No. 50 Series 6 December 2017

To all our Members

Bah Humbug……..Deck the halls Please come and help any time after 1.00pm Thurs- day 7 December 2017, to deck our own halls and bring some festive spirit to our club. All hands on deck (pardon the pun!)…. Come and join us any time after 1.00pm Thursday 4 January 2018, to undeck our halls. Many hands make light work….. ’Tis the season to be jolly ..... Our staff team, Damien and Margaret work hard to keep the wheels of our club turning smoothly. Let’s show our appreciation through a donation to their Christmas box. It will be available from Wednesday 29 November 2017 to Monday 18 December 2017. Sleigh bells ring, Are you listening….. Get ready for the Festive Season and sign up for our Festive Swiss Pairs the evening of Wednesday 20 December 2017 …..mince pies for everyone! Fa la la la la, la la la la - Don we now our gay apparel ..... also known as Festive Teams!!! Date for your diary – Friday 29 December 2017. To book your place for this extravaganza, check the members notice board for the booking sheet. The evening will commence with mulled wine or a non- alcoholic beverage for our drivers followed by some bridge with many prizes. There will be a break in play for a Festive Feast served with a glass of wine or a non-alcoholic beverage - all for £12.00! Susan Chapple

Congratulations

David & Anne Griffiths - see P9 Nicki Traynor & Lynn Fullerton - see P8 Alice Cowieson & Elizabeth Johnston - see P9

Christmas Closure Dates

The Club will be closed over the Festive season on Monday & Tuesday 25th & 26th December & Monday & Tuesday 1st & 2nd January. There will be no Thursday session on 28th December. Remember always to check the web- site before leaving for a session in case it has been cancelled for inclement weather or some other reason.

Christmas Charity 2017

This year our charity donations will go to HeartStart. You can put one Christmas Card on the Noticeboard for all to see and put a donation in the box. Or you can leave lots of cards for your friends in the club and still put a dona- tion in the box! HeartStart helped us with training and the purchase of our de- fibrillator and we felt we should give something back to them. The Board did make a donation at the time but we felt that members would also like to thank them in this way. Please give generously!

******* Neil's Farewell

On his last day as Club Steward, Social Conven- or, Susan Chapple, thanked Neil for all his work in the last three years and presented him with a cheque from the Board and the cash raised by the membership. The Board and members all wished him well in his new job down in Manchester.

As Neil left he handed over to our new steward, Damien Murray. Damien is known to many of us as he is already a member and has played in the club on numer- ous occasions in the past couple of years. We all con- gratulate Damien on his appointment and look forward to his time with us.

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Board Notes

The following matters were discussed at the November meeting of the

Board of Directors:  DBC received an invitation for three teams to take part in the Russell French run by CD. A President’s team, Airlie winners and a Bronze team led by Nicki & Lynn were the ones chosen for this competition.  A member’s letter raised the subject of heating again. Sylvia is to mon- itor the effectiveness of the heating with the data logger again and TDs will be reminded to use the thermometers as a guide when deciding whether the doors should be open. The thermometers will be moved around the playing rooms to further inform.  Joan gave a report on the appointment of our new steward, Damien Murray. There had been 16 applications which had been then whittled down to a short leet and after interviews Damien has been appointed. Alice thanked Joan, Susan and Sheila for the efficient way they had made the appointment which meant there had been no gap in provi- sion. The Board are delighted with the choice of Damien and wish him ever success.  Nicki sent in her final membership renewal report showing 241 mem- bers as of 12th November. There had been 18 who did not renew mostly due to relocation or health problems. There had been 8 new members. A further two new members’ applications were accepted, Jim Bain & Andy Collins, bringing the total now to 243. The num- ber of new members joining over the past year has been very encour- aging.  Work continues on updating the Board job descriptions. Sylvia will look at all the lists that have come in from the directors and check for any doubling up or omissions.  The Board discussed the matter of awarding Honorary Life Member- ships. A few suggestions had come in from members of recipients but after some discussion it became clear that no matter what criteria were used there were too many in the club who had served for some years on the Board, been long standing members and so on. To single out any individual was too difficult and could be rather divisive. It was agreed that no Honorary Life Memberships would be awarded at the moment.  It was agreed that a bell would be fixed to the Steward’s flat so that he could be summoned in an emergency. The old bell had been removed some time ago 3 Historical Snippets Back Again

