Midwest Monitor

October 2004

CENTRAL OHIO NEWS
Mark Bullimore, Reporting

New Life Masters

Five Columbus players became Life Masters at the Flying Buckeye Regional. They are John Adams, Donna Joseph, Sherry McArdle, Marsha Phillips, and Barry Slattery. Congratulations to you all! Well done also to Gene Owen who got his card earlier in the summer.

Sectionals in October AND January

Need some silver? Then come to the COBA Fall Sectional on October 22-24 at the Haimerl Center, 1421 Morse Road, Columbus. Details are available in the last issue of the Midwest Monitor, on the COBA and ACBL websites, and at all COBA bridge clubs. Come along and experience this fabulous playing site and our great unit hospitality.

Need more silver? Then come to the COBA Winter Sectional on January 7-9, 2005, also at the Haimerl Center, Columbus. Details are available in this issue of the Midwest Monitor and on the web.

COBA Spring Sectional

Thanks to everyone who attended the Spring Sectional at the Haimerl Center, March 12-14, 2004. Here are the winners:

Friday Afternoon Open Pairs: A: Robert Sulgrove - Richard Rudolph B: James Chen - William Henneke C: Nancy Palmer - Jerome Cunningham. Friday Afternoon Future Master Pairs: D/E/F: Carlos Dupler - John Leste. Friday Evening Open Pairs: A: Paula Justl - Terry James B: Lenore Smart - Arnold Adelberg C: Joyce Dennis - Patricia Hoffman. Friday Evening Future Master Pairs: D: Thomas Hickey - Christiane Edmondson E: Jeanne Griffin - Nancy Moore.

Saturday Morning Open Pairs: A: Robert Herold - Lorraine Miller B/C: Marvin Neubig - Barbara Neubig. Saturday Afternoon Open Pairs: A: Anita Torrence - Kelley Dillon B: Carroll Givens - Paul Hern C: James Chen - Gene Owen. Saturday Afternoon Future Master Pairs: D: John Fleeman - Lee Caryer E: Robert Lutz - Robert Hunkeler F: Marvin Neubig - Barbara Neubig. Saturday Evening Stratified Open Pairs: A: Sudheer Pimputkar - Kenneth Eichenbaum B: J. Michael Hill - Mae Hi C: Paula Messinger - Sandy Ritchey. Saturday Evening Future Master Pairs: D/E/F: Nancy Moore - Jeanne Griffin.

Handicapped KO Teams: A: Shan Au, Gregory Potts, Sheryl Langner, Charles Kopp, Siraj Haji B: Jimmy Wu, Candice Misenheimer, Robert Stackhouse, Carl Wheeler C: Tom Bush, Vonsetta Bush, Judith Dalton, Ernest Dalton.

Sunday Swiss Teams: A: Jim Bachelder, Tom Justl, George St. Pierre, Roy Baldwin B: Dan Roseberry, Lars Johnson, Daniel Dopps, Patricia Young C: William Harmon - S. Wen, Wen-Jia Chen, Denver Queen D: John Fleeman, Martin Seltzer, M. Gaffin, Lee Caryer.

COBA Summer Sectional

Thanks to everyone who attended the Summer Sectional at the Haimerl Center, June 4-6, 2004. Here are the winners:

Friday Afternoon Open Pairs: A: Kenneth Eichenbaum - Sudheer Pimputkar B: N. Novotny - Cleo Crabtree C: Carl Wheeler - Robert Stackhouse. Friday Afternoon Future Master Pairs: D/E/F: Mary Voltz - Martha Arnholt. Friday Evening Open Pairs: A: Ann Gunderson - Doris Jimison B/C: Kathryn Farynowski - Ruth Bond. Friday Evening Future Master Pairs: D: Jerome Cunningham - Edith Kohler E: John Lester - Carlos Dupler.

Saturday Morning Open Pairs: A: John Westinghouse - Joanne Westinghouse B: George Welch - Daniel Kenney B: Darrell Hall - Marilyn Hall C: Cecelia Gleisinger - Phyllis Downey. Saturday Afternoon Open Pairs: A: Jim Bachelder - Richard Rudolph B: Merrilee Miller - Barbara Bates C: Candice Misenheimer - Edith Kohler. Saturday Afternoon Future Master Pairs: D: Frances Evers - Frances Kehr E/F: Patrick Corn - Hermine Wong. Saturday Evening Stratified Open Pairs: A: Bob Lyon - Sheng-Hung Wang B/C: Sherry McArdle - Kanti Chavada. Saturday Evening Future Master Pairs: D/E: Marvin Neubig, Sr. - Barbara Neubig.

Knockout Teams: A: Vickie Sebastian, Shan Au, Siraj Haji, Russell Shoup B: Tom Lammers, Marsha Reall, Alex Khrakovsky, John Reger.

