ACBL Unit 431, District 19, Victoria BC
Duplicate bridge in the 55+ BC Games is a three day pairs competition with ACBL silver points awarded.
Stratification is 0-300, 300-1000, 1000+ master points.
If you wish to compete, you must register by June 15th.
Interested? Find complete information and registration instructions on the 55+ BC Games website.
Unit 431’s website, bridgevictoria.ca, is dedicated to bringing timely and relevant information to bridge players in the Victoria area.
The site has grown over the years, so we have added a few tools to help you quickly find what you’re looking for.
The top menu shows the main sections of the website. Hovering over a section will open a dropdown menu with further choices.
If you’re looking for a specific item, the quickest way is to type a word or two in the Search box on the right.
The Unit Directory is found in the Members section. It’s a quick and convenient way to find a local player’s phone number or email. To use it, you need to log in (last item in the top menu).
Have any questions or concerns? Click on the blue “Contact Us” button at the right to let us know.
The Ace of Hearts Sectional Tournament for players with fewer than 300 points was held on Saturday February 25.
This was a 2-session tournament. Participation was excellent with 11 tables in the morning and 12 in the afternoon.
The overall morning winners were Natalie Stevens and Susan DeGryp who both garnered 2.17 Silver Masterpoints.
Anne Callon and Sophie Watts won the afternoon with 2.27 Silvers.
Playing consistently in both morning and afternoon games, John Heck and Shiela Wansbrough came away with the biggest haul of 2.76 Silvers.
Detailed tournament results: morning / afternoon.
Congrats to Ruth Cain (chair), Ernie Tradewell (director) and an assortment of dedicated volunteers for putting on this great event!
The Duncan Sectional will be held March 16-18 2023 (Thursday through Saturday) at Eagles Hall, 2965 Boys Rd, Duncan (south end, just before the bridges). The tournament flyer is shown below.
To help our members get there we could set up some carpooling. However, we do need to know ahead of time if you are interested in either getting a ride or sharing your car with other players.
Please email our tournament coordinator, Ruth Davies at tournaments@bridgevictoria.ca if you are requesting or offering transportation.
If you currently hold fewer than 300 master points and want a chance to get some silver, our Ace of Hearts Sectional Tournament is just the ticket. All the information you need is in the flyer below:
Ace of hearts 2023
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a bridge director on a cruise ship?
Jon and Caroline Preston have been doing it for several years. 
Jon recently published an article in the American Bridge Teachers’ Association magazine which is reproduced below for your reading pleasure. Note that this is a scan from the paper copy of the magazine. If you prefer downloading a possibly more legible text-only version, click here.
Note: to zoom or change pages, mouse over the document and follow instructions at bottom of page.
Many local players will recall seeing our Unit’s historical records displayed at VBC when it was located on Head Street.
These records include Unit presidents since 1956, Life Masters since 1962, as well as the impressive trophy rack.
Unfortunately we now have no physical location to keep and display these mementos of past achievements.
All is not lost, however. We have uploaded the lists onto our website (bridgevictoria.ca) where you will find them in the “Members” section.
Both lists are easily searchable, so if you happen to be wondering who was president in, say, 1973, it will only take you a few seconds to find out.
As to the trophies, we will be photographing them and adding the pictures to the site in the near future. For a preview of what this might look like, have a look at the Kirkwood Trophy.
We welcome any suggestions you might have.
Our favourite director, Matt Smith (now retired), was inducted into ACBL’s Hall of Fame in 2020. However, because of Covid, the ceremony was only held recently on November 28, 2022.
Here’s a Youtube video of the event.
As most Victoria players know, the Kirkwood Trophy is awarded to the District 19 resident who wins the most masterpoints at District regionals in a calendar year. Our four district regionals this year were Leavenworth, Penticton, Lynnwood and Whistler.
You can find more information, including this year’s rankings and the list of the past 54 winners by accessing D19’s Kirkwood Trophy page.
The page also features an awesome video of the actual Kirkwood Cup. Watch it and you can answer the following question: What was our District called when the cup was created? You won’t get a prize but I will appreciate receiving your answer (just click on the Contact Us button at the right).
The top 10 Victoria area players are shown in the table below:
| Name | Rank | MPs |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon McOrmond | # 3 / 948 | 226.59 |
| Michael Hargreaves | # 14 / 948 | 120.49 |
| Jill Plasteras | # 56 / 948 | 67.26 |
| Madeleine Tremblay | # 71 / 948 | 54.98 |
| Danielle Goulet | # 96 / 948 | 47.4 |
| Michael Ainsley | # 107 / 948 | 45 |
| Don Copeland | # 114 / 948 | 42.8 |
| Esther Wiebe | # 119 / 948 | 42.2 |
| JP Weber | # 119 / 948 | 42.2 |
| Al Romanchuk | # 129 / 948 | 39.64 |
| Mel Zimmerman | # 129 / 948 | 39.64 |
Just a reminder, folks. If you know people who might enjoy playing duplicate bridge, but are unsure of how to go about it, our weekly Duplicate Light game might be just the ticket. It’s a gentle introduction to the game with no pressure to perform.
