Minnesota Bridge

Sport Accord World Mind Games - 2013

As many Minnesotans were returning from the Fall NABC in Phoenix, and winding down from Thanksgiving - Cindy Balderson and Carole Miner were off on an incredible adventure. As one of the United States' top female partnerships, Cindy and Carole headed to Beijing, China. There, they competed with teammates Disa Eythorsdottir, Lynn Deas, Rozanne Pollack and Cheri Bjerkan, representing the U.S. in the Women's Competition.

Cindy in Tianamen Square

Carole and Cindy had an amazing time.  Their team captured a bronze medal, their partnership finished 4th overall in the Women's Pairs Competition - and Carole was 4th in the Women's Individual Competition. Cash prizes were awarded; sightseeing was fascinating.  Full results and daily bulletins can be viewed here.

Travel in Beijing

Though the tournament site in China made kibitzing a bit challenging (game times for those of us back home started later in the evening - and ran until roughly 5-6AM every day) - many of us still were able to watch a bit and cheer for for Cindy and Carole.

We are so proud of our talented women - and applaud their success!  

And now - thoughts from Carole and Cindy about representing our nation in the 2013 Sport Accord Mind games, posted below.

Opening Ceremony

 

Teammates Rozanne Pollack and Cheri Bjerkan

 

Teammates Lynn Deas and Disa Eythorsdottir

 

Cindy and Carole with friends

 

Closing Ceremonies

 

 

Mike and Barry's Excellent Adventure

Mike Cassel chronicles the saga of his team in partnership with Barry Purrington in the North American Swiss NABC in Phoenix.

Fine showing, Mike and Barry.  

Enjoy, everyone!

Minnesota - Happy Holidays!

Minnesota Gopher Unit 103 - Board of Directors

Minnesota Gopher Unit 103 has scheduled a Board of Directors meeting for Saturday, February 8th.  Details of the meeting, along with an agenda, are below. 

As always, our thanks to the hardworking volunteers in Minnesota whose continued efforts make bridge as good as it can be in our state!

American Contact Bridge League

Minnesota Gopher Unit 103

Agenda  --  Board of Directors Meeting

Saturday    February 8, 2014

Dinner Meeting immediately after afternoon session

Maplewood Community Center

2100 White Bear Ave

Maplewood, MN  55109

651-249-2100

 

1. Call to order

2. Additions to new business

3. Approval of minutes  --  January 25 meeting

4. Treasurer's Report

5. Introduction of new board members  --   Cliff Lundberg. Kathy Beckman, and Jane Trahms

6. Committee Reports

   a. District Liaison      Gus

   b. Board of Governors   Gus/Lance

   c. NAP      Warren

   d. GNT      John

   e. Properties     Wayne

   f. Education       Hank

   g. Publicity

 

7. Old Business

   a. BCofSt.Paul

   b. Autumn Harvest

   c. Woodbury tournament

 

8. New Business

   a. NAP $ for 3rd place finisher is 103 member

   b. acknowledgement for Ben Kristensen    2nd place Baron Barclay Youth Pairs in Atlanta

   c. upcoming tournaments

   d. Tables

   e. Award banquet   date and location

   f.  Others

 

9. open forum

 

November Charity Game Accomplishments

Fine showings by Minnesota players and District 14 competitors in November's ACBL-wide Charity Game.  

Check out all the details at District 14!

Leaders!

With the time differences between Beijing and Minnesota, most of us are able to kibitz the Sport Accord Mind Games vugraph for a few hours.  

When I was watching, our Minnesota female stars, Carole Miner and Cindy Balderson, were at the top of the leader list in the pair competition.  And - when I awakened?  Still there!

The pair already earned a Bronze Medal with their US team in the team competition.  Now, we hope they reach even greater heights.

Carole and Cindy - we here in Minnesota and throughout ACBL-land are beyond proud of you!  Keep up the good work!

MGSC Julie Tigges Memorial Game - CHANGE OF DATE

Please note the message below from MGSC President Peg Mitchell.  The game originally scheduled for tonight, December 13th, is postponed.  

Thank you for your understanding and for having more of Julie's many friends available for this evening!

       Hello, all!

