District 14

Oh So Close!

Carole Miner and Cindy Balderson, one of District 14's top partnerships, came within a hair of winning the Smith Life Master Women's Pairs.  Leading after the first final session and leading going into the final round, Carole and Cindy ended up third.  They needed a little over 4 matchpoints to move into the #1 slot.

They have knocked on the door more than once.  One of these times, I am certain they are going to nab the top spot!  Congratulations to them for their fine showing!

And - more photos from Seattle to come soon....

Congratulations, Mme President!

Sharon with Mr. Wonderful - aka, husband Roger

Top bridge player, District 14 Director and District 14 Secretary-Treasurer, tireless volunteer, hostess with the mostess, mentor - and now - a new title.  ACBL president.

Congratulations to Sharon Anderson for becoming the leader of our bridge organization!  We wish you the best in your role. 

The ACBL is quite fortunate to have such an accomplished and highly competent individual at the helm.

Fargo Regional

We've had a modest scheduling change for the Fargo Regional.  Please note that this will be a seven day regional, from August 28, 2012 to September 3, 2012. 

Also - tournament chairmen note:  not all of your flyers are posted at ACBL.org.  When you do have a link to your tournament at ACBL, let us know and we will update the link at District14, too.  Thanks!

From Two Into One

With our new District 14 website comes another change.  Sharon Anderson, our District 14 director, judged that it would be easier for members to have "one stop shopping."  Thus, her District director website is going to be retired.

Sharon will communicate with us frequently.  But, she will be doing so here at the District 14 webpage. 

If you would like to know more about Sharon, you can view her page on the right.  In addition, we will put up a new category linking to all of Sharon's post, so that they can be readily found.

We look forward to all the insights, news and stories that Sharon will be sharing with us.  And, as always, we welcome your thoughts, comments and ideas for improving bridge and communication in District 14!

Masterpoints

For current info on a variety of masterpoint races and holdings in our district, check out District 14 Director Sharon Anderson's website.

And don't forget; almost 2 months are left to earn more, more, more!

Dixie Mae Hart - 1918 - 2011

The Cedar/Waterloo, Iowa bridge community has lost its icon.

Dixie Mae Hart was the first woman in Iowa to be inducted into the Bridge Hall of Fame. Recently, Dixie went over 3600 masterpoints in a Cedar Falls Game.

Family directed memorial services were held Thursday, November 3rd at the Cedar Valley Community Church. Memorials may be sent to Cedar Valley Hospice Home at 2001 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo, IA 50702.

Dixie's full obituary below. She will be missed.

Dixie Mae Hart, 92, of Cedar Falls, died Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, at Cedar Valley Hospice Home, Waterloo. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Lilia Maude (Harrington) Foulk of Sioux City. She graduated from Central High School and Midwest College. She married Kenneth Hart on Oct. 14, 1995. He died Sept. 3, 2009.

Mrs. Hart owned and operated Hummel's Smoke Shop, Waterloo, for many years. Teaching and directing duplicate bridge was her passion. She was the first woman from Iowa to be inducted into the Bridge Hall of Fame. Her greatest pleasure, outside of her children and grandchildren, was being on the National Charity Board of the American Contract Bridge League, which raised millions of dollars for national and local charities. She became a Life Master of the ACBL in three years and made her 12th Life Master shortly before her death. She was a member of Cedar Valley Community Church.

Survivors include two sons, Ronald (Jo Ann) Bourret of Lake Mary, Fla., and Brent (Maureen) Hastings of Cedar Falls; a son-in-law, Brian Perry of Marion; grandchildren, Scott (Kathy) Bourret of Stuart, Fla., Michelle Bourret of Minneapolis, Alexandra (Tyler) Hunt and Roman Bourret, both of Alpharetta, Ga., Alec Bourret of Orlando, Fla., Valaria and Ricky Bourret of Stuart, Stacy (Jon) Dorsey of Corona, Calif., Shelly (Brock) Ackerman of Sioux City, Dr. Christopher (Deliah) Perry of Toledo, Ohio, Dr. Blake (Shannon) Perry of Mount Vernon, Wash., Tasha (Justin) Irving of Minneapolis, Wade (Ola) Hastings of Chicago and Calvin Hastings of Waterloo; 25 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Richard Bourret; a daughter, Robin Perry; and a grandson, Luke Patterson.

 

 

 

Top This

We all know that sinking feeling when you "achieve" a truly awful result.  The opponents were going down in their contract - and you "save", instead going for a number yourself.  Or you pull out a wrong card and fail in a cold contract.  Or you don't see partner's bid and miss a game.  We've all "been there and done that" - and it's never fun.

Still, I would bet that none of us have experienced a horror like this one.  And - in a world championship!

Check out this true story about a hand in the Venice Cup between the Dutch and Moroccan women.

This deal set at least two new world records. The penalty from four hearts redoubled was 3400 when the contract went six down, the largest recorded in world championship play. Moreover, North in effect made six consecutive calls that were transfers to spades, something no one has ever seen in any bridge tournament, whether a world championship or not. The swing to Morocco was 21 IMPs, which must have been a bit of a disappointment to the Dutch East-West.

 

 

Whatever your "worst" is - odds are high that this "worst" is far worse!

Spreading the Word

We'd like the District 14 website to be as good as it can be for our members!

If you have news, events, stories or anything that would be of interest to our players, please let me or Roger Anderson know. You can reach Peggy at: mrmollo@aol.com and Roger at: rogerhanderson@comcast.net.

Thanks for your help!