Thanks to every one of you who donated your time and effort and made our Santa Clara Valley sectional a success, including Dan Turkus, unit president, Elaine Erickson, sectional coordinator, and Dana Scott, an Easybridge student who tipped us off to the new location. Our unit was able to give away cookies and still reverse a trend of losing money.

If you want to do your part to promote the game you enjoy, please run for a unit board office in May. Contact me or drop your nomination in the box at the Bridge Center.

Many unit members enjoyed bridge success at our sectional. Gary and Jan Soules finished first in the two-session open pairs event on Saturday. I’m equally impressed by two Easybridge students, Phyllis Vierra & Alex Tampilang, who eschewed the 0-20 novice game Saturday afternoon in order to place first in the two-session 199er game! Irwin & Marion Wentzien were awarded trophies for finishing first overall in the novice game. Donna Webb & Gail Meikle were first in their direction. Erma McCrory & Dorothy Jackson were first in their strat. Gigi Spinazze won the 199er trophy.

In the two-session pairs, Will Watson was first in B, Mildred & Russell Brewer were first in C. In the Swiss team events, Marshall Yancey, Richard Reitman, and teammates were first in the As. First in the Xs were Gwendolyn & Bruce Graff and Marcia & Robert Dean. Two B teams tied for first: George Pledger, Melinda Foos, Joyce & Bill Keckler and a team including Dan Turkus, George Humphrey, and Joy Sarma.

Other section and strat tops went to Ray Yuenger & Lynn Yokel, Bonnie Beardsley & Judy Fisher, Frank Lowenthal, Richard & Jyme Schmeider, Ed Barlow & Bill Langlois, Leon Lee & David Skilling, Candy & Earl Wentworth, Mike Carney & Benjamin Fleishman, Steve Conway, Doug & Lonnie Coppock, Rita Randolph & Simone De Lu, Shirley Foreman & Jewel Schimke, Florence & Tad Yoshikawa, and Stu Goodgold. (Sorry, no room to mention repeat winners.)

Nope, I didn’t overlook that Charley & Andrea James won the Friday night open pairs. This is their paragraph, as, at the San Mateo sectional, they were also first in the evening open pairs and their Swiss team, with Will Watson & Leila Sink, won Flight A. And, as the ACBL belatedly informed me, Charley was the Silver Life Master Mini-McKenney winner.

Other San Mateo sectional strat tops went to Bill Keckler & Shih-Ming Shih, George Pledger & Melinda Foos, Joy Sarma, Frank Lowenthal, Bob Elliott, and a Swiss team including Melody & Chin Chao. In the Marin sectional, strat tops went to James Long, Kathy Maxfield & Gigi Spinazze.

Our next unit game is slated for Thursday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. It’s a Pro-Am game, giving expert players the opportunity to mentor future experts. Sign up at the Bridge Center or contact Lynn Yokel at (408)374-4669 or lyokel@sprynet.com.

Corrections, comments, and news are welcome at (408)379-7717 and rayyuenger@earthlink.net.