17th SUN, SEA, & SLAMS

BARBADOS BRIDGE LEAGUE

October 17th-21st, 2006

Island Inn Hotel, Aquatic Gap, St. Michael

Sunny days and the beautiful Caribbean set the tone for SSS2006. The hospitality was superb as usual, and the computer co-operated with some slams!

The Tuesday Morning Pairs had a huge turnout as players were warming up for the main events. North/South was a Bajan affair with Hyacinth Burton & Jeffrey Newton at 64.80%, Adelle Spinger & Nan Collins at 62.28%, and Brenda Gonsalves & Campbell Blenman at 59.66%. East/West winners were the P's (Bermudans David Pereira & Charles Pearman) with 60.49%, followed by Bajans George Bailey & Livingston Chase at 59.47% and part of this year's Scandanavian invasion from Norway, Jon Hansen & Jan-Erik Drangsholt, at 57.52%. The first slam of the week was bid and made by George & Livie as they rolled into 6NT holding the following: s AQT65 h AK93 d 2 c J96 facing s KJ4 h J65 d AJ5 c AK72.

The main events started Tuesday afternoon with the 1st Session of the Pelau IMP Pairs. The Norwegians showed that they will be a force in the teams by taking the top two spots, with Bjorn Fjallstad & Jan-Erik Drangsholt at +82.33 IMPs and Jon Hansen & Erik Dahl at +59. The Bajan Boys were 3rd at +50, nipping out the P's at +49 and the Vets (Richard Burns & Donald Carow from the USA).

After dinner, the 2nd Session of the Pelau IMP Pairs showed the pairs on the favoured teams for tomorrow in fine form. The Norwegians Hansen/Dahl led the way with +85 IMPs, while the Brits, Karen & Malcolm Pryor, finished with +67. The Bajan Boys followed with +58, nipping their teammates (Pat Cummins & Kip Rotchell) at +57. The other Norwegians, Fjallstad/Drangsholt, rounded out the leaders at +53.

The Final Overall of the Pelau IMP Pairs had the Norwegians leading the pack. Jon Hansen & Erik Dahl topped the list at +144 IMPs, closely followed by their countrymen, Bjorn Fjallstad & Jan-Erik Drangsholt, with +135.33. The Bajan Boys finished well back in a solid 3rd spot at +108. In a distant 4th & 5th were the Bermudans and a Bajan, with David Pereira & Charles Pearman at +65 while Alan Douglas & Ian Harvey (the new Bajan) had +62.08. At press time, I did not have the list of multiple winners that this event provides :-)

Another big turnout for the Wednesday Morning Pairs had veteran Bajans Jeffrey Newton & Campbell Blenman leading the North/South field at 58.56%, while Bajans Roglyn Hinds & Harley Moseley took 2nd with 54.86%. In a very close battle for 3rd, Trinis Joyce Farley & Diane Grell's 54.40% was just enough to edge out Brits Hilary & Harvey Leigh at 53.94%. In the other direction, the Trini/Bajan connection of Janet Alleyne & Charles Hollingsworth led all participants with a fine 61.34%. Taking 2nd East/West were Bermudans Margaret Way & Jean Johnson at 58.10% while the Brit Boys, Malcolm Pryor & Mike Rafferty, finished 3rd with 56.48%.

The first major event started Wednesday afternoon with the Round Robin Teams. This two-session affair plays half of each match against every team in each session. At the dinner break, the Norwegians were leading in almost all of their matches, and the only team with a real chance were the Bajan Boys & co. After a hearty meal with appropriate beverages, the Norwegian foursome of Bjorn Fjallstad, Jan-Erik Drangsholt, Jon Hansen, & Erik Dahl duplicated their performance in the Pelau Pairs by winning 9 of their 10 matches and accumulating 205 Victory Points for 1st place. Almost a full match back in 2nd place with 184 VP's and 7 wins were the Bajan Boys playing with Bajans Pat Cummins & Kip Rotchell. A couple more local teams filled the next two places, with Charles Hollingsworth, Adelle Springer, Nan Collins, and Hyancinth Burton in 3rd at 163 VP's and a mere 4½ wins while Michael Gill, Leslie Atherley, Alan Moss, and Harley Moseley snuck into 4th with 153 VP's and 6½ victories. Rounding out the top five was the veteran Bermuda/U.S.A. foursome of Margaret Way, Jean Johnson, Richard Burns, and Donald Carow with 152 VP's and also 6½ wins. The full results came a lot quicker this year due to improved data management, so the Open Teams - Cross Table was available shortly after the end of the evening session.

After a rough couple of days of IMPs, the attendance dropped slightly in the Thursday Morning Pairs. The N/S winners with a massive 69.34% were Bermudans Margaret Way & Jean Johnson. They were flirting with a 70%+ game up until the last round. Finishing 2nd N/S were Bajan veterans Dickie Parkinson & Roglyn Hinds with a fine 63.69%, normally enough to win but not this morning. Taking 3rd spot with 54.47% were the long-standing partnership of my right hand Bajan, Adelle Springer, and BF (Richard Burns of the USA). The East/West victory went to some former Bajans who have moved back to Minnesota, Jane & Fred Baker, with 62.96%. Taking 2nd at 59.26% were returning Brits Liz Blande & Mike Rafferty, while well back but tied for 3rd/4th were locals Norma Springer & Michael Gill and Leslie Atherley & Jeffrey Newton.

