World Championships Updates - Women's Team Progress (David Gold)

We have played 13/23 matches and are lying 5th with 8 teams qualifying for the knockouts. With India and Australia to come today we are hoping to score well and give ourselves a little breathing space as we are currently only 7vps ahead of 9th.

Just to show you that even at the top level mistakes are made:

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These hands were bid to 7N in the Bermuda Bowl off 5 spade tricks and the club ace and yes, it was doubled! The pair in question were Fleischer-Martel, the defending champions.

My team of:

Nicola Smith and Yvonne Wiseman

Heather Dhondy and Nevena Senior

Catherine Draper and Gillian Fawcett

Provides a good mix of youth and experience. Yvonne is playing her first of many Venice cups, (her partner won her first Venice cup before Yvonne was born!). It is a Venice cup debut for Gillian also.

All 3 pairs are playing well and the team is a joy to captain. Coach, David Burn is doing an excellent job preparing everyone for play and keeping us all amused.

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Void

Nicola reached 6S after west had bid 4H. 7s is cold and a loss looked possible but East doubled it. However, with a surprise void, Nicola redoubled it to record a beautiful +1820, significantly more than the 1510 available for bidding 7 which opponents missed anyway- not at all easy to bid.

Heather and Nevena helped us steady the ship yesterday by hammering Sweden, bidding and making two doubled partscores in a row.

Gillian and Catherine who have been consistently good throughout bid a nice 5D in the first match today against Chinese Hong Kong missed at many tables on:

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It may look easy but even many time Bermuda Bowl winners Italy could not get past 2D, playing against our open team.

Unfortunately, despite a good win against India we suffered a heavy loss against Australia in the 3rd match of the day. We are still 7th, 5vps ahead of 9th.

David