Sunday Swiss Teams: A: Kenneth Kranyak, Laurie Kranyak, Don Sulgrove, Kathleen Sulgrove B: William Thomas, Raymond De Colibus, John Hosterman, George Pope C: Sherry McArdle, Candice Misenheimer, Gene Owen, Kanti Chavada.

DERBYTOWN HAPPENINGS
Ellen Schmidt, Reporting

Our members have been well pleased with some of the changes that our club has made over the past two years. Members of long standing have generously volunteered their time to act as mentors to new players in a series of games designed to help them. Our Saturday Night Special monthly games have drawn an excellent turnout each month. All of those who have tried them enjoy the fun atmosphere and opportunity to play Swiss Teams, and IMP Matchpoints Pairs. We have been very successful in attracting new players in 2004. Each announcement of beginning and intermediate lessons has been enthusiastically greeted by new player sign-ups. We have added two additional newplayer games each week and now have five games exclusively for non-life masters.

In August, our Mentor-Mentee event attracted 33 pairs. The top ten finishers were: Keith Wilson - Jeanie James, Verna Goldberg - Hazel Killabrew, Matthew Just - James Sturgeon, Lee Thomas - Carolyn Crabtree, Beth Englehart - Mary Cathrine Stoddard, Myra Garon - Susan Cox, Norma Miller - Frank Nelson, Marjorie Jordan - George Shelton, and Barbara Moir - Rosemary Worden.

Winners at the Louisville Sectional: June 25-27, were:

Friday Afternoon Pairs: A and B: Matt Just - Kit Overpeck C: Renee McAnelly - Harriet McKnight. Friday Afternoon 99er Pairs: D. Kathryn Scott - Mary Masarich. Friday Evening Pairs: A: Susan Christian - Ellen Kozlove B and C: Evan Gay - Lonnie Crumes.

Saturday Afternoon Pairs: A. Ellen Kozlove - Brian Ross B: Marilyn Swauger - Phyllis Costello C: Stephen Megerle - David Britt. Saturday Afternoon 199er Pairs: D, E, and F: Thomas Spielman and Linda Dickerson tied with Daryl and E. Vann. Saturday Evening Pairs: A: Jean Davis - Lee Caryer B: Naresh Shah - William Collis. Saturday Evening 199er Pairs: D and E: Thomas Spielman - Linda Dickerson F: Sharon Morgan - Jan Fishback.

Handicapped KO Teams: A: Jack Ambach, Jim Washer, Dennis Hesthaven, Ralph Letizia B: Betty Hurst, Mildred Lockert, Michiko Natsume, Courtney Thurman C: Gayle McCann, Cindy Tretter, Peggy Ammon, Peggy Simpson.

Sunday Swiss Teams: A: Cheryl and Jack Ambach, Bert and Jim Washer A/X: Patsy Baker, Sarah Roy, Barbara Boswell, Nathaniel Reid B and C: Sandy Spears, Sue Lasalle, Ted Flach, George Shelton D: Ann Zimmerman, Vivienne Moorin, Cheryl Klein, Renee Greenspan.

Congratulations to Marge Handley, our latest new Silver Life Master.

MIAMI VALLEY BRIDGE ASSOCIATION
Terry Parker, Reporting

The Flying Buckeye Regional was a huge success! The table count was up over 100 tables from last year at 1335 and masterpoints were abundant! The great playing site and a well-rounded schedule may well turn this into a major regional in years to come - thanks to all who attended, and especially to all the hard working helpers! Now here is the list of winners:

Compact Knockout 1: Bracket 1: 1. Robert Sulgrove, Jim Bachelder, Vickie Sebastian, Richard Rudolph 2. John Russell, Gary Kessler, Martin Caley, Jim Reiman. Bracket 2: 1. Dennis Wick, Eddie Conner, Paul Hern, Tom Gilpin, Jr. 2. William Schleman, Benjamin Kraus, Cecelia Brown, Marilena Moore. Bracket 3: 1. Laura Forst, Shirley Levy, Patricia Scheimann, Peggy Ann Gatch. 2. Mike and Linda Houchard, Betty Lipps, Carroll Givens. Bracket 4: 1. Wayne O'Connor, Marilyn O'Connor, Clee Rhodus, Charles Patterson 2. Robert and Elizabeth Libbey, Kenneth and Janet Dixon. Bracket 5: 1. Robert Lutz, John Heath, Robert Hunkeler, Beverley Dana. 2. Patricia Armstrong, Janice Austerman, Katie Daly, Elizabeth Burns.

