Greater St. Louis Bridge News

News from Greater St. Louis Unit 143

Editor: Mary Dolan, 10806 Charlton Way, St. Louis, 63146 dolanmary@sbcglobal.net
 

“Yes, risk-taking is inherently failure-prone. Otherwise, it would be called 'sure-thing taking'."

  -- Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon

A big congratulations and shout-out to Unit 143’s St. Louis Bridge Center for advancing to #7 in the 2017 top 50 of all ACBL clubs based on table counts. For complete list, see the May 2018 Bridge Bulletin, p. 35.

Unit 143 Fall Sectional

The St. Louis Cardinals did not advance to the playoffs, but the 2018 St. Louis Sectional will be a winner! Enjoy the hospitality and friendly competition October 19 – 21 at Blanchette Park Memorial Hall, St. Charles, Missouri. Events include:

Friday afternoon Open and 299er Pairs

Friday evening Single Session Swiss and 299er Pairs

Saturday AM Single Session Swiss

Saturday afternoon and evening Two-session Pairs, side games, and 299er pairs

Sunday Swiss Open and two single session 299er Pairs

 Click here for further event details.

Unit 143 Advancers

Life Master: Tommye Fleming, Linda Helm, Chris Newman, Ken Schwartz

Bronze Life Master: Delaine Boyd, Joseph Butkiewicz, Ann Lemp, Stephen Russell, Diana Votaw

Silver Life Master: Estella Lau, John Levis, Barbara MacPeek

Ruby Life Master: Hong Liu

Emerald Life Master: Susan Perez

Congratulations!

Bridge Haven Backstoppers Charity Game

Backstoppers Organization assists families of St. Louis area police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel who are killed in the line of duty. Chuck Starovasnik and Barbara Reid of Bridge Haven Club coordinate this annual event as local “pros” play with the Unit 143 members who bid to play with them.

Thanks to St. Louis Bridge Center for donating their facility. A special thanks to the “pros” for donating their time and talent. This year $16,600 was raised to benefit the families served by Backstoppers, adding up to a total of $84, 465 over the nine years that the Backstoppers Charity Game has been held.

The money raised went to Backstoppers, and the masterpoints went to the winners. Congratulations to Mark Boswell (Pro) and Mary Jermak, 1st in A with 66.08%; Mike Giacaman (Pro) and Peter Fuerst, 1st in B with 63.31%; and Norm Goldman (Pro) and Jeanne Redington, 1st in C with 59.15%.

Winner of the Unit 143 Scholarship to Lake Williamson Youth Bridge Camp

Here’s one of Unit 143’s youngest members, Junior Master Carmen Fort, pictured here attending the 2018 Youth Bridge Camp at Lake Williamson. In the second picture, Carmen and proud grandfather Ken Woodard are competing at the 2018 St. Louis Gateway Regional.

Carmen was the 2018 winner of Unit 143’s scholarship to the Youth Bridge Camp in Carlinville, IL. Carmen had a blast at Bridge Camp and has been playing in duplicate events since then.

The following was written by Phyllis Siegel, one of this year’s camp instructors.

Here are some quotes from camper evaluations:

 “If you enjoy bridge, you must try the Youth Bridge Camp in Illinois. It is so good!”

“Youth Bridge Camp is the best camp you will probably ever go to.”

“I have never learned so much bridge and had so much fun at the same time.”

“Thirty-two campers attended Youth Bridge Camp #10 at Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville, IL. Campers came from WA, CA, TX, TN, WI, MI, MO, IL, IN, IA, NC, FL, VA, NY, NJ, and Washington, DC. Among the three teachers and 16 staff members were St. Louisans Phyllis Siegel, George Marvin and Rick Armstrong.

Many of the campers were inspired by their grandparents! So continue to play and to inspire your kids and grandkids. If you do, then the game we love will become the game they love and the game of bridge will continue to grow.”

Gateway to the West Regional

While enjoying the St. Louis Gateway Regional this past August, attendees at 1324 tables earned 7904.54 masterpoints. Here are the top 25 masterpoint winners:

 113.96 Mark Kessler, Springfield IL

 108.45 John Bromberg, Dallas TX

 105.37 Colby Vernay, Lacon IL

 102.94 Barry Schaffer, Frisco TX

  82.06 Ron Ashbacher, Saint Louis MO

  81.70 Emory Whitaker, Macon GA

  81.70 Bob Etter, Elk Grove CA

  81.08 Spike Lay, Daytona Beach FL

  81.08 Olin Hubert, Atlanta GA

  80.79 Tom Kniest, Brentwood MO

  80.79 Ed Schulte, Tampa FL

  79.25 Jonathan Weinstein, Saint Louis MO

  68.46 Stephen Stewart, Overland Park KS

  61.61 Chuck Pitard, Mandeville LA

  61.61 Allan Siebert, Little Rock AR

  61.50 Clay Cuthbertson, Quincy IL

  60.14 John, Bowling Green KY

  55.13 Susan Perez, Maryland Hts MO

  52.74 Tod Moses, Saint Louis MO

  52.74 Ron Smith, Chicago IL

  51.93 Debra Romero, Clarkson Valley MO

  51.28 Susan Stockham, Birmingham AL

  51.28 Jim Foster, Birmingham AL

  51.02 Janet Neel Fleenor, Bowling Green KY