You can access the Duplicate Light page on the Unit’s website for more information. If you prefer to talk to the organizer, call Jill at 250-686-4747.
Prospective players can also simply turn up at the Monterey Recreation Centre, any Tuesday, alone or with a partner.
Players will register in the Dogwood Room with a bridge ticket ($5 per person) purchased at the reception, from 11:30 am.
Play is from noon to 3:30-ish. Sometimes there will be a brief bridge lesson before the game.
The Whistler Regional ran from November 3-9 and was well-attended by Victoria players. Twenty-nine of us made the trip, braving snow and ice on the way up.
The Michael Hargreaves/Gordon McOrmond partnership came in second overall, each garnering 120.49 MPs. The complete list of Victoria players and their score is shown at the bottom of this page.
With a substantial number (21) of up-island players also showing up to do battle, Vancouver Island was very well represented as shown in the pie chart below.
| Name | Total MP | Rank | Gold | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon McOrmond | 120.49 | # 2 / 311 | 120.49 | 0 |
| Michael Hargreaves | 120.49 | # 2 / 311 | 120.49 | 0 |
| Michael Ainsley | 45 | # 22 / 311 | 43.46 | 1.54 |
| Madeleine Tremblay | 24.63 | # 73 / 311 | 22.4 | 2.23 |
| Esther Wiebe | 24.63 | # 73 / 311 | 22.4 | 2.23 |
| Jill Plasteras | 24.63 | # 73 / 311 | 22.4 | 2.23 |
| JP Weber | 24.63 | # 73 / 311 | 22.4 | 2.23 |
| Evelyn Goedhart | 17.88 | # 114 / 311 | 16.78 | 1.1 |
| David Reid | 16.11 | # 131 / 311 | 9.67 | 6.44 |
| Donald Berry | 16.11 | # 131 / 311 | 9.67 | 6.44 |
| Holly Boudreau | 14.84 | # 139 / 311 | 11.54 | 3.3 |
| Margaret Skinner | 14.84 | # 139 / 311 | 11.54 | 3.3 |
| Danielle Goulet | 14.59 | # 141 / 311 | 9.67 | 4.92 |
| Eleanor Gibson | 14.59 | # 141 / 311 | 9.67 | 4.92 |
| Catherine Mustafa | 13.81 | # 155 / 311 | 12.02 | 1.79 |
| Al Romanchuk | 13.76 | # 159 / 311 | 11.54 | 2.22 |
| Mel Zimmerman | 13.76 | # 159 / 311 | 11.54 | 2.22 |
| Ted Heck | 12.39 | # 163 / 311 | 11.81 | 0.58 |
| Shelley Burnham | 8.57 | # 198 / 311 | 4.97 | 3.6 |
| Ruth Davies | 6.56 | # 209 / 311 | 2.96 | 3.6 |
| Nigel Williamson | 6.45 | # 210 / 311 | 3.14 | 3.31 |
| Mary Ellen Fisher | 4.38 | # 250 / 311 | 0 | 4.38 |
| Thomas Braybrook | 4.06 | # 260 / 311 | 2.96 | 1.1 |
| Bill Worobets | 3.69 | # 266 / 311 | 0 | 3.69 |
| Janet Worobets | 3.69 | # 266 / 311 | 0 | 3.69 |
| Adrian Leitch | 2.9 | # 279 / 311 | 0 | 2.9 |
| Jonathan Mears | 2.48 | # 283 / 311 | 0 | 2.48 |
| Lucile Mears | 2.48 | # 283 / 311 | 0 | 2.48 |
| John Heck | 0.58 | # 308 / 311 | 0 | 0.58 |
The Oregon Coast Regional in Seaside is always a popular destination for Victoria bridge players. This year was no exception with eighteen of us making the trip south. Another six players from up island were also present.
Sandra and Doug Fraser scored big with 66 MPs, coming in 24th and 25th out of a field of 682 players.
Here are the scores and ranks of all Victoria attendees.
| Rank | Score (MPs) | Name | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 66.12 | Sandra Fraser | Victoria |
| 25 | 65.22 | Doug Fraser | Victoria |
| 36 | 55.27 | Michael Ainsley | Victoria |
| 36 | 55.27 | Sheldon Spier | Chemainus |
| 50 | 48.62 | Jon Preston | Victoria |
| 96 | 31.23 | Donald Berry | Victoria |
| 96 | 31.23 | David Reid | Victoria |
| 166 | 19.3 | JP Weber | Victoria |
| 166 | 19.3 | Esther Wiebe | Victoria |
| 186 | 17.4 | Jill Plasteras | Victoria |
| 186 | 17.4 | Madeleine Tremblay | North Saanich |
| 226 | 14.32 | Michael Hargreaves | Victoria |
| 278 | 11.63 | Mark Raymond | Victoria |
| 280 | 11.55 | Debbie Hargreaves | Victoria |
| 313 | 10.61 | Margot Young | Victoria |
| 337 | 9.47 | Janet Worobets | Victoria |
| 337 | 9.47 | Bill Worobets | Victoria |
| 382 | 8.09 | Ruth Davies | Victoria |
| 382 | 8.09 | Andrea Miller | Victoria |
As Robbie Burns put it, the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley (often go awry)
Regrettably, scheduling conflicts and space limitations right now at the Monterey Centre have resulted in our having to postpone the start-up of Duplicate Light.
