Just over an hour drive north of Chiang Mai is one of my favourite resorts, the Chiang Dao Nest. The site is beautiful, in a charming valley shaded by tall trees and with a mountain rising up so sharply that it looks almost within touching distance. The cabins are cozy (in the sense of nurturing and nest-like, rather than estate agents' jargon for cramped). Possibly most surprising to those unfamiliar with the Nest is that you will be served gourmet Western cooking (I definitely recommend the lamb tagine I ate for dinner).

On top of all this, the outdoor restaurant is an excellent location for a few hands of bridge. To this end, the Bridge Club of Chiang Mai held their inaugural Chiang Dao tournament there earlier this month. For variety there were three quite different events spread over two days, a duplicate pairs tournament, a light hearted Chicago tournament featuring some really wild bidding and an individual event. Particular credit goes to Chris Hedges for organizing the trip, John Bucher for all his work on movement cards and scoring, and Penny Ellis for handling the finances. Based on the reaction of participants, we are already planning the next such trip.

Kob Cavin and Martin Bagnall won the pairs, closely followed by Marjolaine Dionne and Pascal Tanquay. The individual was won by Neil Robinson, just tipping Kob Cavin on the last board. Tim Dickey was third and Chris Hedges came in fourth. The hottest competition however was for the booby prize in the individual. The result was a draw between Ruth Willmon and Pascal Tanquay—quite a contrast for Pascal between the two days, after nearly winning the pairs. Congratulations to all.

Some of the 36 bridge players who enjoyed an afternoon of bridge
at The Pub at the first annual Club Day of Chiang Mai’s Bridge Club.

On Friday, January 22nd the Bridge Club of Chiang Mai held their first annual Club Day and light hearted individual tournament. We started in the morning, broke for an enjoyable buffet lunch at The Pub, and finished in the afternoon for a relaxed day of bridge. We had 36 players at nine tables—the club’s highest attendance to date. All players changed partners at each board so that everyone got to play with (almost) everyone else. There were awards for making a slam, making a redoubled contract etc., in addition to placing in the top four. The best prizes were those brought by Rado Nordtveit, including a wonderful hat and “X-ray glasses” so that you could see through the backs of the cards! Particular credit for the smooth running of the tournament goes to Penny Ellis for signing up the ideal number of players and John Bucher for all his work on movement cards etc.—individual tournament movements are much more complicated than pairs movements.
Carolyn Kaufer won the event, closely followed by Chris Hedges, Mike Williams in third place and Ruth Willmon in fourth. The prize for making a redoubled contract went to Richie Tierney (who also got to take home the above-mentioned hat) and Chris Hedges. Highest score on a board went to Fran Decoster and Rado Nordtveit. Congratulations to these and all who took part for a successful and fun day.

In play: in the foreground are Chiang Mai players (from left) Jean-Claude Barret, Chris Hedges, Trevor Dobson and Graham Forshaw.

Neil Robinson
A historic bridge tournament was held in Chiang Mai earlier this month at the Sirinart Garden Hotel, organised by Tivatavat Vijaykadga from Chiang Mai and Prof. Prasong of Chiang Mai University. Its title, the ‘Rapprochement Tournament’, reflected the fact that it involved the meeting of bridge players from Bangkok, Khon Kaen and both Thai and expatriate players from Chiang Mai. On Sunday July 5, more than thirty people played duplicate pairs. On Monday 6th, a full-day team competition took place, including three four-person teams from the Bridge Club of Chiang Mai. All participants hope that this is only the first of what will become an annual event.

Many of the players gathered for a group photo afterwards. Kneeling at front right is Khun Tivatavat whose idea the tournament was. Other Chiang Mai players pictured include Sheila and Martin Bagnall, Penny Ellis, Cinda Rankin, Bernard Garwood, Neil Robinson, John Bucher, Richie Tierney, Jean-Claude Barret, Chris Hedges, Trevor Dobson and Graham Forshaw.