Compact Knockout 1: Consolation 1: 1. William Higgins, Amitabh Raturi, Nancy Sachs, Judy Cohn 2. Beth Grismer, Shirley Lee, Patrick Moran, Audrey Dybvad. Consolation 2: 1. Fred Vescio, Pamela Keiser, Alfred Stambaugh, Carol Grieselhuber 2. A. William and Marge Kolb, Frank Palazzo, Russell Stowers. Consolation 3: 1. D. and P. Byrkett, M. Broida, Kenneth Woodman 2. Jeanne Weyers, Susan Hermans, Tonette De Angelism Phyliss Bishop. Consolation 4: 1. Sally Waibel, Milly Warner, Emma Stewart, Paul Lindquist 2. William and Diana Henderson, Georgia Ringo, Charlotta Helton. Consolation 5: 1. Bruce Walker, Judith Dalton, Sue Walker, Ernest Dalton, 2. Richard Ober, William Williamson, Ann Levy, Norine Kmett.

Tuesday Open Pairs: Strat. A: 1. Anita Torrence - Cheryl Schneider 2. Jean Davis - Lee Caryer. Strat. B: 1. Ilse Tebbetts - Anita Kohler 2. Sanford Franklin - Howard Ringel. Strat. C: 1. Franklin - Ringel 2. Harry Wickstrom - James Caldwell.

Wednesday AM Future Masters: Strat. A: 1. Joanne Shank - Rosemary Oehlers 2. Elaine Lazarus - Judy Weiner. Strat. B and C: 1. Joanne Shank - Rosemary Oehlers 2. Elaine Lazarus - Judy Weiner.

Wednesday Open Pairs: Strat. A: 1. Marlene and Seymour Mandell 2. Caroline Pascoe - Steven Shaye. Strat. B: 1. Mandells 2. Sherby Chernin - Walter Bunker. Strat. C: 1. Gene Owen - Alev Bueyuekkoekten 2. Susan Feldman - Marcus Feldman.

Wednesday Afternoon Future Masters: Strat. A: 1. Georgia Ringo - Charlotta Helton 2. Patricia Rush - Anne Bradley. Strat. B and C: 1. Ann Levy - Norine Kmett 2. Jerry and Peggy Grogan.

Wednesday/Thursday Compact Knockout: 1. Walter Sobol, Robert Harlow, Jack Bryant, Rod Van Wyk 2. Ray Tolston, Robert Rickling, Patrick Dutson, Mary Skavaril.

Wednesday/Thursday Knockout Consolation: 1. Robert and Elizabeth Libbey, Kenneth and Janet Dixon 2. Robert Ryckman, James Mahon, Norman Knott, John Young.

Wednesday-Thursday Knockout: Bracket 1: Frederic Pollack, Mary Chilcote, Norman Coombs, Bruce Parent, 2. Jack Bryant, Bobbi Johnson, R. Wayne Penrod, Rod Van Wyk. Bracket 2: 1. Stuart Petersen, William Nicolai, Amal Dasgupta, Yonsey Karasek 2. Dennis Wick, Eddie Conner, Tom Gilpin, Paul Hern. Bracket 3: 1. Joyce Dennis, Patricia Hoffman, Tom and Vonsetta Bush 2. Lois Scott, Karen Oberting, Charlene Lutz, Linda Leedy. Bracket 4: 1. Jack Burns, Gayle Niemann, Patricia Armstrong, Dona Letour neau 2. William Fountain, Robert Burgess, Stewart Devilbiss, Charles Skinn. Bracket 5: 1. Bruce Walker, Judith Dalton, Sue Walker, Ernest Dalton 2. Donald Rose, William Zielenbach, Jean Lucktenberg, Carol Scott.

Thursday Morning Future Masters: Strat. A: 1. Edward and Mary Huber 2. Alma Malas - Mary Hershey. Strat. B and C: 1. Hubers 2. Peggy and Jerry Grogan.

Thursday Afternoon Future Masters: Strat. A: 1. Stafford McGuire - Charles Campbell 2. Elizabeth Burns - Katie Daly. Strat. B: 1. Richard Drake - Mary Ann Drake 2. Charles and Dixie Gussler. Strat. C: 1. Gusslers 2. Jerry and Peggy Grogan.

Thursday Swiss Teams: Strat. A: 1. Vickie Sebastian, Craig Satersmoen, Sudheer Pimputkar, Russell Shoup 2. Stefanie Ginger, Bob Stitt, Gay Miller, David Tsui. Strat. B: 1/2. Fred Vescio, Joseph Weinreich, Kay Price, Ilse Tebbetts 1/2. Raymond De Colibus, Karma Zoss, John Hosterman, George Pope. Strat. C: 1/2. Barbara Frech, Emma Stewart, Sally Waibel, Milly Warner 1/2. Bill and Susan Childers, Edith Kohler, John Daniel.