I had been describing DBC’s history based on old minutes and Slams and had covered the period 1945 (the year DBC was founded) to 1986. I now wish to resurrect this series. However to set the scene, I thought I would begin with a repeat of my earlier article about bridge in Dundee before 1945

Bridge in Dundee before DBC

When Dundee Bridge Club was founded in 1945, it began its life with 120 members. This is strong evidence that Bridge was not new to Dundee at that point in time – 120 people interested in Bridge did not spring from nowhere. Fur- ther evidence in one of our cupboards was a small cup entitled ‘Dundee War Charities Bridge League’ with dates from 1939-45. More recently, I gained access to a website called Findmypast (belonging to DC Thomsons) which included scanned pages from over 240 old newspa- pers. Not surprisingly, the Courier and the Telegraph featured in this list. This was to provide a fascinating glimpse into the development of Bridge in Dundee. As many of you may know, the game of Bridge was a developed from whist in three stages – first, Russian Whist (or Biritch – the origin of the word ‘Bridge’) invented around 1886, then Auction Bridge whose first rules appeared in 1904 and then, our current version, Contract Bridge developed by Harold Stirling Van- derbilt in USA in 1925. The first mention of competitive Bridge in Dundee is to be found in the Courier of 7 April 1928 with a description of an Auction Bridge drive which had taken place in the Dundee Unionist Association in Albert Square. [For readers from south of the border ‘Unionist’ was the former name of the Scottish Con- servatives.] This tournament had been the last of the winter programme. It is possible, therefore, that the season had started in autumn of 1927. The event was for mixed pairs but a number of the ladies played as gentlemen suggesting that even in these days there was a predominance of the fairer sex. There were 21 tables. Over the next few years, Bridge was mentioned sporadically in the local papers, eg, 21 December 1929 in the Telegraph there was an item about a Dun- dee Dental Hospital Bridge & Whist Drive which raised £71 for the Hospital’s funds. The game’s political base widened. There was reference to the Ladies Bridge Club of the Dundee Liberal Association having an event in the Liberal party’s Reform St rooms (Courier 15 February 1930). News items relating to Bridge in Albert Square and Reform St began to appear reasonably regularly in both Dundee papers. However in the 20s and early 30s, Bridge articles must have been about Auction Bridge in light of two news items in the Courier in early 1934.

