 |
ACES,
PLACES, and FACES PUBLICATION OF FRESNO UNIT 522 OF THE AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE |
| Volume
LXI
No 11 November 2009 Recaps Special Events Calendar |
EDITOR: RICHARD MEFFLEY bridgefresno@hotmail.com (please e-mail to get on e-mail list) |
| FALL SECTIONAL A BIG SUCCESS Mike Molinari Takes President's Award Patrick Carroll and John McGregor Share 99er Award Thanks to sixteen teams playing in the compact knockout teams, and 21 teams in the Sunday Swiss teams, we had 176 tables for the tournament, more than any Fresno sectional in the last dozen years. We have seen improvement in recent years: only three sectionals in the last twelve years have had the attendance that we've had at our tournaments the last two years. Tournament chairman John Simpson was pleased that the compact KO teams that he promoted had such good attendance. With the help of many members who brought refreshments, Hospitality chairs Mary Jo Davila and Dora Gostanian made the tournament special, with lots of snacks and two lunches. Partnership chairman Mike Molinari was constantly on the phone, receiving calls from players who wanted to play. Rather than squeeze the tables together to make more room, we tried renting additional space to make us more comfortable at our tournament, with Mike Molinari and Kay Chrisman helping with directing in the annex. This seemed to work, too. We had room for lots of refreshments since they were all served in the restaurant room. The top players at the tournament were from outside our unit, with Daniel Raider of San Mateo leading all others. The leading Fresno unit member was Mike Molinari, who won the President's award. The top 99ers were Patrick Carroll and John McGregor. Congratulations! PLACES AND FACES Congratulations to Jim Stefanich, first place winner at the Big Fresno Fair's chili contest. His recipe is on the Fresno Bee's website. We enjoyed his chili during the sectional.  picture from the Fresno Bee John and Della Schnell won the open pairs and were fifth in the Swiss teams at the Santa Cruz sectional. At the Seaside, Oregon regional, John and Pat Simpson were first in brackets three and four of the knockout teams, and third in bracket 3. Rick Whitworth was third twice in the KO teams, and fifth in the Swiss teams. Congratulations! Virginia Johnson is home and getting better every day. Lee McKoane is home from hip surgery. We hope with rest and recuperation, we'll see them at the bridge table soon. We still miss Wanda Cardella. Hopefully we'll see her soon. We will miss Jon Jonassen, who is moving to the Ventura area. Welcome to new member Jason McAlexander. STRATIFY Some of our newer players may want to know how stratified games work. Sometimes a player is in one strat, sometimes in another. The ACBL allows stratification for all games except those in which your scores qualify you to play on in the event. Stratification usually is determined by the master points of the player with the most master points on the pair or team. Sometimes it is by average master points for a team. The ACBL allows three strats in an event. Tournaments must advertise the limits to their strats and follow the advertised limits, unless there are not enough players in the third strat. Championship events have awards for each section, North-South and East-West, and overall awards for all sections combined. Each strat has overall awards. In order to have overall awards in the last strat, there must be at least five pairs. If there aren't five pairs, the director may increase the strat master point limits so there are five or more pairs in the last strat. In club games, the directors try to arrange the strats so there are about 25% in strats A and B and 50% in strat C, except in STAC games and North American Pairs games, where the district or the ACBL sets the master point limits. Club games often have only section awards. In order for the last strat to receive a section award, there must be three pairs in a Howell (one winner) movement or two pairs in a Mitchell (all NS pairs stationary) movement. BEGINNING LESSONS Mike Molinari will offer the second in the series of beginning lessons, starting December 5, 2009, on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. This includes nine weekly lessons for $90, plus $13 for the book on Play of the Hand. Contact him at 658- 7318 or fresnom1ke@aol.com for more information. WINNERS CIRCLE September 15, 2009 - October 15, 2009 We didn't have room for all the winners in print this month - wait 'til next month. They are here, though. UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP 1AB Sally Perring - Paul Messner 2A Verlee O'Neill - David Haberstich 3A2B1C Kirk Stewart - Mike Rouch 3B2C Carnell Wingfield - Janet Wingfield 3C John McGregor - Patrick Carroll 1A Gerard Laquerriere - Mun Takeda 2A Verlee O'Neill - Jay Shapiro 3A1B Sally Perring - Paul Messner 2B Sandra Zovod - D Zody 3B Kim Morris - Doris Frazer 1C Gwen Davey - Judy Zimmerer 2C John Barrere - Betty Jacks 3C Gay Berry - Judy Nibler 1A David Shuster - Bert Rettner 2A John Schnell - Della Schnell 3A2B Margaret Mahaffey - Ray April 3B1C Michael Molinari - Kay Chrisman 2C Mary Jo Davila - Doris Frazer UNIT GAME 1ABC Rose Boot - Ray April 2A John Schnell - Della Schnell 2B Margaret Mahaffey - Victor Greener CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Howard Arquette - Ray April 2 Rose Boot - William Wood 3 Gerard Laquerriere - Mun Takeda 49er CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Karin Blanchard - Betty Anderson 2 Maggie E. Houliahan - Anna Amrein INTERNATIONAL FUND GAME 1A Della Schnell - Verlee O'Neill 2A George Dalition - John Schnell 3A Richard Meffley - Richard Powell 1B Barbara Thacker - James Sweet 2B1C Kay Chrisman - Kim Morris 3/4B2C John Simpson - Pat Simpson 3/4B Laura Neville - Doris Frazer 3C Bill Wood - Jill Wood 49ER INTERNATIONAL FUND GAME 1 Maggie E. Houliahan - Anna Amrein 2 John Jonassen - Jason McAlexander PRO-AM TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP 1/2 Richard Meffley - William Wood - Gwen Davey - Mary Lou Pease 1/2 Byron Steinert - Barbara Kelley - Jill Wood - Simone Harper CLUB APPRECIATION CHAMPIONSHIP 1A Bert Rettner - Victor Greener 2A Laura Da Costa - Mary Lou Da Costa 3A1B William Wood - Rose Boot 2B John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott 1A Richard Meffley - Richard Powell 2/3A1/2B Margaret Mahaffey - Monique Irion 2/3A1/2B Rose Boot - Ray April 1A Jay Shapiro - Verlee O'Neill 2A Gerard Laquerriere - Mun Takeda 3A1B Sandra Zovod - D Zody 2B1C Kirk Stewart - Mike Rouch 3B2C John McGregor - Patrick Carroll 750 CLUB APPRECIATION CHAMPIONSHIP 1AB Paul Wilday - Patricia Alviso 2A Howard Reed - Jim Stefanich 3A Juanita Mason - Stephen Blumberg 2/3B Ted Macaulay - Lois Layne 2/3B1C Marnie Powell - Judy Nibler 2C Jackie Finn - Mary Gullo 3C Jeremy Newel - Michael Newel 1ABC Al Coppersmith - Linda Coppersmith 2A Sandy Richardson - Paul Messner 3A Howard Reed - Pat Simpson 2BC Denny Tweed - Cathleen Burden 3B Kathleen Coit - Ina Yssels 3C John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott 49er CLUB APPRECIATION 1 Jackie Finn - Jason McAlexander 2 Linda T. Garrett - Barbara Kelley 750 MEMBERSHIP 1AB Ina Yssels - Kathleen Coit 2A Shelia Smith - Diana Papazian 3A2B Gay Berry - Effie Beeman 3B John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott 1C Jay Shapiro - Estee Strombotne 2C Marlene McCready - Elaine J. Smith 3C Karen Laws - John Jonassen GUESS YOUR SCORE! Skip Miller - Byron Steinert Della Schnell - Verlee O'Neill Carol Miller - Linda Coppersmith[C] |
UNIT UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR with tournament links Bay Area Tournaments California and nearby tournaments NEW LIFE MASTERS JOHN SIMPSON JOHN RENNA John Renna may have miscounted his master points, and actually became a LM the same time as his wife Tina, who made LM last month. His recent tournament successes and club games put him over by a few hundredths of a point on the October master point cycle. John Simpon, playing with his wife Pat at the Seaside, Oregon regional won nearly forty points in knockout events to make Life Master. Congratulations to both of you! CLUB NEWS Ginny Dow's Thursday afternoon 750 game will start a bit earlier, starting this month. The lesson will be at 12:45, with bridge starting about 1 pm. The Tuesday afternoon game is following the same schedule. The top Oakhurst players for October were Ken Doig, Gardner Murray, Don McCartin, Karen McCartin, Corey Cole, and Aileen and Byron Davis. Leaders in Madera for October were Morgan Johnson and Denny Green, followed by Bob Mortimer and Everett Bondeson. Morgan Johnson now leads for the year, followed by Denny Green and Everett Bondeson. There will be no Tuesday 49er game or Saturday 49er game the last week in November. Also, no evening games the night before Thanksgiving or the Friday after. Plan to play in the Unit Championship Pro-Am teams on Sunday, November 22. We'll draw for teams - you won't need to bring a partner or a team - just come for the 12:15 pot luck, and we'll fix up your team for you. Fresno Bridge Center leaders for September are Verlee O'Neill, followed by Steve Sharp and Jean Kesler. Bert Rettner, followed by Maggie Mahaffey and Barbara Thacker. Steve Sharp leads for the year, with Maggie Mahaffey, Verlee O'Neill, and Skip Miller trying to catch up. The 99er leader for September was Jay Shapiro. George Dalition leads for 2009, with Jay Shapiro and Estee Strombotne right behind. TED JOHNSON The Fresno Bridge Center was informed of the loss of Ted Johnson last week. It was Ted's idea to bring back the Friday afternoon clubhouse game (along with his directing partner, Mary Lou, and wife, Virginia ). Ted's tireless job of