Friday Morning Future Masters: Strat. A and B: 1. Irene Knight - Esther Franklin 2. Esther Feldman - Robert Lutz. Strat. C: 1. Feldman - Lutz 2. Charles and Dixie Gussler.

Friday Afternoon Future Masters: Strat. A and B: 1. Richard and Mary Ann Drake 2. Joanne Shank - Elaine Robinson. Strat. C: 1. Joanne Shank - Elaine Robinson, 2. Suresh Kamat - Jayant Sudame.

Friday Choice Pairs: Strat. A: 1. Donald Van Arman - Rajan Mehta 2. Mike Sloan - Betty Mattison. Strat. B: 1. Kenneth Daniels - Terry Grogan 2. James Brittan - Bruce Brian. Strat. C: 1. Edward Westmeyer - Peter Erdman 2. Ray Tolston - Robert Rickling.

Evening Knockout: Bracket 1: John Russell, Jim Reiman, Martin Caley, Gary Kessler 2. Robert Sulbrove, Richard Rudolph, Vickie Sebastian, Russell Shoup. Bracket 2: 1. Lois Scott, Karen Oberting, Charlene Lutz, Linda Leedy 2. Tom Beardsley, James Juffman, Amal Dasgupta, W. Mike Glatt 2. Robert Burgess, William Fountain, Chalres Skinn, Stwart Devilbiss. Bracket 3: 1. C. Tom Kerns, Claude Heitzman, Jayce Dennis, Patricia Hoffman 2. William Sangrey, Kenneth Sagstetter, Arlene Seppelt, Carole Remick.

Saturday Compact Knockout: Bracket 1: Patrick Clark, Mark Bullimore, Bob Lyon, John Hinton 2. Douglas Simson, Siraj Haji, Walter Johnson, Shan Au. Bracket 2: 1. Billie Darnell, Allayne Barnum, Nancy Palmer, Janice Marks 2. Patricia Englich, Patricia Newman, Myrna Rosen, Lorna Davis. Bracket 3: Patricia Armstrong, Janice Austerman, Gayle Niemann, Dona Letourneau 2. Robert and Elizabeth Libbey, Janet and Kenneth Dixon.

Friday-Saturday Knockout: Bracket 1: 1. Bob Carteaux, Edward White, Peggy Allen, Ken Gee, Barry Harper 2. Jim Bachelder, Vickie Sebastian, Marc and Sandra Low, Robert Sulgrove, Richard Rudolph. Bracket 2: 1. Nathaniel Reid, Barbara Boswell, Mary Skavaril, Lenore Smart 2. Jacqueline Merkel, Marvin Kolodzik, Linda Gallaher, James Huffman. Bracket 3: 1. Barry Slattery, Paula Messinger, Sandy Ritchey, Donna Joseph 2. George Welch, Jr., Lynn Chinella, Caroline Kinlaw. Norma Smith. Bracket 4: 1. Marsha Phillips, John Adams, Jerome Cunningham, Darlene Kozlowski 2. Eugene Kober, Claudia Kober, Sandro Franchi, James Farley. Bracket 5: 1. Thomas Surd, Norma McCann, Clee Rhodus, Charles Patterson 2. Phyllis Minor, Lois Adams, Phyllis Romans, Lois Upton Werder.

Friday-Saturday Compact Knockout: Bracket 1. 1. Bob Carteaux, Peggy Allen, Ken Gee, Barry Harper, 2. Matthew Heuser, Jill Ohlson, Kelley Butler, Glenda Hart. Bracket 2: 1. Carl Wheeler, Robert Stackhouse, Edith Kohler, John Daniel 2. Karma Zoss, Jack Rice, Nickie Leckrone. Norma Schoenberger.

Friday-Saturday Compact Consolation: Bracket 1: 1. Mark Bullimore, Patrick Clark, Shen Hung Wang Bob Lyon. Bracket 2: 1. Donna Loeffler, Atha Dickenson, Mona Mao, Howard Bandow 2. Daniel Hance, Betty Bradbury, Mildred Lovell, Gary Fan.

Saturday Morning Future Masters: Strat. A and B: 1. Robertine and Robert Boivin 2. Linda Puthoff - Ellen Jellison. Strat. C: 1. Suman Agarwal - Michael Doron 2. Lynda Brown Walker - Sally Wargo.

Saturday Open Pairs: Strat. A: 1. Amitabh Raturi - Nancy Sachs 2. Dean Robinson - Richard Ellis. Strat. B: 1. Cliff Pleatman - Rob Weidenfeld 2. Patricia Kramer - Toni Funk. Strat. C: 1. Richard Garlough - Carroll Givens 2. David Stephenson - Dennis Mc Namara.

Saturday Afternoon Future Masters: Strat. A, B and C: 1. Robert Stahler - Wanda Stahler 2. Suman Agarwal - Mike Doron.