Introduction of Contract Bridge to Dundee

23 January 1934. A company of about 80 Bridge enthusiasts attended a demonstration of Contract Bridge given in Kidd’s Rooms Dundee by Miss Isabel WP Duncan, an associate member of Culbertson’s Studios, London. (cont.) 4 Miss Duncan dealt with ‘correct bidding and play’ including a new feature of doubling. This visit had been arranged by Burns & Harris (the local printing company). 27 February 1934. The first Contract Bridge (duplicate) tournament to be held in Dundee was played in Kidd’s Rooms with 80 people present. This was arranged by Mr Arthur Burns [Presumably of Burns & Harris] and run by Miss IWP Duncan. The winning ‘YZ’ couple was Mrs JB Taylor & Miss Ferrier with a score of 2680 and the winning ‘AB’ couple Mr AJ Paterson & Mrs Nicoll with a score of 4410. The terms YZ and AB were used to indicate the different direc- tions. NS and EW had not been applied at this point. Contract Bridge was beginning to take off - 24 April 1934 (Telegraph) a Contract Bridge competition was organised by the Dundee Liberals - but Auction Bridge had not died. In May 1934 an Auction Bridge drive was held at the Union- ist headquarters. In September 1934, a Bridge Drive organised by the Ladies Guild and the Royal National Life Boats Institution was held in Kidd’s Rooms which had two sections one for Auction and one for Contract. (Telegraph) A Dundee pair Messrs JM Allan & S McRitchie had success in North of Scotland Contract Bridge Pairs competition in Caledonian Hotel, Aberdeen. They won the East/West Section and advanced to the final four in the same hotel (2 March 1935 Telegraph). They finished as runners-up by one point. Inter club matches began to appear. Dundee Liberal Association beat the Crieff Unionists by 1450 points. (20 March 1936 Telegraph) The introduction of a league was mooted. The Liberal Bridge Club for some time a stronghold of contract Bridge in Dundee had been energising to- wards the formation of a Dundee & District Bridge League. This was through encouragement from the SBU who realised that Dundee was the only large city in the country that was behind in this respect [shame on Dundee!] and on 25 January 1938 a Contract Bridge League was inaugurated with the following teams (of four?) Liberal A & B, Val D’Or, Highfield, Black Sox, Victoria, Windsor, Broughty Unionist, Broughty Unionist Bridge Club, Forthill, Dundee Unionist I & II, (2 December 1937 Telegraph). The Bridge League also ran pairs competi- tions. On 28 November 1938 (Courier & Telegraph) Dundee beat Edinburgh by 3700 points in the Liberal Rooms – the visiting team had 2 internationalists and was captained by RR French (of Russell French fame.) The Dundee team were: S McRitchie & GE Hay, A Cameron & H Robb, JB Cunningham & G Hay, R Kin- near & W Hill, WS Robertson & D Stephen, JC Petrie & J Paterson, AF Davie & F Bromberger, G Dalzeill & J Imrie As a result of the outbreak of the Second World War, Dundee Contract Bridge League was suspended but some members decided to start the Dundee War Charities Bridge League [See earlier reference to the War Charities Cup] with teams from the original League’s first and second divisions. It was decided to accumulate a fund ‘to provide comforts for the forces’ The opening rounds saw Val D’Or, Windsor, Unionists, St Joseph’s, Roseangle, Strathtay, St Mary’s, Reres, Ardbeg, Broughty, Reform & Lawton in action (6 December 1939 Tele- graph). (cont.)

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The League met regularly in the King’s Theatre café, each player paying 1 shilling plus a levy of 6d. The first disbursement of monies took place with dona- tions of £7 to the Royal Navy, £7 to the Black Watch & £6 to DRI. (30 April 1940 Telegraph). The League also ran pairs competitions. The League ended in September 1945, having raised funds of over £150 for war charities. In October of the same year, the Courier reported on the formal opening of Dundee Bridge Club and in December its financial pages noted that Dundee Bridge Club Ltd, 6 Airlie Place, had been registered with Companies House to promote Contract and Auction Bridge. [I have come across no other mention of Auction Bridge in any sources dealing with Dundee Bridge Club.] Wyllie Fyfe ******* New Laws 2

The big change is after an insufficient bid. Here is an example from the Rayne Trophy heat. Auction: Dealer North 1H, 2C minors, 1NT For most of us 2NT would be an acceptable legal bid, but not for this pair: their 1NT shows 9-11 points and denies 3H; while 2NT shows a hand with 8 losers and 4H. Clearly for them 2NT and 1NT are not comparable bids. So what possible bid is there? The offender suggested a double (which would not be ac- ceptable under the old laws), but it denies H, shows some points and shows in- terest in the other 2 suits, so qualifies as a comparable bid. Opener now bids 2H, all pass. They went 1 off. The full hand is below: S T97 H KQJT3 D 984 C KQ S J864 S Q3 H A942 H 76 D 5 D AQJT63 C T982 C AJ4 S AK52 H 85 D K72 C 7653 Margaret Pemble ******* Front Door

A reminder to all members to please close the glass front door when en- tering or leaving the building. It doesn’t close itself unfortunately and valuable heat is lost. Those on the registration desk can feel the draught!

