By Tony Campbell

PENARTH Bridge Club runs a number of competitions during the year.

Last week saw the conclusion of the annual club pairs championship for their Rose Bowl Cup.

A change this year, to encourage more pairs to participate, was to hold it over two weeks, the best two results for each pair being averaged to find the winner with the highest percentage. Twenty three pairs played over the two weeks, twelve qualifying for the competition.

Clear winners of the flat were Mrunalini Dewak and Tim Barsby, with an average score of 64.3%, well ahead of Tony Campbell and Trish Tracey with 56.6%, and Pat Sullivan and Hugh Simmonds in third place with 56.1%.

Interestingly, the brother and sister pair Pat Sullivan and Hugh Simmonds, who have been loyal members of the club for many years, were winners of the handicap. During the two nights, Mrunalini and Tim obtained 10 clear tops and 7 equal tops, well clear of the other players. One hand illustrated the skill of the winners, where they obtained an equal top is shown, by bidding and making 4 hearts.

The bidding sequence is shown. A sacrifice of 4 spades or 5 diamonds by E/W would have been a disaster. Both go three or four off for at least 800. In four hearts, West, on lead, cashed the ace and queen of diamonds and then led the Q of spades, which was won by South’s king.

After drawing three rounds of trumps, South then cashed the ace and king of clubs, conceded a third club, and claimed the rest of the tricks, ruffing his losing club in dummy. Declarer thus made his ten tricks via two spades, six hearts, and two clubs. Well bid and well played. Congratulations.

Weekly results at Penarth Bridge Club

Tuesday Jan 21st 2020: 1st Mrunalini Dewak & Tim Barsby 65.5%); 2nd Pat Sullivan & Hugh Simmons (56.6%); 3rd Jim Elder & Meryl Skipper (55.4%). 1st on handicap: Mrunalini Dewak & Tim Barsby: Thursday Jan 23rd 2020 1st N/S Cyrus & Carmel Hughes (61.7%); 1st E/W Chris Davies & Carole Fitzgerald (59.4%) Friday Jan 24th 2020: 1st Peter Millar & Tim Barsby (68.1%); 2nd Tony Campbell & John Salisbury (58.3%); 3rd Mike Downey & Trish Tracey (54.95).

Penarth Bridge Club is a warm and friendly club that meets every Tuesday and Friday at Trinity Church Hall, Woodland Place, CF64 3EN. There is plenty of parking. We ask players to be in their seats by 6.45 pm, so that we can set the movement for a prompt start at 7 pm.

A machine deals the boards, so you can have a print out of all the hands at the end of the play. You can see each hand, compared with the results, on the web site https://www.bridgewebs.com/penarth/. There is also an improvers’ session every Thursday morning starting at 10 am.

We have several social events during the year, linked to bridge. Contact Professor Tony Campbell, or see the web site https://www.bridgewebs.com/penarth/ for further information. Table up. campbellak@cf.ac.uk.