Saturday Consolation Knockout: Bracket 1. Donald Florida, Annette Clark, Peter and Charles Aldenderfer 2. Marion Austin, Margaret Trowbridge, Deborah and William Kirby. Bracket 2: 1. Michiko Natsume, Jackie Swango, Brenda and Jack Mehalko 2. Gayle McCann, Sheila Dippel, Cindy Tretter, Peggy Simpson. Bracket 3: 1. David Britt, John Garrett, Patrick Dutson, Frank Lichtenberger 2. Harry Wickstrom, James Caldwell, Dorothy Garrett, Davey Smith.

Sunday Flight AX Swiss: Strat. A: 1. Gregory Potts, Charles Kopp, G. Shade, Sheryl Langner 2. Bob Carteaux, Peggy Allen, Ken Gee, Barry Harper, Gary Kessler. Strat. X: 1. Jon Coffee, Renee Danto Weiner, Jerrold Grossman, Jack Shartsis 2. Jacqueline Merkel, Patricia Young, Toni Bales, Jeanne Martin.

Sunday Flight B/C Swiss: Strat. B: 1. Merle and Joan Gaaskjolen, Gary Hatten, Adam Burton 2. Jerry and Joann Katz, Bernice Stevens, Terry Briscoe. Strat. C: 1/2. Leonard Solganik, William Wild, William Williamson, Richard Ober 1/2. Bruce and Sue Walker Judith and Ernest Dalton.

Tuesday-Thursday Side Series: 1/2. Betty Mattison and Mike Sloan.

Friday-Saturday Side Series: 1/2. Virginia Wilson and George Haddad.

Evening Side Series: 1/2. Martin Feeney and Dean Robinson.

On a sadder note, Dayton lost a loyal Tuesday morning player when Earle Levine passed away recently. Also, Dallas Moore was recently in the hospital - drop him an e-mail!

NORTHERN INDIANA - UNIT 154
Jim Pelletier, Reporting

President's Annual Report

June 1, 2003, to May 31, 2004

This past year we held three sectionals in our unit, Kokomo in June, South Bend in August, and the other at Hammond in October last year. Our annual Fort Wayne Fall Festival Regional was again held at the Grand Wayne Center in September. In addition we had two District 8 Wide STaC, one in early November, and the second in late February. I wish to thank our tournament chairmen for all they continue to do for our unit each year. It is a lot of work that goes unappreciated by many of us year after year. They were Don VanBuskirk at Hammond, Jim Feinstein at South Bend, Dick Ellis and Max Banan at Kokomo, and Jim Pelletier and Bob Carteaux at Fort Wayne this year.

We had very small unit participation again at the District NAOP finals in Springfield IL. I really want to encourage our players to go, as Unit 154 picks up the entry fees for both the NAOP and Grand National Teams at the district finals for our unit members. Plan to attend next year to represent us at these great events.

Our unit also continues to subsidize many other ACBL special games and will do so as long as those games are not held at the same time of our unit sectionals or regionals. Money from these tournaments is what enables us to subsidize the special games. Because the NAOP qualifying runs for three months, we do not subsidize them, as the cost is too prohibitive.

This is my last year as president of Unit 154. It was a pleasure and honor to serve you these past four years. I really enjoyed meeting many of our members at the tournaments during my term, and look forward to see all of you soon. I want to thank all our board members for their service these past four years. We continue to look for new board members. If you are interested please let your officers know. I especially want to thank Dick Ellis, our secretary and treasurer for over 25 years. Dick has worked thousands of hours on our behalf, and continues to do so year after year. Be sure and thank him the next time you see him. Thank you, Dick.

Jim Davis from Kokomo is your new president. Jim is more than capable to serve as he has been our recording secretary for many years, and served as a board member for as long as I can remember. Your new vice president is Jim Pelletier from Fort Wayne. Jim has also been on the board for years, and is chairman of the Fort Wayne Regional. Marilyn Weisbach will serve as our new recording secretary. We continue to be in great hands with this fine group.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Carteaux

Unit 154 Past President

Congratulations to Jim Davis of Kokomo and Dave Bish of Leo on becoming Diamond Life Masters during the summer.

CINCINNATI NEWS
Jodie Kieffer, Reporting

Our mentoring program will have ended by the time you read this. It was a great success again this year. It's a nice way for newer players to pick up a few tips and to have the opportunity to meet more players. If you would like to participate, look for this program to start again in the spring.

If you haven't looked in on our website lately, check it out. We have a brand new look, and information is well organized and easily accessible, www.cincybridge.com. You will also find game results, and hand records, as well as general information and past tournament results. There is a lot of great information there. Thanks to Potter Orr for donating his time, energy, and effort to update and maintain the website! Thanks, Potter!

