[caption id="attachment_2851" align="alignright" width="150"] YC Marathon 2017 Winners Simon Gillis & Alex Hydes[/caption]

This year the Young Chelsea returned to its traditional 24‑hour format for the marathon, an event that was part of its ongoing fiftieth‑year celebrations. (The last time a 24‑hour marathon was held was in 2009. Since then, there have been merely half marathons, lasting just 12 hours.) The event was held over the weekend, 28 & 29 October, starting around noon on the Saturday and finishing at about 11.00am on the Sunday. (It really was 24 hours; the clocks went back overnight.)

The winners on 58.26{8d3417a454e2c0ade1eb175b5d12e2fd5975ede06672c7919936a0db57f25d49} were the threesome of Simon Gillis, Alex Hydes, & Tom Paske. Two of the three winning players are pictured. The advantage of a threesome is that a player can sit out and rest for a session. The lucky player enjoying his sleep at the finish was Tom Paske.

First prize was £1000. (One of the disadvantages of a threesome is that any prize is split between more players.)

The full ranking is here, and includes links to more detailed session results on Pianola.

[caption id="attachment_2852" align="alignright" width="150"] YC Marathon 2017 Second Mike Pownall &  John Atthey[/caption]

For much of the competition Mike Pownall &  John Atthey were contending for the winners' spot. At the end they finished in second place on 58.11{8d3417a454e2c0ade1eb175b5d12e2fd5975ede06672c7919936a0db57f25d49}, fewer than six matchpoints behind the winners. They had to be content with a £400 prize.

[caption id="attachment_2853" align="alignright" width="150"] YC Marathon 2017 Third Brian Callaghan & Heather Dhondy[/caption]

Brian Callaghan & Heather Dhondy started slowly, recovered well, but were unable to mount a serious challenge on the top two positions. Their prize for third place, on 56.66{8d3417a454e2c0ade1eb175b5d12e2fd5975ede06672c7919936a0db57f25d49}, was £200.

[caption id="attachment_2854" align="alignright" width="150"] YC Marathon 2017 Fourth Adrian Orlowski & Laura Porro[/caption]

Adrian Orlowski & Laura Porro started well, faded slightly, and finished on 54.69{8d3417a454e2c0ade1eb175b5d12e2fd5975ede06672c7919936a0db57f25d49} in a respectable fourth place, picking up a £150 prize.

[caption id="attachment_2855" align="alignright" width="150"] YC Marathon 2017 Fifth Sylwester Walerowicz & Marek Małysa[/caption]

There was a scramble for fifth place, the last to get a prize, between three pairs, with fewer than two matchpoints separating fifth through seventh places. The pairs who just missed out were Marco Golla & Ludovico Mori and Patrick Lawrence & Oliver Lawrence. Fifth place on 53.00{8d3417a454e2c0ade1eb175b5d12e2fd5975ede06672c7919936a0db57f25d49} went to Sylwester Walerowicz & Marek Małysa. They picked up £120. (Rumour had it they had come to the tournament to research options for future World Bridge Federation events.)

[caption id="attachment_2856" align="alignright" width="150"] YC Marathon 2017 Menu[/caption]

Thanks to the many YC members who worked behind the scenes to make the event a success. David Muller in particular gave up the chance of playing to direct instead over the whole 24 hours. The band of helpers made sure that the traditional free YC tomato soup (a secret recipe handed down over the generations) was served to the weary competitors in the small hours of the morning. Other food options were available to purchase throughout the event, as the menu shows. (There were, unusually, no misspellings on the menu, but sharp‑eyed readers will notice an interesting potato dish.)

The Young Chelsea Spring Half Marathon took place on Saturday 13 May. The three‑session 12‑hour cross‑IMPed pairs event attracted 33 pairs.

The winners, picking up the £800 first prize, were Peter Taylor, John Cox, and Fiona Hutchison with a score of 105.09 IMPs. (Threesomes were allowed. Peter played throughout, John played in the first two sessions, and Fiona played in the last session.)

In second place, collecting £300, were Heather Dhondy and Brian Callaghan on 86.87 IMPs.

In third place, collecting £100, were Simon Gillis and Alan Mould on 72.90 IMPs.

Smaller prizes went to the highest‑placed pair in each session which did not win one of the three main prizes.

Overall ranking and session results are available on Pianola:

• Overall ranking
• Session one of three
• Session two of three
• Session three of three
   

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  Item posted 15 Mayl 2017