To Boat or not to Boat

On April 15th 2005, roughly half of the seven pairs from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire boarded the ferry bound for Shetland, for a weekend of friendly bridge with our counterparts on the islands.  (It is often forgotten by "mainlanders" that Shetland is part of the North District).  The remainder of the mainland contingent decided that flying there was better for their stomach.  This fast-paced method of travel does, however, forgo a lot of bridge on the boat.

By all accounts, a fantastic time was had by all, with extremely generous hospitality from our Shetland friends.

Thanks

Acknowledgements and grateful thanks are well deserved, so, here goes:

Ken Rae - who organised all the bridge events.

Drew and Violet Tulloch who, along with Ken, provided very generous prizes.

Penelope Smith, the club secretary, who helped organise the visit and provided all our group with a comprehensive tourist pack on the islands.

Ian Gray and Gary Williamson, who, with the above, laid on transport for our "Non-Boat People" and also the group who got to the hotel at 9:00am on the Saturday morning to welcome the "Boat People" on arrival at the Shetland Hotel, which provided an excellent venue for all the bridge events.

A great time was had by all and President of the North District, Bill Ross, has extended a warm invitation for the Shetlanders to reciprocate the visit in 2006...we look forward to extending our hospitality to them.

And so to the Bridge...

It was almost a clean sweep for the visitors in the bridge events although the main event, the Teams of Four, was won by the Shetlanders represented by Ken Rae & partner Heather, playing with this years' Norvite North/South winners Ian Gray & Gary Williamson.

The full results were:

Saturday Evening Pairs

1st - Bill Ross and Emily Garden - 61%
2nd - Gibby and Sally Reid - 60%
3rd - Gordon Hay and Willie Winkinson - 59%

Sunday Afternoon - Teams of Four/Six

1st - Ken Rae & Heather, Ian Gray & Gary Williamson - 82
2nd - Jim Hay & Joan Mercer, Sandy Taylor & Sheila Calder, Gillian Whyte & Simon Robin - 80
3rd - Sandra Schwitz & Eddie McGeough, Bill Ross & Emily Garden - 79

Sunday Evening Individual

1st - Jim Hay +4500
2nd Eddie McGeough +3400

The Hall of Shame

No adventure would be complete without its selection of photographs...some serious...some not so serious, but all with smiles...enjoy...just click any picute to view it at full size.