Greg Simpson Memorial Trophy Winners 2018

Stuart Barnsley (partner), Carmel Pike (2ndPlace), John van Doorn (Winner) and Paddy Todd (partner)

Congratulations to John van Doorn:  Winner of the Greg Simpson Memorial Trophy

John wants to especially thank all his partners along the way as well as all the participants who provided such a strong competition.  The 1st place could have gone many ways depending on the last game.

This is the major event within our club for our players who hold under 100 master points (UHMP).  I think the trophy inspires us to celebrate what great love and support we, as a club, were able to give to Greg during his final battle with the lung disease that claimed his life at such a young age. As I look around our players at Thursday Bridge I still enjoy that spirit of comradeship, always ready to enjoy a laugh...and the one liner was one of Greg’s strengths.  At Bridge we feel stimulated by the game and enjoy it in the comfort and fellowship of our players.  The Club exists because we have a common love of a card game and that is the root of the tree that grows to incorporate our love and tolerance for our membership.

John’s Partners: 1- Stewart Barnsley,  2- Robina MacDiarmid, 3- Richard Leckner, 4- Mary McCarthy.

2nd Place and partners:  Carmel Pike: 1- Pam Duckworth,  2- Gillian Courtice, 3- Allison Maberly-Smith, 4- Paddy Todd.

3rd Place and partners:  Richard Leckner:1-  Mary McCarthy, 2- Cherry Bouttell, 3- John van Doorn, 4- Christine Dunn.

A wonderful cross section of our UHMP players, ranging from this year’s beginners lessons to club members of several years.

60% of our Club membership holds under 100 MPs so I believe it is important to have an event that allows them to shine in their own right.  Many of these players aspire to the day they will reach a level where they can play confidently against the Open players, and until that day let’s celebrate the fact that they are enjoying their Bridge challenge along the way!

Other Club events to help our newer players challenge themselves are:

• Restricted Teams – 2 Days event in January
• Restricted Pairs Championship - 2 Days event in March
• Hi-Low Pairs in February, April, May, August and October
• Teams of 3 in April

The Club also participates in an UHMP - 4 days event plus a Final sponsored by the NSW Bridge Federation in August and September, Final in November.

Sylvia Goodwin