If you have not tried the Sunday game yet, please do so. Look for special games on Sundays to start again in October.

This year there will be a Dayton-Cincinnati team match. We need to beat Dayton! There will be four flights, three teams in each flight will represent each city. We will hold a qualifying team game on Sunday, October 3, at 1: 00 P.M. at the bridge center. The qualifying event will be stratified. We will play four matches of seven boards. The top three teams in each flight will earn the right to represent Cincinnati vs Dayton on November 14 at the bridge center at 11: 00 a.m. The final will be a two session event, with lunch provided between sessions. We will play six rounds of eight boards total. Get your team together and come out to play! Help Cincinnati crush Dayton! Flights are A=Unlimited, A1=0-2000, B=0-1000, C=0-300.

I have moved, so if you have information you'd like to see in this column, you may contact me via email at jodiekieffer@insightbb.com or by telephone at 859-442-0904.

ABA / ACBL
Annease Comer, Reporting

Date for the first nationwide ACBL/ABA game is currently pending. The game WILL NOT be March 19, 2005, during Bridge Week as previously published.

Eligibility Points. After much discussion among people in both organizations the current consensus of the ABA/ACBL committee, which met in Indianapolis, is to keep the ratio of 2: 1 for placement of ABA players in an ACBL game and vice versa for ACBL player placement in an ABA game. This means when an ABA player registers to play in an ACBL game (club or tournament) ABA points should be divided in half and ACBL points added. When an ACBL player registers to play in an ABA game ACBL points should be multiplied by two and ABA points added. The player should then register to play in whatever strata points dictate. Players with an abundance of points and expertise may at some level feel points should, be at face value. This can be worked out with the director in charge. More publicity needs to be accomplished in both leagues so that players and directors are operating under the current policy.

Combined ACBL/ABA Games. Uniform procedures for hosting combined ACBL/ABA are being formalized and will be published. More and more games are being held and more are encouraged. At the ABA Nationals in Indianapolis, July 29-August 7, the ACBL unit closed its clubhouse on ABA/ACBL Day and about forty ACBL members attended the ABA Nationals. A good time was had by all. A newly formed joint ABA/ACBL club in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as well as the Lexington Bridge Club in Youngstown, Ohio, are issuing ACBL/ABA points.

APPALACHIAN UNIT 227
Bessie Haley, Reporting

The charity game held June 22 winners were: A: Ann Pollick - Bess Haley; Mary Boyd - Barbara Jones B: Kathy D'Antoni - David Stein C: Charles Dunn - Loretta Ecker; Robert Levine - Al Preiser.

The International Fund game was held on July 9. Winners were: A: James Olson - Dora Grubb; Lois Kaufman - Bess Haley B: Robert Allen - Lyle Sattes; James Sorrent - Ann Pollitt.

Winners in the Wednesday Stratified Pairs, August 10, were: (7th) A: Ruth Lemon - James Sorrent (2nd) B: Arthur and Nancy Altman (3rd) C: Al and Shirley Starr (4th) D: Richard Hall - Robert Lancaster.

In attendance at the Mid-Atlantic Regional June 29 - July 5, were Jim Olson and his son, Dora Grubb and Byron Hill. Jim Olson's son, who is 20 years old, just recently started playing with his father, who is a long-time bridge player. With less than 20 masterpoints, he went to his first regional (the Mid-Atlantic) and came in fourth in a Flight B pair game. Sunday, they were recruited to play in the Flight A Swiss and his team came in fifth overall.

Winners in the Charleston Sectional, August 13-15, were:

Friday Afternoon Pairs: A: Betty Raney - Carol Lee Schweitzer B/C: Philip Lewis - Charles Jones. Friday Evening Pairs: A: James Sorrent - Kathy D'Antoni B: David Olson - Ellen Moritz C: Philip Lewis - Charles Jones.

Saturday Afternoon Pairs: A: Edward Maier - Robert Bailey B: Genevieve Petersen - Jerri Smith C: Judy Rudin - Robert Levine. Saturday Evening Pairs: A: Thomas Laishley - Jim Hawkins B/C: Stan Fletcher - Arlene Meadows.

Swiss Teams: Thomas Laishley, J. Hawkins, George Pope, Jim Hawkins, Jr.

