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Steve Watson of Munster and Lou Nimnicht of Crown Point placed first in the Saturday evening Open Pairs game with a 70.83% game! |
Earl and Sally Landrum of Marion were the winners in the Saturday afternoon 299ers Pairs game — 69.00%. |
Roger Sokol of Minooka, IL and David Mitzit of New Lenox, IL — winners of the Saturday afternoon Pairs game with -- 63.43% |
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First place in the Sunday Open Swiss Teams were: Bud Hinckley, South Bend; Donald Wertheimer, South Bend; Frank Yoder, Goshen; and Philip Slatt, South Bend — earning 6.50 mp. |
Howard Schmid, Merrillville, and Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton, placed first in the Friday evening Open Pairs — 63.10%. |
Joe Chin, Highland, and Tom Hallum,Chicago, scored highest in the Friday afternoon Open Pairs — 67.63%. |
Tom and Betty Poppas, Kokomo — 74.30% September
Steven Watson, Munster, & Lou Nimnicht, Crown Point — 70.83% October 17
Jim O’Connell, Valparaiso & John Chmielowiec, Michigan City — 72.02% November 17
Junior Master: Sally Amico, South Bend; Ivye Ewing, South Bend
Club Master: Judi Bishop, Marion; Robert Grant, Fort Wayne; Pamela Mathews, Granger; Samuel McInTurff, Fort Wayne; Lynn Miller, South Bend
Sectional Master: Janice Chase, Kokomo; Jim Fitzpatrick, South Bend; Kimberly Grant, Fort Wayne; Jane Scott, Fort Wayne
Regional Master: Joan Aldrich, South Bend
NABC Master: Roger Lash, Angola
Life Master: Thomas Spackman, Monticello
Bronze Life Master: Donald Groch, South Bend; David Hoevel, Fort Wayne; Judy Jenkins,Fort Wayne; Donald Valiska, Highland
BRONZE
LIFE MASTERWe welcome Don Valiska of Highland to the ranks of those players who have earned 500 mp or more. His dedication to the game and his skillful playing have put him in a category of the top 30% of all ACBL players.
Don and his wife, Pat, who also has recently become a Bronze Life Master, both graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1969. They taught each other to play bridge while in college, but then didn’t play after that until retirement. For the first three years Pat and Don played exclusively with each other. However, they were advised to play with other people if they wanted to get better. In that way they would learn different conventions and different bidding styles.
Don says that bridge is a great
retirement activity. His oftentimes other partner is Sue Mahn. She has this to
add to his story: “Don is a good partner. He doesn’t criticize or admonish his
partner. He’s a lot of fun! He likes to be wild — makes gutsy bids. I call them
“IF” bids (intestinal fortitude). He is always ready to tell a joke. He is a
good father, grandfather, and husband.”
Some of our Unit 154 players have been mentioned in the Bridge Bulletin. In the October issue Jo Ann Steigmeyer of Granger (with her partner) was listed as the top scorer in District 8 in the Worldwide Bridge Contest held on Saturday, June 6 with a 64.10%.
In the November issue Howard Piltch of South Bend was recognized as #87 in the ACBL’s list of the Top 100 Life Masters with 18,264.10 mp. Also, Philip Slatt and Donald Wertheimer of South Bend posted the highest percentage — 62.91% — from District 8 in the ACBL-wide International Fund Game held on July 24.
In the December issue Bob Carteaux of Fort Wayne was named 2nd Alternate to the ACBL Board of Directors from District 8 for the next three years.
Congratulations to the five of you for your achievements!
NOVICE
GAME GETS OFF TO A GOOD STARTOn Saturday, November 14, Community Bridge Club in Calumet Township (Gary) a Section B was added for the first time — comprised of novice players who have less than 50 masterpoints. Most of the 16 intrepid newcomers had never played in a duplicate game before, and many of those who had, had less than one masterpoint. Yet they came with the hope that this new experience would broaden their knowledge of bridge and that they wouldn’t appear too unintelligent as the game unfolded.
This first game was the best of times, where the atmosphere was festive and smiles were the order of the day. The novices seemed pleased with their decision to participate in a duplicate game without the intimidation of competing in an open game. They appreciated the genuine and warm welcome they received.
The director was kept hopping as he busily and expertly fielded the many questions that came his way. Jim O’Connell, director, now presents a 15-minute mini-lesson prior to each game. The satisfaction of the new players is evident as they have returned on subsequent Saturdays.
Pictured here is one of the tables at
the first novice game. The local newspaper sent a reporter for this special
event and provided extensive coverage in the paper.
These
two newspaper clippings were submitted by Richard Ellis of Kokomo. Both items
appeared in an Indianapolis newspaper 35 years ago.
