13th SUN,
SEA, & SLAMS
BARBADOS
BRIDGE LEAGUE
October
16th-20th, 2002
The 13th edition of the Bajan Sun, Sea, & Slams was held
in a new venue this year - the Asta Beach Resort. With the secluded beach on a
protected lagoon and all rooms with an ocean view, it took me back to our party
years at the Accra, Hilton, and Grand Barbados. Next year we will have a big
re-union at the ASTA!
I arrived late Monday night and hit the sack after a day of
airplanes and airports. The next morning, after a much-needed sea bath and
breakfast, I checked out the playing site. We were on the second floor in a
carpeted conference room with great lighting & A/C. That afternoon, my
Bajan hosts arrived and we got to work setting up the room. When that was done,
I adjourned to my room to duplicate boards.
Play began the next day with the Wednesday
Morning Pairs. The BBL had lots of prizes for the morning games, so I ran
them as 2-winner movements. As expected, this was mainly a Bajan event and they
took the top spot in both directions. Charles Hollingsworth & Livingston
Chase won N/S with 62.50% while the Vets (Michael Gill & Leslie Atherley)
had 56.55% to lead E/W. The top 3 N/S scores were higher than all E/W efforts,
and the first slam of the week went to Brenda Gonsalves & Leroy 'Daddy'
Millar. With silent opponents, South opened 1S holding - s A8765 h 654
d AK7 c J6. The spotlight
shifted to North, who held a nice collection - s QJT h AJ7 d T c AKQT84. It seems obvious to drive this
hand to at least 6S as we have the goods - good trumps, controls, and a source
of tricks. However, as on this hand, the opponents may lead a heart and we
could be off a high spade honor. This makes the spade slam less than 50%, but
here in the islands, that's close enough as bidding 6 and making 7 was only
slightly above average! (Kx of spades onside)
The main events began Wednesday afternoon with the 1st Session of the Pelau Pairs. Things were
getting more serious now as we were into the prize money events, and Pat &
Daddy (Pat Cummins & Leroy Millar) served first notice by leading the field
with 61.31%. Our French contingent from Martinique started well, with the
Brothers (Gilles Rougy & Jean Yves Dabreteau) taking 2nd at 61.01% and the
Pair (Sylvia Faguet & Luis Suivant) tied with the Bajan Boys (Tony Watkins
& Dave Blackman) for third at 58.33%. Veterans Dickie & Bigfoot (Bajan
Dickie Parkinson & Richard Burns from the states) rounded out the top five
at 56.55%.
After a leisurely evening meal, they were back at it in the 2nd Session of the Pelau Pairs. The Bajan Boys
shot from the hip to take session honors with a massive 69.39% game. The
Canucks (Barbara Seagram & Alex Kornel) were a distant 2nd at 62.59%,
closely followed by Pat & Daddy with 61.22%. The Brothers had another solid
game in 4th at 57.48% while Dickie & Bigfoot tied Tyrone & the Bag Lady
(Bajans Tyrone Ashby & Hyacinth Burton) with 53.40% for 5th.
When all scores were in, the winners of the Pelau Pairs - Final Overall were the Bajan Boys
at 63.49%. Their mighty 2nd session was just too much for Pat & Daddy as
they settled for bridesmaids at 61.27% (note their consistency). The Brothers
stayed on track with two strong sessions for 3rd with 59.37% to grab the rest
of the overall prize money. But as the name of the event suggest, there is
cook-up of prizes. Besides the session and overall winners, there are prizes
for Top Mixed Pair, Top Ladies Pairs, Top Mens Pair, and Top CACBF Pair.
After a full day, my bed sure looked good. The next morning,
we had to scramble for players in the Thursday
Morning Pairs and in the end, I got roped into playing to fill out six
tables. Continuing my success in these events, Ms. Moneypenny & I (Bajan
Adelle Springer) grabbed 1st N/S with 66.67% while more Bajans, Pat & Rog
(Roglyn Hinds) led E/W at 59.50%. Once again, the locals took most of the
prizes.
In the afternoon and evening, we played the Round Robin Teams. With only 6 teams entered, we
were able to play 12 board matches and have all teams play the same boards.
Going into the event, my pick was the SEAGRAM. They were the favorites although
we did have the French in good form and a couple of veteran local teams. In the
end, the Canucks & Bajan Boys were just too much as they won all their
matches and took 116 VPs out of the maximum of 125. Locals GILL ended up 2nd at
89 VPs, while the real dogfight occurred for 3rd with the FAGUET French at 67
nipping locals COLLINS with 66 and Trinis DE MEILLAC at 65.
Friday was another three-session day, starting with the Friday Morning Pairs. The N/S line was won by
another last-minute entry, Moneypenny & Bigfoot, with 60.71%. On the E/W
side, Rog & Ann (Bajan Ann Evelyn) put it together at 59.23%. Finally, the
locals' sweep of the morning game prizes was broken when the Brothers took 2nd
E/W at 58.93%.
The afternoon saw the stratified Bajan
Pairs. Here the locals took the top spots in A with Nan Collins & the
Bag Lady scoring 58.33% in 1st. Next were Moneypenny & Bigfoot with 56.94%
while Trinis Lisa & Deby (Lisa De Meillac & Deborah Fletcher) were 1st
in B with 51.39%.
That evening, the main event started with the 1st Session of the Championship Pairs. As
expected, the Bajan Boys led the way at 63.80% although there were a lot of
Trinis chasing them. In 2nd were Lisa & Deby with a fine 62.76% and in 3rd,
Helen Blanc & Gail Grell solid at 60.16%. Hiding in the pack were another
of the favorites, Pat & Nicky (Nicky Inniss from Trinidad) with 59.64% in
4th. More of those Trini ladies rounded out the top five, with Betty Ann
Fraites & Diane Grell at 53.13%.
Things quieted down on Saturday with only one session - the 2nd Session of the Championship Pairs, played in
the afternoon. The evening was free for the barbecue and entertainment put on
by the hotel. Pat & Nicky hammered the field with a 66.67% game, well ahead
of the field. Locals Yvonne & Daddy (Yvonne Seale) scored 58.85% for 2nd,
while the Bajan Boys managed 56.51% for 3rd. The Vets were 4th at 53.91, edging
out Bigfoot & Bajan Livingston Chase in 5th with 53.39%.
The Championship Pairs after
two sessions saw Pat & Nicky take a board and a half lead on the field.
They were being challenged by the Bajan Boys while Lisa & Deby were hanging
on to 3rd. Yvonne & Daddy were lying 4th and Trinis Helen & Gail 5th.
The next day would see the leaders meet head on in the final session.
Sunday afternoon, the 3rd
Session of the Championship Pairs produced a tie for the session winners.
Yvonne & Daddy plus the Bajan Boys both scored 60.94% to squeeze by Nan
& the Bag Lady in 3rd with 60.42%. The Italians (Paola & Osvaldo
Torres) finally made their mark with a 4th place finish at 58.85% while Pat
& Nicky hung in there with 56.77%.
The Championship Pairs
Overall was taken by Pat & Nicky, who despite some bobbles in the last
session, hung on to win by a half a board. The Bajan Boys made a charge but
just fell short and settled for 2nd. Yvonne & Daddy took 3rd while the
surprising Trinis, Helen & Gail, climbed into 4th place. Our Italian
visitors rounded out the top 5.
Despite the lower attendance this year, the atmosphere of
hospitality and friendship was as high as ever. Everyone had a great time and is
looking forward to next year.
Masterpoint Winners at SSS
2002.