calling for this game, brought in many players and made this afternoon game one of the largest open games of the week. We will miss his towering presence. Our sympathies go out to Virginia and their family. NEW PLAYERS - PLEASE JOIN THIS YEAR The ACBL is toughening the rules to make life master, effective for all players who are not members as of January 1, 2010. You'll need 500 points to make LM, and all the colored point requirements will be raised. If someday you want to be a life master, join by December 31, 2009. THANKS TO EVERYONE I had a great time in Kansas City with Jim Tritt nine years ago when we won the NABC Open Pairs. I still remember what we had for dinner the night we won. Winning that event enabled me to become a Grand Life Master when I earned my 10,000th master point this year. I felt lucky then, and I still do - to have so many people wishing me well - even the waitress at lunch this week. I've enjoyed being a member of the Fresno Unit for over forty years, and working with the unit most of those years. It's been a pleasure to play with so many of the members here; they all helped me toearn the points. I can't wait until we have a few more Grand LM's here. Thanks to those who sent me congratulations, and to those who organized and participated in the Saturday lunch. I don't think I'll ever get to have my own table again. The plaque will have a place of honor, eventually at the Bridge Center, I suspect. I hope the wonderful article in the newspaper will encourage a few more people to play bridge. With so many great people here, bridge in Fresno will only get better. UNIT NEWS Plan to play in the Unit Championship Pro-Am teams on Sunday, November 22. We'll draw for teams - you won't need to bring a partner or a team - just come for the 12:15 pot luck, and we'll fix up your team for you. We'll be sending out ballots for the Unit Board with the next issue of AP&F. If you'd like to serve on the board, put your name in nomination by contacting a unit board member. Balloting ends at the Unit Christmas Party and STAC game on Sunday, December 13. Be sure to attend. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 1ABC Steve Sharp - Carol Rodder 2A Jean Kesler - Laura Neville 3A2B Diana Papazian - Margaret Giragosian 3B Carnell Wingfield - Janet Wingfield 1A Gerard Laquerriere - Mun Takeda 2A1B Victor Greener - D Zody 3A Bert Rettner - Robert Durbrow 2B1C Christina Renna - John Renna 3B2C John Barrere - Betty Jacks 3C Sally Perring - Judy Jessick 1AB Barbara Thacker - Skip Miller 2A Lowell Gist - Shirley Blum 3/4A Dave Shuster - Bert Rettner 3/4A Byron Steinert - Victor Greener 2B1C Margaret Giragosian - Dolores Parada 3B Jim McKoane - Kim Morris 2C Mun Takeda - Allyson Farrell 3C Shirley Martin - Robert Martin 1A Steve Sharp - Monique Irion 2A1BC Mostafa Elhag - Richard Betcher 3B` argaret Mahaffey - Carolyn Lofton 2BC Dora Gostanian - Mary Jo Davila 3BC Suzanne Graham - Judy Nicholson 1 Rose Wheeler - Barbara Brock 2 Morgan Johnson - Denny Green 3 Pearl McGinnis - Ruth Rowe 750 CHAMPIONSHIP 1A Julie Boucher - Lorraine Elia 2A1B Lois Layne - George Dalition 3A2B George Efthemon - Linda Coppersmith 3B Marlene Frazier - Sue Gearhart 1C Jackie Finn - Mary Gullo 2C Catherine Macleod - John Peckler 3C Jeremy Newel - Michael Newel OAKHURST WINNERS Aileen &Byron Davis(2 ) Al Ellis- Ray Gallardo Jim Honeywell -Everett Bondeson Glen Ford - Terri Anderson Genie Krieghoff - BettyAnn Dunn(2) Don McCartin - Ray April Claire Molnar - Karen McCartin(2) Joe Fox - Corey Cole Karen McCartin - Paul mertens Fred Nickerson - Eileen Kenny Don McCartin-Corey Cole Karen McCartin- Mike Molinari INDIVIDUAL 1 Laura Da Costa 2 Rose Boot 3 William Glass 4 Robert Durbrow BAROMETER Della Schnell - John Schnell Robert Durbrow - Rose Boot Verlee O'Neill - Kay Chrisman[B] John Jonassen - Jackie Finn[C] SPECIAL Jim McKoane - Laura Neville James Sweet - Jean Kesler Jim McKoane - Jane McCoy Ray April - Shelia Smith William Wood - Skip Miller Lowell Gist - D Zody Verlee O'Neill - Kay Chrisman Bob Loudermilk - Alice Pickens Skip Miller - Byron Steinert Mary Lloyd - Frank Goeddel Sydney Bluestone - Kent Billeter Skip Miller - Barbara Thacker Martha Waller - Donny Graham[B] Margaret Giragosian - Diana Papazian[B] John Wachsman - Susan Wachsman[B] Victor Greener - Sandra Zovod[B] Kent Billeter - Sydney Bluestone[C] Lorraine Elia - Julie Boucher[C] Patrick Carroll - John McGregor[C] RESTRICTED SPECIAL Steve Sharp - Patricia Creede Laura Neville - Ginger Zumwalt Barbara Taniguchi - Kimiko Mochizuki[B] Mary Lloyd - Frank Goeddel[B] 750 SPECIAL George Efthemon - Linda Coppersmith Catherine Macleod - John Peckler[C] Judy Jessick - Paul Messner Stephen Blumberg - Don Winton[B] Carol Willoughby - Judy Geary[C] 49er Jason McAlexander - John Jonassen Debbie Kemp - Lorna Kvammen John Jonassen - Karen Laws Anna Amrein - Maggie E. Houliahan |
| Home Page |