Ten tables, enthusiasm all over the room, concentration in Spades, furrowed brows, slight mutters from here and there, the good hands always with the opposition, you know where I’m going with this! And then, without even noticing it, the afternoon and 24 boards had passed us all by, in a brief moment in time.

But, hey, there’s always next week, isn’t there?

Dealing with today, the winners were that industrious pair of Paul and Bridie. Then, a scant 1 point behind, was the pair of Cathy and Danny. That’s correct, 1 point behind! Consider that the next time you get a little sloppy or casual and give a trick away needlessly! One point in a total of 286 points on offer! Gee! Then came Jill and Vanessa in third place, 10 points behind.

Nothing more to report from The Sandpan today, apart from the alarmingly low levels of the water, shrinking the perimeter inexorably, day by scorching day. Even the Seagulls have quietened down, not being as noisy as usual, in fact missing from their normal haunts on the middle sandbar. We need rain, buckets and buckets of it, pouring down from above, for at least a week or more. Don’t ever complain about incessant rain again, it’s life giving. The alternative is too terrible to contemplate.

OK, Hayward, enough of all that serious stuff, next week is the last week of competitive bridge for the year, then we celebrate the festive season, the new year, and everything that comes with it.

To those of you who won’t be playing next week, we wish, firstly, our Jewish members a Happy Hanukkah, and our Christian members a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. Remember that those of us playing next week should bring a plate of snacks, one per pair.

Goodnight all, love you guys.

Roy and Troy

Results

Hand Records