 

I apologize for this last minute change.  However, so many of you who cared deeply about Julie have written or called to say that tonight is just not workable for you. 

 

I have talked with Joe Bornong, Julie's husband, searched the ACBL tournament calendar and the upcoming MGSC calendar.  January 31 appears to work well.  I know that some of you who would like to be there will be "wintering" in a better climate. Julie would want you to be warm. 

 

Many bridge players donated to a gift for Julie during our State Sectional.  Though I attempted to spend that money on some gifts for Julie while she was in the hospital, the ideas didn't quite fit.  I will either send that money as a donation to A Breath of Hope or, if people are interested, will commit it, along with your additional contributions, to an event at our Gopher Regional named in Julie's honor.  Your feedback is welcome.

 

Mark your calendars for January 31!  Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing people tonight who are planning to play. 

 

Thanks for your understanding. 

 

            Peg Mitchell

Tonight in Beijing

 

Late tonight, Minnesota time, our state's top notch womens' partnership will compete on the world stage.  Carole Miner and Cindy Balderson are one of three pairs on the 2013 Sport Accord World Mind Games team in the Women's competition.  

Though the schedule in China isn't ideal for Midwestern viewing, we do hope that many will kibitz Carole and Cindy.  You can watch them on vugraph at Bridgebase; the schedule from Wednesday night through Saturday is here.

Cindy and Carole; we are all rooting for you!  Good luck and have an incredible time at the Mind Games!

Holiday Sectional

While some of us were competing in the mild Phoenix weather at the Fall NABC, others of us braved the elements to get to the Holiday Sectional in North St. Paul.

Terry Beckman and Minnesota Bridge's John Koch of "Koch Korner" topped the masterpoint list with almost 16 for the weekend.  Full results can be found here.

Our thanks to Kim Hayward, tournament chairman, plus all those who contributed to making the first sectional of December a success!

Phoenix Results - Thursday, December 6th

In NABC events, Minnesotans placed throughout.

The Senior Mixed Pairs saw Carole Miner and Paul Meerschaert in 9th place, Peg Kaplan and Royce McCray in 12th, and Sharon Anderson and Jeffrey Taylor in 23rd.

In the 0-5000 Mini Blue Ribbon, pairs Mark Krusemeyer and Michael Schrage and Scott Hiller and Patti Stuhlman finished 46th and 59th respectively.

Well done!

Today, Friday, two more prestigious events begin.  The toughest event of them all; the Reisinger BAM - and the Keohane North American Swiss Teams.

Good luck to all our competitors in their events!

Phoenix Results

One of the most prestigious events on the calendar began Tuesday:  the Blue Ribbon Pairs. Six sessions long, played against the best in the world - doing well in this event is a feather in anyone's cap.

Those qualifying from Minnesota included Jin Liu and Zizhuo Wang along with Barry Purrington and Mike Cassel.

In the 0-5000 Blue Ribbon Pairs, the pairs of Carol Rynders-Jill Flader, Scott Hiller-Patti Stuhlman and Wayne Gergen-J Williams will be playing the second day.

Best of luck to our players at the Phoenix NABC!

 

Super Seniors!

Coincidentally, I ran into Paula Cohen and Sonja Shiner during a break.  They were competing in the Super Seniors.  When I asked them how their game was, they replied, "Pretty good."

I think "pretty good" must have been an understatement!  Paula and Sonja ended up in second place!  Congratulations, ladies, on such a fine showing.

It almost appears that second place is the best anyone can do - with the exception of Ed Lazurus.  The event has been held four times - and - every time, Ed has been the winner!

You can read about the event in the Daily Bulletin here.

UPDATE:  Sorry to report that a scoring correction changed Paula and Sonja to third place. Nevertheless, assuredly a fine showing!

Friends in Phoenix

No exciting results to report yet from our Minnesota players.  But - Mike Cassel and Barry Purrington did make it to day #2 of the Open Pairs.  Here they are, fighting away against a tough field.

UPDATE!  As you will note from Stephen Jackson's comment below, Roger Anderson and his partner also competed in the finals.  Your Editor hadn't made it through the 350+ photos she took that day when first posting.

Roger's smile is now here - and - well done, Mike, Barry and Roger!