Editorial

In the August issue there was so much to report that I had to cut out comments on interesting hands. Since then little has come to my notice that is not of a routine mid-season nature. So! Less of the chat this time and down to the details.

Competition Results

Dawes Trophy 1972
Once more Warwickshire have won the trophy with ease and their second team came out top as well. Both first and second Staffordshire teams ended up fourth out of the eight counties that competed. Our Captain Geoff Salwey expressed his disappointment when reporting recently to the Committee. We really ought to be pressing Warwickshire hard with the talent we can call on, but Staffordshire continue to put up mediocre performances against teams they should be slaughtering. The following have played for the first team this season:- Ballham, Beech*, Bieganski, Davies*, Downs*, Edwards, Feltbower*, Ferguson, Mrs. Gane, Kne, Link*, Mallett*, Monckton, Norris*, Perry*, Salwey*, Sartain*, Slyle, Steele, Tottenham, Trounce*, Twine. Those marked with an asterisk also played for the second team for which the following have also appeared.- Barnard, Beavon, Charleton, Mr. & Mrs. Charlish, Cooke, Mrs. Edwards, Gearing, Hayward, Hughes, Seymour, Stewart, Tobias.

Tollemache Cup (Midland Heat)
In a supreme endeavour to achieve the success our County Team seeks, the Captain played 5 tried pairs at Stratford-on-Avon. The result, alas, was our worst for a long time - fifth out of six! Those who carried on to the final were Ballham/Beech, Davies/Downs, Link/Keane Slyde/Steele, Topley/Tottenham. Warwickshire (as usual) won by a street.

Ladies' Pairs
As last year, only a few entries were received so there were no area qualifying heats. Mrs. Charlish and Mrs. Hanley won, just keeping ahead of the holders, Mrs. Edwards and Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Riley and Mrs. Hudson from Alsager came a creditable third.

Men's Pairs (Bruce Mugs)
The heat winners were Edwards/Parker at Wolverhampton and Dean/Robinson at Newcastle. An exciting Final played in Wolverhampton on January 21st, resulted in a tie between Hayward/Seymour and Beavon/Hughes, the former prevailing because they had scored more match points when the two pairs played each other. Congratulations to Seymour on winning this event with two different partners (he and Codling won in 1971).

The Flitch
13 husband and wife combinations competed at Wolverhampton on Sunday, November 26th. Mr. & Mrs. Turton were the winners, with Mr. & Mrs. Dumbleton a close second and Mr. & Mrs. Dash third. So close were the Dumbletons that they were provisionally announced as the winners, a match point error being discovered when the scores were checked later that night. Red faces all round for the scorers, but a very sporting acceptance of the revised result by the runners-up'

Championship Pairs (Bearn Trophy)
The new form of qualifying rounds adopted this year has resulted in a really big entry - 53 pairs have registered. It is anticipated that nine will qualify from Stafford, eight from Wolverhampton, six from Alsager and five from Newcastle. There will, therefore, be a 28-pair Semi-Final at Wolverhampton on April 1st, the best fourteen pairs qualifying for the Final on April 15th (also at Wolverhampton).

County Pairs at Newcastle
This new competition has got off to a good start. 23 pairs play two heats per month and in March the 10 pairs with the best five results will qualify for the Final to be held in April. This event has been open to all County members and will be well worth winning with its excellent prizes. Leading contenders at present are:- Mrs. Glover/Mrs. Sumberg, Davies/Downs, Mrs. Dumbleton/Mrs. Lemming, Dumbleton/Salmon, Robinson/Dean, Mrs. Stoddard/Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Landy/ Dr. Bruce, Tobias/Barnard, Brandon/Copley, Mrs. Gane/Mrs. McCall.

Individual
20 entries at Newcastle provided a good heat. 8 entries at Wolverhampton provided no heat, it had to be cancelled on account of the low entry. It has now been decided that Stafford should run a heat on February 14th and this will enable those who wanted to play at Wolverhampton also to compete. There will be a five-table final on 18th February at Newcastle Bridge Club.

Championship Teams of Four (Staffordshire Cup)
This season 10 teams entered. We have now reached the semi-final stage, in which last year's winners (who went on to win the Pachabo), that is Link's team, meets Trounce's team and Edwards' team meets Cowley's. Dr. Sartain has contributed a vivid account of his team's two matches. They - that is Sartain/Topley, Monckton/Bieganski - first played last year's finalists Beech/Ballham and Davies/Downs. Both sides were in a generous mood but in spite of two successive hands that cost 1600 and 1070 point swings, the blame for which Sartain modestly attributes to himself, his team prevailed. In their next match against the holders they were 7 I.M.P. down at half way. Then came the following hand--

Staffordshire League
Current placings are.-

All matches to be completed on or by March 15th.

Notable Performances
At the Droitwich Congress George Charlish presided as Chairman of the Droitwich Committee for this year. He found time to play in most Sessions, as well as making an effective speech before the prize-giving. The prizes were charmingly presented by Jean Charlish. The Championship Pairs (Foster Cups) was won by Ian and Teresa Ferguson. A wonderful triumph for our newly-weds who deserted Staffordshire last summer to live in Peterborough. Other successes at Droitwich were:-
Mrs. Hanley and Mrs. Charlish (second in Ladies' Pairs), Mrs. Lovell, and Mrs. Bayliss, Mr. & Mrs. Charlish (second in Open Teams) and the following winners of open pairs:-
Mr. & Mrs. Charlish, Henfrey and Charlish, Mr. & Mrs. Hommers, Drs. Z. & P. Milewski, Mr. & Mrs. Edwards.
At the Prestatyn Congress Mrs. Pimblett and Mrs. Johnson won the Championship Pairs Cup. This partnership also won the Championship Pairs at the Wolverhampton Bridge Club.
Derbyshire invitation teams of four (McFarlane Cup) was won for the second year in succession by the Staffordshire Team. Last year's winners consisting of Beech/Ballham and Davies/Downs were unable to defend the title, but Dumbleton/Stubbs and Drs. Milewski and Fitton proved worthy substitutes.
The Worcestershire invitation teams of four (Healey Cup) was also won by the Staffordshire team - Mr. & Mrs. Topley, Tottenham and Robinson.

Personalia
We have just heard of the sad death of Jack Pharo as a result of a heart attack. All who knew him, when he played in Staffordshire, extend their sincere condolences to his wife, Dorothy.
Graham Link has been selected to play for England in an International Match against Holland, as a direct result of his impressive form in the "Under-27's" Championship. Well done, Graham!

Annual General Meeting
We are hoping to hold the A.G.M again this year in G.E.C.'s excellent recreation centre in Stafford. We had a reasonable attendance last year but are hoping for lots more this year - the more come, the better the occasion becomes, especially the enjoyable short Bridge session after the meeting for which we draw for partners. Details on Club notice boards later.