******* 6 Another Session at the Club 3

Hand 8

On hand 8, the Novice found himself in a contract of 4H, South having bid spades. After a lead of SJ. The Novice could see the following: West East ♠ Q2 ♠ A7 ♥ AQJT532 ♥ K87 ♦ K65 ♦ 942 ♣ 2 ♣ AJT98 He played S7 from dummy and, after South had played S8, was about to play SQ when he realised that the Q was CQ and not SQ. He hastily played S2. He won the next spade lead with SA, discarding a club from hand, drew trump in 2 rounds and played CA, throwing CQ from hand. CJ then won the next trick and clubs were continued. When South played CK, the Novice ruffed in hand, returned to dummy with a trump and threw diamonds on clubs, making the con- tact with two overtricks. “Declarer can never make the contract,” said the Cynic, “unless he ducks the first trick and discards a club on SA. Otherwise, when South gets in with CK, he plays on diamonds, and, since North has DA, declarer loses 3 diamonds and a club and goes one off in his contract. Even if North has CK, the Novice still makes his contract with one fewer overtrick because all that North can do is take DA before letting declarer back in.” “I wouldn’t have expected the Novice to be able to work all that out,” said a surprised Blonde Bombshell. Gavin MacDonald ******* Caption Competition

Suggestions for a suitable caption for this rather amusing photograph taken at Aviemore of club members Tricia Hewitt and the three sisters, Anne Baird, Wyn Gailey & Bette Pirie by ace photographer Sandy Forbes. In the tradition of the Slam there are no prizes but best ones might make it into the Slam next month!

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7 Highland District Congress

A large contingent of DBC members head- ed to Aviemore on 10th Novemebr to attend this very enjoyable congress. Results were varied and no-one hit the highlights apart from in the Bidding Competition. This was won by Nicki Traynor & Lynn Fullerton with Tricia Hewit and Anne Baird in second place. Also making it to the 5 pair final was Howard Greenwell with Elizabeth Hill. Unless you have experienced this competi- tion you have no idea of the tension that is created by the set-up. So very well done girls.

******* Central District Pairs

Round 2

Played at DBC on Wednesday 8th November, directed by Allan Gordon, with 14 pairs competing. Selected results:

North/South 1. Fiona Harris & Bob Ross 58.04% 2. Beryl Campbell & Allan Gordon 53.27% 3. Shiena Lang & George Pattullo 52.98% East/West 1. David Griffiths & Stewart Ramsay 67.26% 2. Moira McGregor & Anne Griffiths 53.27% 3. Norma Findlay & Jennifer Cottam 50.00%

Round 3

Played at DBC on Wednesday 22nd November, directed by Beryl Campbell, with 14 pairs competing. Selected results:

North/South 1= David Griffiths & Stewart Ramsay 55.95% 1= Anne Griffiths &Moira McGregor 55.95% 3. Beryl Campbell & Allan Gordon 51.19% East/West 1. Joan Forsyth & Helen Taylor 61.90% 2. Helen Wood & Earl McGregor 58.04% 3. Jackie Primrose & Jack Millar 52.38%

******* Stop Press

The Grand Slam is saddened by the death of Jack Millar who was re- sponsible for arranging the adverts which funded this magazine as well as providing much money for the club. A full obituary will be in next month. 8 Could You Have Defended Better? No 81 Solution on P13 North East South is in 6H, East having bid spades which West ♠ - ♠ KQT873 has supported. West leads SJ which declarer ruffs in dummy and plays HA on which West throws a ♥ A534 ♥ QJT spade. D6 is played, covered by DJ, DA and D2. ♦ QT9876 ♦ KJ Declarer takes the finesse in clubs, plays HK, fi- ♣ AQJT ♣ 64 nesses in clubs again, throws a diamond on CA and claims his contract. Could you have defended bet- ter? Gavin MacDonald

*******

Central District Robertson Salver Swiss Pairs

Played at DBC on Saturday 4th November, directed by Moira McGreg- or, with 24 pairs competing. Selected results (DBC members in bold):

1. David & Anne Griffiths 104 VPs 1st Prize 2. Sandy Duncan & Bob McKinnon 88 VPs 2nd Prize 3. Nicol Taylor & Stuart Thomson 78 VPs Silver Prize 4. Richard Jarvis & Hamish Galloway 72 VPs 3rd Prize 5. Earl McGregor & Helen Wood 70 VPs 9. Alice Cowieson & Liz Johnston 64 VPs Bronze Prize

Well done to David & Anne on a resounding victory and to Alice and Liz for an excellent 9th place and the Bronze prize. Thanks also to Moira & Richard who had the difficult task of persuading our computer to work a Swiss movement!

******* Dorothy Rollo

Dorothy would like to thank the Board and all the members for the good wishes and cards she received on her 100th birthday in October.

Our pleasure, Dorothy!

******* Tuesday Evening Registration Rota

Thanks to all the willing helpers who have manned the registration desk since August. I will make up a new rota which will hopefully take us up to June 2018. As before if you can’t do the date assigned to you, please sort out a swop with someone else from the rota. No need to inform me or change it on the board. I’m happy as long as someone is there to do it. Remember instructions are in the registration drawer. I’ll send out the new rota using my secretary email before Christmas and will also post it on the website under TDs/Rotas on the side-bar, as well as putting it up on the club noticeboards. Alice Cowieson 9 Annual Competition Winners 2016-2017

JSC Cup Winners - Anne Griffiths, David Griffiths, Moira McGregor, Stewart Ramsay Runners-up - Bob Ross, Chris Goode, Fiona Harris, Lynne Goode Bronze award - Nicki Traynor, Lynn Fullerton, Fiona Jeffrey, Linda Young Scone Rosebowl Winners - Richard Jarvis, Hamish Galloway, Bettina Debon, David Welsh CD Pairs Club Winners - Earl McGregor & Helen Wood Airlie Trophy Winners - Richard Jarvis, Hamish Galloway, Beryl Campbell & Allan Gordon Rockfield Trophy - Winners - Shiena Lang, George Pattullo, Liz Elsden, Claire Hargan, Wyllie Fyfe, Liz Hunter WF Kerr Salver - Winners - David Griffiths & Stewart Ramsay Runners-up - Anne Griffiths & Moira McGregor

Our beautiful display of trophies, all engraved and shiny for presen- tation, thanks to Anne Kerr and her assistant Brian Owens.

Mizzi Trophy Winners - Anneliese & John D’Arcy, Margaret Nicol & Sandra Preston Susan Doig Salver Winners - Anne Kerr, Brian Owens, Fiona Jeffrey & Lynn Fullerton Stanley Trophy Winners - Allan Gordon & Beryl Campbell Runners-up - Helen Wood & Scott Gallacher Petyrma Trophy Winners - Anne & David Griffiths 2nd Earl McGregor & Helen Wood 3rd Jenny Cooper & Moira McGregor Hay Plate Winners - Shiena Lang & Valerie Hayhow Runners-up - Dorothy Smith & Mareth Lindsay Perfect Teams Winners - Richard Jarvis, Hamish Galloway, Beryl Campbell & Allan Gordon Runners-up - Graham Bullock, Joan Forsyth, Helen Taylor, Tom Taylor (cont.) 10

John & Terry Rosebowl Winners - Earl McGregor & Sylvia Peterson Runners-up - Ian & Irene Hunter Altnabruach Winners - Nicki Traynor & Lynn Fullerton Runners-up - Giulia Tamburrino & Scott Gallacher Walter Gallie Trophy Winners - Alice Cowieson & Elizabeth Johnston Runners-up - Anne Kerr & Brian Owens Wenesday Afternoon Individual Winner - Joan Forsyth Runner-up - Shiena Lang Annie McGill Trophu Winners - Kathleen Bell & Liz Yeats Runners-up - Marion Morgan & Sylvia Taylor Taylor Trophy Winners - Earl McGregor & Moira McGregor Runners-up - Allan Gordon & Beryl Campbell Friday Evening Individual Winner - Earl McGregor 2nd Moira McGregor 3rd George Patullo Jubilee Trophy Winners - Jim Brown & Joan Forsyth Runners-up - Ann Naa Halley & Heather Murray

******* Children in Need Sims Pairs

Played at DBC on Tuesday 14th November, directed by Richard Jarvis, with 37 pairs competing. Selected results:

North/South 1. Richard Jarvis & Shiena Lang 66.25% 2. George Pattullo & Jack Millar 59.39% 3. Ian & Irene Hunter 57.42% 4. Sheila Ritchie & Kathleen Bell 57.19% 5. John & Caroline MacMillan 57.10% East/West 1. Irena Skowronska & George Watson 62.16% 2. Ron Barker & Bob Mackie 60.27% 3. Irene Cameron & Eric Matheson 59.59% 4. Cathy Dover & Kathleen Don 57.67% 5. Murray Cathro & Ella Barnes 55.02%

A table fee of £6 per head was charged for this event with all the money going to Children in Need. Thanks to a large turn out, £444, up from last year, has been sent to the charity. Thanks everyone !

*******

11 SBU Ranked Pairs - Jesner/Johnston

Played at DBC on Sunday 5th November, directed by Margaret Pemble, with 14 pairs competing. Selected results:

1. Damien Murray & Glen Falconer 62.80% 2= Linda Young & Fiona Jeffrey 58.33% 2= Richard Melville with Jim Marshall 58.33% 4. Lynn Fullerton & Nicki Traynor 55.60% 5. Valerie Hayhow & Jean Melville 53.87%

This was a simultaneous event and our members did well in the national rankings. Selected over-all results with 60 pairs competing:

3rd Damien Murray & Glen Falconer 11th Linda Young & Fiona Jeffrey 12th Richard Melville with Jim Marshall 15th Lynn Fullerton & Nicki Trayor 18th Valerie Hayhow & Jean Melville 20th Anne Kerr & Brian Owens

******* Airlie Trophy

Round 1

Played at DBC on Wednesday 1st November, directed by Richard Jarvis, with 12 teams competing. Selected results:

1. Shiena Lang, George Pattullo, Liz Elsden, Claire Hargan 70 VPs 2. Jennifer Cottam, Angus Macarthur, Eric Matheson, Winnie Garland 66 VPs 3. Christine Walker, Helen Taylor, Joan Forsyth, Graham Bullock 65 VPs 4. Ann Anderson, Mairi Shiels, Moira McGregor, Earl McGregor 60 VPs 5. Ross Herd, Colin Miller, Glen Falconer, Damien Murray 59 VPs

Round 2

Played at DBC on Wednesday 15th November, directed by Earl McGreg- or, with 12 team competing. Selected results:

1. Sylvia Peterson, Earl McGregor, Ann Anderson, Anne Griffiths 94 VPs 2= Richard Jarvis, Hamish Galloway, Beryl Campbell, Allan Gordon 81 VPs 2= Shiena Lang, George Pattullo, Liz Elsden, Claire Hargan 81 VPs 4. David Griffiths, Stewart Ramsay, Ross Herd, Colin Miller 77 VPs 5. Fiona Harris, Bob Ross, Bob Mackie, Jack Millar 69 VPs

******* Bridge Haiku

Friends play cards Sometimes hold hands Scoring with points Depending on discards Joe Peterson 12 Could You Have Defended Better? No 81

Solution from P9

North When D6 is played, East should ♠ - play DK. Declarer will be con- ♥ A54 vinced that West has DJ and will ♦ QT9876 prefer to play on diamonds rather ♣ AQJT than risk the club finesse. When West East he takes the diamond finesse, you ♠ J9652 ♠ KQT873 win with DJ and the contract is ♥ - ♥ QJT defeated. ♦ 532 ♦ KJ ♣ K8752 ♣ 64 South ♠ A4 ♥ K987632 ♦ A4 ♣ 93 Gavin MacDonald ******* SBU National Pairs Heat

Played at DBC on Wednesday 29th November, directed by Richard Jarvis, with 15 pairs competing. Selected results (DBC members in bold):

1. Bob McPaul & Sandy Duncan 72.44% 2. Paul Cozens & Gavin Christie 61.22% 3. Ron Moodie & Bob Hunter 65.41% 4. Helen Wood & Earl McGregor 54.17% 5. David Griffiths & Stewart Ramsay 53.53%

******* Master Point Promotions (November 2017)

Congratulations to: Joan Forsyth on gaining promotion to Life Master Graham Anderson on gaining promotion to National Master Eric Matheson on gaining promotion to 2 Star Senior Master Bettina Debon on gaining promotion to 2 Star Master Elizabeth Johnston on gaining promotion to 2 Star Master Irena Skowronska on gaining promotion to 2 Star Master Sybil Ramsay on gaining promotion to 1 Star Master Kathleen Bell on gaining promotion to Master Glen Falconer on gaining promotion to Master Scott Gallacher on gaining promotion to District Master Sheila Herd on gaining promotion to District Master Ailsa Malcolm on gaining promotion to Local Master Pat May on gaining promotion to Local Master

13 Coming Up At DBC

.Festive Swiss Pairs

This event will be played on Wednesday 20th December. Just right to set you on your way through the festive season. Santa

hats not obligatory. Free Mince Pie at half time

Festive Teams

This very popular fun event takes place on Friday 29th December. Enter as a pair and teams will be made up. A very popular social occasion which includes a lovely buffet (see more on P1), you have to put your names up quickly to avoid disap- pointment. Bobby Allan Mixed Pairs

This SBU event will be played in clubs all over Scotland and will be held in DBC on Wednesday 24th January. Advance warning for those who need to find a different partner for this event.

(see P2 for dates of festive closures)

******* National League 2017

DBC member Stephen Peterkin is part of the winning team in the SBU National League this year, which means that along with teammates, Brian Short, Sam Punch & Alan Goodman, he has been selected to represent Scotland in the 1st Camrose weekend held in Northern Ireland in January. Well done Stephen, and good luck for the new year.

******* East District Swiss Pairs

Five DBC members attended this competition held in Carlton BC on Sun- day19th November. There were 46 pairs competing with an almost equal share of Gold, Silver & Bronze. At the break Joan Forsyth with partner Diana Drys- dale was lying in first place, with both bronze pairs Nicki Traynor & Fiona Jeffrey, and Alice Cowieson & Elizabeth Johnston in the top 12 tables. A couple of difficult sets however saw all three pairs dropping down but Joan & Diana se- cured an excellent 2nd equal, with Nicki & Fiona in 23rd & Alice & Liz 29th. This was a very well run competition and although long, 42 boards were played, it was very enjoyable. As red points are awarded for every win, this is a good one to dip your toe into if you want play away from home. Alice Cowieson 14 Weekly Club Tournaments (November)

North/South East/West

Monday Aggregate

6. Sylvia Peterson & Earl McGregor Bob McPaul & Glen Falconer 13. Joan Forsyth & Helen Taylor Helen Wood & Earl McGregor 20. 1. Chris & Lynne Goode 2. Bob McPaul & Glen Falconer 27. 1. Ian & Irene Hunter 2= Winnie Garland & Fiona Harris

2= Liz Elsden & Claire Hargan Tuesday Match Pointed

7. Tom Taylor & Margaret Pemble Murray Cathro & Ella Barnes 21. Ann & Graham Anderson Mo Brodie & Norma Findlay 28.= Kathleen Don & Cathy Dover Graham & Ann Anderson = Frank Fullerton & Mabel Lyall

Wednesday Afternoon

1. 1. Joan Forsyth & Shiena Lang 2=Chris Fowlie & Marion Erskine 2= Alice Cowieson & Pat May 8. 1. Shiena Lang & Valerie Hayhow 2. Helen Taylor & Joan Forsyth 15. Beryl Campbell & Sheila Herd Joan Forsyth & Shiena Lang 22. 1. Joan Forsyth & Helen Taylor 2. Joan Hutton & Mairi McGarry 29. Ella Barnes & Sheila Fletcher Joan Forsyth & Shiena Lang

Thursday Morning

2. Joe & Sheila McLuckie David Deans & Darrell Crompton 9. 1. Valerie Downie & Janice Ross 2. Cathy & Bob Dover 16. Tricia Hewitt & Graham Bullock Sandy & Maureen Annan 23.1. Mae Hamilton & Sheila Herd 2. Tricia Hewitt & Margaret Pemble 30. 1. Joan Hutton & Kate Sharp 2. Tricia Hewitt & Anne Baird

Friday Afternoon

3. David Deans & Norma Findlay Phil Holden & Moira McGregor 10. Margaret Nicol & Anneliese D’Arcy David Deans & Norma Findlay 17. Fiona Jeffrey & Nicki Traynor Maureen Annan & Kathleen Don 24. David Poole & Sandy Greenhill Ross & Sheila Herd

Friday Match Pointed

10. 1. Alan Kennedy & Scott Arbuthnott 2. Alexis Hood & Bob Ross 17. 1. Alexis Hood & Bob Ross 2. Ann Naa Halley & Heather Murray 24. Sandy Duncan & Bob McPaul Helen Wood & Ian Hunter Jubilee Trophy Round 2

3. Earl McGregor & Moira McGregor Bob McPaul & Richard Jarvis

******

15 Forthcoming Congresses & SBU Events

SBU Winter Congress & Scottish Cup Congress

Friday 8th December - Sunday 10th December Peebles Hydro Hotel Entries to Hasan & Julie Choudhury 101 Craigleith Hill Crescent, Edinburgh EH4 2JW

Melville Bridge Club Congress Thursday 28th December - Friday 29th December 1 Pinkhill, Edinburgh, EH12 7BA Entries to Anne Perkins, 1b Forrester Park Grove Edinburgh EH12 9AL 0131 539 6634

Firth of Clyde Congress Friday 26th January - Monday 29th January Menzies Hotel, Irvine Entries to Mrs C A MacLeod, 17 Wemyss Point, Undercliff Road Wemyss Bay, PA18 6AQ 01475 6AQ

Nan Cameron Mull Congress Friday 2rd March - Sunday 4th March Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa Entries to Donnie Graham, Craiglynne, 206 Dundonald Rd Kilmarnock KA2 0AB 01563 521 052

Falkirk Bridge Club Congress Friday 9th March - Sunday 11th March Park Hotel, Montrose Entries to Andy Philp, 11 Woodlands Crescent Falkirk FK1 6AE 01324 639618 SBU Winter Fours - Friday 26th January - Sunday 28th January - New Melville SBU Winter Swiss Teams - Sunday 28th January - Carlton BC SBU Mixed Swiss Pairs - Saturday 10th February - Hutchesons’ GS SBU Mixed Swiss Teams - Sunday 11th February - Hutchesons’ GS SBU Men’s Pairs - Saturday 24th February - DBC SBU Men’s Teams - Sunday 25th February - DBC SBU Women’s Pairs - Saturday 17th March - Newtonmore SBU Women’s Teams - Sunday 18th March - Newtonmore

Plenty more details about forthcoming events on the SBU website.

******* Thanks to all contributors, Allan Gordon for proofreading & Liz Johnston for help with printing - Ed

******* Adverts printed by Winter & Simpson Print, Dunsinane Industrial Estate, Dundee

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