Unit 227 Ace of Clubs standing as of August 1 are:

Rookie: 1. Tim Agarwal 2. Edie Lyons 3. John J. Fauber. Junior Master: 1. Ellen W. Mohler 2. Joseph L. Mullen 3. Flo N. Koontz. Club Master: 1. Barbara J. Clark 2. Mary Gause 3. Jackie F. Burroughs. Sectional Master: 1. Harry Messinger 2. William N. Schaefer 3. John T. Chambers. Regional Master: 1. Robert J. Singleton 2. Hal L. Mathie 3. Maury R. Reishman. NABC Master: 1. F. Lyle Sattes 2. E. O. Lewis 3. E. Janet Catsonis. Life Master: 1. Bennie J. Shields 2. Nancy G. Altman 3. Arthur Altman. Bronze Master: 1. Mary H. Boyd 2. Dorothy D. Hull 3. Betty B. Raney. Silver Life Master: 1. James B. Sorrent 2. Byron Y. Hill 3. J. M. Hawkins. Gold Life Master: 1. Bessie Haley 2. Kathy Fox.

N.W. KENTUCKY AND S. INDIANA NEWS
Marvin Lawson, Reporting

The good news is rolling! Owensboro was the first to report; therefore their news goes to the head of the pack. Congratulations to Linda and Richard Edds who achieved Life Master status at the Paducah Regional, playing with Donna Fullenwider and Becky Walker. What's rare about this is they both had the same number of points. Owensboro held a nice party for them on July 12. Lots of people attended and as usual, Owensboro rolled out the good food.

Gordon Iler called to tell us a former bridge partner and long time friend, Jack LaRue, passed away recently.

Congratulations to Dr. S. and Chella Periyanayagain from the Madisonville DBC who became Life Masters at the Paducah regional tournament. The Madisonville DBC held a party for them on August 5 with 15 tables attending and lots of good food.

Debbie and Richard Cornett traveled to the Atlanta regional and were second in a Flight A Knockout. Richard was on a Swiss team that came in first on Sunday.

It's been a trial by fire for Evansville's new club president, Sandy Altheide. She stepped in about two weeks before the tournament (which she co-chaired). In just a few weeks, she had whizzed through multiple special meetings and a long list of other urgent matters. She handled it all admirably. Great job, Sandy!

At the tournament, Marshall Miller presented Eugene Cain a special award for lifetime achievement and unfurled a banner proclaiming it the "Eugene Cain Silver Sectional Tournament 2004." It was the most successful tournament ever, with 215 tables of bridge.

Evansville winners at the tournament were: Friday Afternoon Pairs: 3A/2B: Hal and Melba Bootz; 199ers: Norman Allen and Steve Early. Friday Evening Pairs: 2A/1B: Marcie Harding and Nancy Thornberry. Saturday Afternoon Pairs: 4A: Phil Fassett and Bernie Kay; 199ers: Steve Early and Norman Allen. Saturday Evening Pairs: 2A: John Groben and Bonnie Lawson. 199ers: Pam McGinn and Lou Hennessey. Knockout Teams: A: Phyllis Beumer, Bill Sokeland, Pete Lambert, and Russ Davis; B: Ray and Pat Andersen with Lon and Jeanne Bell.

Newest members of the 70 percent club are Billie Floyd and Duane Morrow in May and Betty Davis and Mayola Montgomery in June. Just two years after his first game at the EDBC, Chris Huus made Life Master. Congratulations, Chris.

Congratulations also go to the following Life Masters who have achieved elevated status: Silver Life Master: Bernie Kay and Sallie Wade. Bronze Life Master: Mary Lou Tonnemacher. Future Masters who have moved up the ladder: NABC Master: Cal Wade. Regional Master: John Lawler. Junior Master: Pat Conner, Diane Aulich, Nancy Berendsen, Jack Davis, Patricia Haerer, Jack Malaney, Phil O'Bryan, Linda Palmer, Carol Pettys, Jan Tucker, and Julie Wagner. Club Master: Harold Lodato and Dorothy Parsons.

On July 21, the Vincennes Wednesday Duplicate Club participated in the District 11 STaC game. The local winners were:

Strat A: 1. Harry and Peggy Dunkel 2. Joan Chambon and Bill Meler 3. Julia Bomalaski and Becky Howerton 4. Chris and Toni Kimmel 5. LeRoy Breimeier and Sidney Gelb. Strat B: 1. Harry and Peggy Dunkel 2. Joan Chambon and Bill Meler 3. Chris and Toni Kimmel 4. Pam Corrona and Becky Brockman. Strat C: 1. Chris and Toni Kimmel 2. Margie Eck and Sue Gerhart. In the overall field of 148 pairs, Harry and Peggy Dunkel were first in Strat. B earning 7.65 silver and Joan Chambon and Bill Meler were sixth earning 1.82 silver.

Imagine having a 72 percent game at a local duplicate game and not placing first! Paulette Wroblewski and Joan Chambon faced those results at a North American Pairs qualifying game on August 18 at the Vincennes Wednesday Duplicate game. The BIG winners were LeRoy Breimeier and Randy Smith with a 76 percent game.