The Thursday afternoon game was the single session Bajan Pairs, sponsored by Cockspur Rum, with prizes being some of their fine products. With so much to give away, the field was split into N/S & E/W and the N/S side was won by former Bajans Jane & Fred Baker with 62.02%. Second N/S went to Brits Chrissie Kempton & Phil Jones at 60.90% while 3rd was garnered by locals Adelle Springer & Charles Hollingwsorth at 57.85%. On the E/W side of the draw, Bermudans Alan Douglas & David Pereira were well ahead in 1st with 67.95%. A distant second were the vets from the US, Richard Burns & Donald Carow, at 59.62% and 3rd went to the Bajan/Bermudan combo of Ian Harvey & Charles Pearman with 58.81%.

With the evening set aside for entertainment, the Barbados Bridge League organized transportation for all the players immediately following the afternoon session. They were taken down to the harbour and boarded a converted ferryboat for an early evening cruise. The bar was open, the dinner buffet was delicious, and the show was pure Caribbean - what more can you ask for?

The last of the morning games was the Friday Morning Pairs and the last minute Bajan/Trini partnership of Adelle Springer & Joseph Howard topped the N/S field with 58.33%. More Bajan regulars finished in the next two spots, with Hyacinth Burton & Nan Collins at 55.36% and Michael Gill & Harley Moseley at 54.76%. Meanwhile, over in the moving direction, the honors went to the Best of the Bajans, Roglyn Hinds & Pat Cummins, with 60.12% although they were pushed by Brits' Liz Blande & Mike Rafferty at 59.52%. Locals Ann Evelyn & Barbara Hopewell were also in the hunt for the top prize, and ended up 3rd with 58.93%.

The much-anticipated main event got under way Friday afternoon, with 1st Session of the Championship Pairs. Leading the field with a solid 67.06% were 2004 Champs, Alan Douglas of Bermuda & Ian Harvey from Barbados (recently from Bermuda and the only Bajan in the top 5). In a solid 2nd at 63.15% were the Canucks, Fran Chivers & David Baker (2001 Champs). Leading the logjam for 3rd were Brits' Chrissie Kempton & Phil Jones at 60.11% while Bermudans Margaret Way & Jean Johnson followed with 59.54%. Rounding out the top 5 after the 1st session were Trinis' Denise Josa & Nicky Inniss with 58.55% (Nicky won top spot in 2002 with Pat Cummins).

After my annual outing to Chefette for salad and steak, the crowd all showed up for the 2nd Session of the Championship Pairs. The Bajan Boys (1999 & 2000 Champs) topped the session with a fine 66.78% and they had been flirting with 70%+ until the last two rounds (perhaps it was due to Dave's company at dinner ;-). In a tight race for 2nd, the Canucks had 61.15% while Bajans' Roglyn Hinds & Colin Depradine had 60.97%. Taking 4th for the session were Norwegians' Jon Hansen & Erik Dahl at 57.65% and last on the first page of the leaderboard were Bajans' Pat Cummins & Kip Rotchell with 56.80%.

With the scores checked and tabulated, the results After Two Sessions of the Championship Pairs showed the Canucks' Chivers/Baker with a narrow lead at 62.20% over Douglas/Harvey at 61.53% and the Bajan Boys with 60.17%. In a close one for 4th, Josa/Inniss were well back at 56.50% and chased by the Nowegians' Bjorn Fjallstad & Jan-Erik Drangsholt with 56.25%. For either of these last two pairs (or the large group right behind them) to win the title, a monster 3rd session would be needed to leapfrog so many pairs.

With Saturday morning free, there was the usual slate of late-night postmortems with the beverages included on Friday night. After lunch on Saturday, the 3rd Session of the Championship Pairs got under way on time and on schedule. Leading the pack and showing their great stamina were Norwegians' Jan Hansen & Erik Dahl with 65.81%. A distant second and the head of a large group were Pat Cummins & Kip Rotchell at 59.12%, followed by Bermudans Jean Johnson & Margaret Way at 59.10%, the Canucks at 58.69%, and local veterans Michael Gill & Leslie Atherley at 57.31%. The round of the tournament occurred here as the lucky East players picked up 18 hearts on the three boards, holding these hands: s AT6532 h KT6543 d - c 8, s AKQT87 h AK9874 d - c A, s J965 h K98752 d J87 c -.

With the final board played, the scores verified, and the room being dismantled around our ears for the banquet to come, the Final Overall of the Championship Pairs showed that the Canucks' Fran Chivers & David Baker had parlayed their 3 top-five finishes into their second victory. At 61.03%, they had a convincing lead over the hard-charging Norwegians' Jon Hansen & Erik Dahl at 58.87% in 2nd place whose big final session was just not big enough. The Bajan Boys grabbed 3rd with 57.22%, edging out Douglas/Harvey at 57.07% and Johnson/Way at 56.95%.

At the banquet and awards ceremony, the Cave Shepherd Player of the Tournament went to Jon Hansen of Norway, a popular addition to the Sun, Sea, & Slams fraternity. After a fine meal with lots of wine and dancing, this year's edition was proclaimed another victory for the BBL. We all look forward to seeing our new friends at the 2007 Sun, Sea, & Slams!

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