We are continuing discussions of the options with the Monterey Centre management this week and will communicate the outcome with you as soon as possible. We may consider playing alongside the Saturday noon game rather than Tuesdays, but will let you know. Check back on the website (bridgevictoria.ca) under “What’s New”.
Sincere apologies for this mix-up and delay.
Jill
250 686-4747
Welcome back to Duplicate Light, a weekly game where social bridge players are gently introduced to the art, mechanisms and protocols of duplicate bridge.
Participants will become familiar with using bidding boxes, numbered pre-dealt decks in boards, electronic registration of scores, and they will get to know a number of other keen players.
Games will be held Tuesdays, starting October 25, at noon, at the Monterey Rec Centre, 1442 Monterey Avenue. We will be in a side room next to an open duplicate game, and we will play about 18 hands at a comfortable rate.
The cost is $5 per participant, kindly subsidized by the Victoria ACBL Unit to encourage the growth of bridge here.
Registration is in the large room overlooking Hampshire Road, near the cafeteria.
Until the Monterey Centre prepares D-Light tickets for sale, please be prepared to pay by cash.
After 3 years, Unit 431 returned to tournament play with the Victoria Fall Sectional on September 16 to 18 at the Mary Winspear Centre.
The tournament was very successful thanks to the team of volunteers who worked to organize and pull off the event. Kudos are also due to Tournament Director Bruce McIntyre who masterfully ran the three-day sectional which attracted higher than expected turnout.
It was great to bring together our local players and welcome out of town visitors from up-island, the mainland and the US. The final tally for the weekend of 189 tables was 71% of the 2019 total, a phenomenal turnout! The main decrease in attendance was in the limited masterpoint, or non-life master games, which has been the case across other ACBL tournaments. A challenge across the bridge community is to continue to attract newer players to our clubs and tournaments.
Congratulations to Sandra and Doug Fraser, who, playing together all weekend, were the overall winners with 38.83 silver masterpoints.
Here are the results from the survey conducted last month.
Dear Victoria bridge player,
Like me, you have probably received an email or three concerning Sorry, Partner, a very entertaining and informative bridge podcast.
And perhaps, like me, you had yet not found the time to take a listen, or were not quite sure how to go about it.
Well let me tell you it’s definitely worth your while. The latest episode featuring an interview with Jeff Meckstroth is dynamite. Not only does he give great bidding advice but you’ll find out the shocking truth regarding the demise of the famed Meckwell partnership.
Now if you’re someone in my demographic (over 75), you might not be too familiar with this newfangled podcast thing. Relax, it’s very easy. If you have a tablet, computer or smartphone, you can get set up in no time. Better still, you can listen to it in your car during those long drives to our far-flung local clubs.
If you need them, you’ll find some instructions on listening to podcasts here.
JP
p.s. I always try to post interesting stuff on the website but rarely get feedback, so it’s hard to tell if anyone actually reads it or finds it useful. Please help me gauge interest by leaving a short comment. Just click on the comment bubble near the top of this article. It looks like this: 
As reported in a previous post, a large contingent of Victoria players participated in the Penticton Regional. Left out was how they performed.
To find out, click here.
The Penticton Regional Tournament was held last week, from June 13 to 19. You can read all about it on ACBL District 19’s website.
With respect to our little island, 48 players from the Victoria area (Unit 431) participated in the tournament, with another 42 coming from up-island (Unit 429), for a total of about 12% of attendees.
Perennial tournament chair Marv Norden was happy with the turnout (table count of 1655.5), a bit over 50% of 2019’s.
He also reported five cases of Covid, one of which from Victoria. If you attended and are exhibiting any symptoms, please test yourself and check with your partners and teammates.
We sent out an email to all Unit members on Saturday morning, asking you to take a whole minute (and maybe two, if you’re adding comments) of your time to help us understand why people were’t coming back to the bridge table. Then maybe we could try to do something about it.
So far (Sunday 9 pm), we’ve received only 21 responses from our 456 paid-up Unit 431 ACBL members.
Pretty paltry, right? Surely we can do better!
So, if you care about the future of duplicate bridge in Victoria, please click here and take the one-minute painless survey.
No personal information is collected in the survey and we’re not trying to sell you anything. You have nothing to lose and you’ll feel good about doing your part to maintain duplicate bridge in our area.
If you have any qualms or misgivings, feel free to reach out to our president, Maureen Trappe by emailing her at president@bridgevictoria.ca.
Thanks!
The Unit 431 Board.