a full week beginning October 25, when all clubs in District 8 can award sectional-rated silver points at all sessions. The event also offers District-wide overall awards, giving you the chance to win as many as 15 silver points in one session. See the District 8 Silverpoint Sectional website for updated results during and after STAC week.

Movin' Up:  Congratulations to these Unit members who recently advanced in rank: