2016 Unit Reports in the Contract Bridge Forum

Each month the La Jolla unit contributes to the What’s New in District 22 section of the D22 edition of The Contract Bridge Forum, the newspaper members receive. Gathered below are the reports for 2016. The month refers to the publication month but the newspaper is delivered slightly before the publication month, reports are submitted a couple of weeks in advance, and the reports cover the preceding weeks.


January 2016

by SkipBid

Our December 13th Holiday Party, held right at the Soledad Club, was a big success, with 24 tables and a delicious brunch catered by the French Gourmet. Flight A honors went to Freda Anderson and Gail Dunham, Flight B was taken by Jeremy Fields and Larry Sherman, and Ursula Kantor and Lynne Anderson won Flight C.

At our December 27th unit game Avram and Susan Ninyo captured both Flights A and B, with Flight C going to Bernie and Carey Simkin.

The unit has a huge number of members to recognize achievements of this month, as follows: new Junior Masters—Howard Abrams, Janet Fraser, and Sandy Sherman; new Club Master—Shirley First; new Sectional Master—Marie Estocin; new Regional Master—Roselyn Pappelbaum; new Silver Life Master—Philippe Lamoise.

And starting this year ACBL has established two NEW ranks we are delighted to announce accomplishments of: new RUBY Life Masters (1500 masterpoints)—Janet Ansfield, Manoochehr Bahmanian, Mary Ballin, Elaine Chan, Lesley Davis, Gail Dunham, Erin Feldman, Norton Rimer, Linda Thomas, Murray Warmath, Kit Young, and Dayou Zhou.

And with 3500 points, new SAPPHIRE Life Masters—Freda Anderson, John Coufal, Dan Dayani, Jason Feldman, Alice Lane, Barbara Norman, Lynne O'Neill, and Francy Starr.

Congratulations to our host of award winners, and please refer to this column for a free play in January or February!

February 2016

by SkipBid

Our December 13th Holiday Party, held right at the Soledad Club, was a big success, with 24 tables and a delicious brunch catered by the French Gourmet. Flight A honors went to Freda Anderson and Gail Dunham, Flight B was taken by Jeremy Fields and Larry Sherman, and Ursula Kantor and Lynne Anderson won Flight C.

At our December 27th unit game Avram and Susan Ninyo captured both Flights A and B, with Flight C going to Bernie and Carey Simkin.

The unit has a huge number of members to recognize achievements of this month, as follows: new Junior Masters—Howard Abrams, Janet Fraser, and Sandy Sherman; new Club Master—Shirley First; new Sectional Master—Marie Estocin; new Regional Master—Roselyn Pappelbaum; new Silver Life Master—Philippe Lamoise.

Starting this year ACBL has established two new ranks we are delighted to announce accomplishments of: new Ruby Life Masters (1500 masterpoints): Janet Ansfield, Manoochehr Bahmanian, Mary Ballin, Elaine Chan, Lesley Davis, Gail Dunham, Erin Feldman, Norton Rimer, Linda Thomas, Murray Warmath, Kit Young, and Dayou Zhou. And with 3500 points, new Sapphire Life Masters: Freda Anderson, John Coufal, Dan Dayani, Jason Feldman, Alice Lane, Barbara Norman, Lynne O’Neill, and Francy Starr. Congratulations to our host of award winners, and please refer to this column for a free play in January or February!

March 2016

by SkipBid

Our January 10th game was won by Ron and Mary Huffaker (with a 71.63%!); John Lagodimos and Kathy Angione took Flight B, and Flight C went to Donald Thomas and Chris Hastie.

On January 24th, the two top flights were won by Jan Gallagher and Janice Joerger, and Flight C was captured by Bob Brobst and Paul Alesu.

Then on January 31st Lamya Agelidis and Thomas Herzog won both Flights A and B, with Flight C going to Barbara Blake and Patricia Wilkey.

Finally, the unit wishes to acknowledge Cheryl Simonds (new Sectional Master) and Marilyn Arkinzade (new Junior Master) and Dan Dayani (new Diamond Life Master!) for their advancements in rank.

Good job all, and please refer to this column for a free play in March or April.

April 2016

by SkipBid

Our February 14 unit game was won by Elaine Chan and Mike Mezin in both Flights A and B, with Flight C going to Matthew Kidd and Thomas Herzog. On February 27 Flight A went to Bernard Figueiredo and Dorinda Lindvall; Kathy Moyer and Linda Gu won Flight B, and John Howard and Victoria Haines won Flight C.

The unit wishes to welcome new members Junyi Chu, Nancy Lawson, Tammy Wyer, and John Duffy; we also want to congratulate the following members for their advancements in ACBL rank: new Junior Masters—Nancy Moyer and Diane Shwisberg; and new Regional Master—Jerome Sheldon. Good job! (And everybody in this paragraph please refer to this column for a free play at a unit game in March or April.)

Thursday evening Soledad Club winners: February 4th, Matthew Kidd and Bob Brobst; February 11th, Bette Cornelius and Dan Dayani; February 18th, John Evans and Steve Rattner; February 25th, Pam Lawrence and Paul Darin.

Finally, mark your calendars and line up your partners for our sectional which will be held this year at the Soledad Club through Sunday, May 20-22!

May 2016

by SkipBid

Kathleen Hennessy and Tom Tatham were the big winners of our March 13 unit game, with Lamya Agelidis and Larry Sherman winning Flight B, and Flight C going to Barbara Augustine and Richard Hill.

The unit wishes to welcome new unit members Ramey Farah, Willie Kiang, Paul Wang, and Betty Woodall.

We also wish to congratulate Dr. Robert Keefe on becoming a new Club Master, and especially Lesley Davis on her new Gold Life Master status. Welcome, congratulations! (And everyone in this paragraph please refer to this column for a free play in May or June.)

This just in: our April 24 unit game will start at 3:00 p.m., not the usual 1:00 p.m. We are making this change to accommodate the memorial for Jean Molnar which will be held at Adventures in Bridge the same day. Jean was the director for our unit sectionals for many, many years, and her passing saddened us tremendously.

Finally, it’s not too early to start lining up your partners for our May sectional held Friday, May 20, through Sunday, May 22, at the Soledad Club. (Please see our flyer ad in this issue.)

June 2016

by SkipBid

Our April 10 unit game was won overall by Hanan Deeby and Bernard Figueiredo. Matthew Kidd and Thomas Herzog took Flight B, with Flight C going to Bob Brobst and Paul Alesu.

Our April 24 game began at 3 p.m., in deference to the memorial ceremony in honor of the late Jean Molnar, held earlier that day at Adventures in Bridge. Videos, narratives, and testimonies from this very moving tribute to an irreplaceable member of our bridge community can be seen at http://lajollabridge.com/LJUnit/Memorials/JeanMolnar.htm#AIB-memorial on the La Jolla website. And the subsequent game was won by Tim Flaherty and Matthew Kidd, with Avram and Susan Ninyo taking Flight B.

The unit wishes to welcome new members Ann Ruethling and Carol Sheehan, and to congratulate the following members for their ACBL advancements in rank: new Junior Masters—Ramey Farah and Virginia Lee-Huckabone; new Club Masters—Michaela Grindle, Nancy Mogck, and Sandy Sherman; new Sectional Masters—Robert Brobst and James Smith; new Regional Masters—Howard Abrams and Mona Deutsch; new NABC Masters—Richard Gabriel and Susan Koshkarian; new Life Master—Ann Manaster; and new Bronze Life Master—Patricia Wilkey. Well done, all! (And please refer to this column for a free play in June or July.)

This will be our unit's 8th consecutive year of bridge teaching at La Jolla High School, and this year’s effort (May 16th to June 16th) will be headed by Jill and Stephen Seagren. All volunteers, even for just a couple day, are appreciated, and it’s fun to watch a table of teenagers learn our favorite game! Please call the Seagrens at 858-254-5550 if you'd like to help.

July 2016

by SkipBid

Elaine Chan and Mike Mezin were the overall winners of our May 8th unit game, with Freda Anderson and Jeremy Fields taking Flight B and Flight C going to Jill and Stephen Seagren.

The return to the Soledad Club for our traditional May sectional was very successful, with great hospitality and 337 players at 211 tables over the three days. Bette Strauch won the most masterpoints (24.77) with her husband John close behind. (The Strauchs won both of the Open Pairs on Saturday!)

Finally, the unit wishes to congratulate the following members for advancement in ACBL rank: new Junior Master—Carol Sheehan; new Sectional Master—Tom Sauer; new Regional Masters—Roy Jordan, Mimi McKnight, Helene Miller, Merrel Olesen, and Suzan Shaanan; new NABC Master—Judy Elsberry; and (a tremendous achievement) new GRAND LIfe Master—Lynne Feldman. Great job, all! (And please refer to this column for a free play in July or August.)

August 2016

by SkipBid

June 12th saw George and Kathee Bessinger become the big winners of San Diego’s longest-running trophy game. Their names will be inscribed on our Eric Weiss Trophy as the 51st pair to win the annual game that started in 1966. In the same game, Victoria Haines and John Howard won Flight C.

Lynne O’Neill and Bill Grant were the overall winners of our June 26th unit championship, with John Lagodimos and Kathy Angione taking Flight B, and Flight C going to Barbara Blake and Patricia Wilkey.

The unit wishes to welcome new members Clara Frank and William Giddens, and to congratulate the following members on their advancement in ACBL rank: new Club Master—Mary Anne Curray; new Sectional Masters—Ralph Dilley and Judi Swift; new Regional Master—Bill Gore. (And be sure to check out webmaster Matthew’s article at lajollabridge.com on Lynne Feldman’s tremendous Grand Life Master achievement.) Great job, all, and please refer to this column for a free play in July or August!

September 2016

by SkipBid

Ron and Mary Huffaker were first overall at our July 10 unit game, with Scott and Carol Nelson taking Flight B and Flight C going to Bob Mann and Supriyo Datta.

On July 24, we held our annual Bill Logan Trophy Game. Elaine Chan and Mike Mezin will be the next pair to have their names inscribed, winning both Flights A and B with a huge 71.15%! Flight C went to Matthew Kidd and Thomas Herzog.

The unit wishes to welcome new members Jocelyn Bauer, Barbara Ellliott, Mary Lisiecki, Debra Quin, Michael Sloane, and Kristina Weller, and to congratulate the following unit members who have advanced in their ACBL rank: new Junior Master—William Giddens; new Club Masters—Ramey Farah and Don Quackenbush; new Sectional Master—Kermit Taylor; new Regional Masters—Debbie Hedenberg and Lynn Vallacher; and new NABC Master—Deborah Goldsmith. Nice job, all! (And everyone in this paragraph please refer to this column for a free play in September.)

October 2016

by SkipBid

First overall in our August 14 unit game were Jeremy Fields and Larry Sherman, taking both Flights A and B, with Kathy Byrne and Tom Sauer winning Flight C. On August 28th, Janice and Lynn Wells were the A/B victors, and Flight C went to Patricia Wilkey and Barbara Blake.

The unit extends a warm welcome to new members Albert Cornelison, Patricia Hermann, and Delia Werth, as well as hearty congratulations to Martha Woodworth for her advancement to the rank of Ruby Life Master! (And please refer to this column for a free play in September or October.)

November 2016

by SkipBid

At our September 11th unit championship Judy Rimer and Lynne Feldman were first overall in Flight A, with Flight B going to Carolyn Casey and Marilyn Peters-Dunn, and Bridget Poizner and Branko Obradovic taking Flight C.

On September 25th Freda Anderson and Gail Dunham were the Flight A winners, with B and C both going to Frederick France and Ben Domurat.

We welcome new board members Gail Dunham and Susan Koshkarian, appointed over the summer and bringing the board back to ten members in full strength.

Our annual Holiday Party will be held this year on our traditional second Sunday, December 11, at the La Jolla Country Club.

And finally, the unit wishes to congratulate the following members on their advancement in ACBL rank: new Junior Master—Anne Arnold; new Sectional Master—Robert Blumberg; and new Bronze Life Master—Howard De Young. Nice job all! (Refer to this column for a free play in October or November.)

December 2016

by SkipBid

Judy Rimer and Lynne Feldman were first overall in our October 9 game, with Jan Gallagher and Janice Joerger taking Flight B and Flight C going to Paul Alesu and Bob Brobst.

Our October 23rd game was won by John Lagodimos and Kathie Angione in Flight A. Elaine Chan and Mike Mezin won Flight B, and Flight C went to Willie Kiang and Ed Tsu.

The unit wishes to welcome new members Paul Finger, Earlene Hayes, Roberta Massey, and Jerry Schwartz. And we congratulate the following members on their advancements in ACBL rank: new Junior Masters—Willie Kiang and Michael Sloane, and new Regional Master—Renee Gild. (Everyone in this paragraph please refer to this column for a free play in January!)

Our annual Holiday Party will be held on December 11 at the La Jolla Country Club, with brunch starting at 11:15 am. (Please check lajollabridge.com for prices and availability.)