B. J. Hoffman, manager of the Vincennes Sunday game, was recognized as a Golden Age Master with a surprise party in her honor. Unit president Bobby Tapp presented B. J. with her plaque acknowledging her contribution to duplicate bridge, her accomplishments as a player, and her seniority as a bridge player. Winners in the game were: 1. LeRoy Breimeier and Sidney Gelb 2. Joan Chambon and Bob Lechner 3. Ann Nugent and Martha Jenson 4. Rosie Catt and Margie Eck.

CENTRAL INDIANA BRIDGE ASSOCIATION
John Hinton, Reporting

The annual meeting and team game of the CIBA was held at the Northside Knights of Columbus on September 12. A report of the results of the election and of the game will appear in January. Thank you to all those who ran for the board: Annette Clark, Natan Erdberg, Sondro Franchi, Linda Leedy, Bob Lyon, Eileen Miller, and John Nichols. The final Silver Point Week of 2004 will be held November 8-13, with the final held at the Indianapolis Bridge Center on November 14. This event has been growing recently and there are large masterpoint awards at the final, so try to play if you can. To qualify for the first session on November 14 you needed to play in the week of September 20 (and finish in the top half of the field). To qualify for the second session on November 20 you need to play and qualify the week of November 8.

For the final time (in this forum) I would like to ask you to attend the Indianapolis Regional at the Adams Mark Hotel December 7-12. The full schedule appears in this month's Midwest Monitor. I hope to be contacting many of you personally to remind you of this tournament, but if you know of someone who has not played bridge in a while give them a call to invite them to play at the regional (you don't have to play with them, just ask them to come). If anyone needs a partner contact our partnership chair Bill Ervin at wervin@butler.edu. If you have any other questions about the regional contact me at john.hinton@insightbb.com. Also remember the Indianapolis Sectional January 14-16 at the Northside Knights of Columbus. The schedule also appears in this Monitor.

Members who have reached masterpoint milestones include: Silver Life Master: James Angell, Miriam Contanch, and Sharon Fletcher; Bronze Life Master: Jack Hoskins and Leda Kulawinski; Life Master: Eugene Kober, Don Leedy, Robert Bovenschen, and Eileen Miller. We are sad to report the deaths of Leo White, Shirley Gates, and Fay Willensky.

Veteran's Day is November 11. I am not able to imagine the sacrifice given by those who have served our country. Neither can I imagine life without the freedoms that are so easy to take for granted each day. It is through this sacrifice that these freedoms were attained and are maintained. To all those who have served and to those who serve today - thank you.

I have written these columns for seven years, and it is time for a change. My replacement, Brad Bartol, was my first choice as a replacement and is a true writer whose columns promise to be enjoyable. Brad's tenure will begin in January.

I would like to leave you with a couple of thoughts. There are many people I have met playing bridge for whom I have a great deal of respect, and few more than Sid Kilsheimer, who served as a tournament director for many years. After being called to a table where a contentious group was seated, Sid first pointed out that bridge is a game for ladies and gentlemen. Indeed. Finally, I overheard a discussion about a person who had not been playing much lately. When asked what they had been doing, someone said "growing old gracefully." That is a worthy goal for each of us.

BLUEGRASS BRIDGE
Harry Gordon, Reporting

Go Sondra and Terrell!

After strong finishes in several knockouts in Gatlinburg and Paducah, Sondra and Terrell Holt are our feature. Sondra has done an excellent job as our club president, upgrading our status with special games and increased membership, almost at the end of her second year, hopefully of a lifetime term. She has recently made Life Master to go along with her masters in chemistry earned at the University of Kentucky. Having less than a hundred points, Terrell, a Ph.D. in electro-chemistry, specializing in metallurgical engineering, has become a club regular. Blessed with two children and three grandchildren, they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August.

Other wedding anniversaries included Reva and Tommy Brehm at 55 years and Kelley and Frank Butler, marking 40!!

How about Mike Marlin picking up 22 club points during the month of July!!!!!!

What would you do with this hand??

♠Axxx ♥x ♦QJ10xxx ♣xx, Vul against non-Vul, you hear two hearts on your right and decide to pass. Three clubs to your left and then three hearts back to you . . . as partner remains silent. Another pass by you and four hearts by LHO, passed back around gives you a last opportunity to be a hero. Yes, this has a SAD ending. You are hoping they are cold for six hearts, but alas, you are cold for six spades!

The complete deal has your partner with ♠QJxx ♥xxx ♦Axx ♣AQJ and the kings of spades and diamonds are both doubleton and in the slot, as well as the king of clubs, finessable. Your right hand opponent bid three clubs holding ♠xxx ♥Kxx ♦Kx ♣Kxxxx and then confidently bid four hearts.

In retrospect, a Michaels three heart call is what I will use the next time to avoid "the fix of the year."

We hope to have seen all of you in Pine Mountain.

Last Updated: October 22, 2004