I’m grateful to the first reader who complained about my missing April column, which either disappeared in a rolling blackout or lost its way in cyberspace. You can find it and all my articles (unexpurgated) online at www.sjbridge.org under “old stuff.”. My apologies to the President’s Day regional winners featured in it, some of whose names and photos were published elsewhere in the April Forum

“And the Oscar goes to.” I’m not that politically correct. The 2000 winners of the mini-McKenney in our unit were Richard Jacobs (rookie), Steve Chen (junior), Gigi Spinazze (club), William Keckler (sectional), George Pledger (regional), Melody Chao (NABC), Lynn Yokel (life), Will Watson (bronze), K-P Cheng (silver), Rose Meltzer (gold), Gary Soules (diamond), and Peter Weichsel (grand). Richard and Gigi repeated as Aces of our club. The other 2000 Aces were Rose Lachman (junior), David Chang (sectional), Rita Randolph (regional), Doris Oelberg (NABC), Art Fonda (life), Tania Moalem (bronze), Ted Richmond (silver), Bonnie Beardsley (gold), and Charlie Dorn (diamond). I hear Tania has switched units, so someone else will have a chance in 2001.

Our Santa Clara Valley spring sectional was a growing success, thanks to many, including director Jay Magid, Phyllis Vierra, the organizer, and Bob Elliott, who welcomed newcomers. We had 12 ½ tables in the 0-20 game, won by Wilfred Tang & Janet Sullivan from our club’s Sunday night Easybridge! game. For the most points earned in limited pair games, Richard Jacobs got a trophy. Ursula Gueldner & Frank Napolitan took first in the two-session under-200 game. Other strat tops went to: Bev Nelson & Lucy Burke, Richard Jacobs & Hiram Shen, Robert & Joan Rouse, Patrick Miller, Neal Webb & Ray Yuenger, Ray Crist, Henry Zoellner & G Ringer, Pamela Woods & Michael Ravera, Faye Parsons & N. Hatfield, Lynn Brown, Wesley Woo, Richard Reitman, Leon Lee & Malcolm Stewart, Ann Mollard, Ray & Maxine Lubow, Mike Sullivan, Bill & Joan Sherman, Dan Turkus, Marion & Irwin Wentzien, Melinda Foos & George Pledger. (No room for repeat winners.)

Topping team events were Dan Turkus & George Humphrey, Ann Mollard, Alexander Tampilang & Mike Sullivan & Phyllis Vierra, Robert Moen & John Preovolos & Gabriele Pani & Joyce Sogg.

Our unit members have also been finishing first in their respective stratifications in local sectionals: in Pleasanton, William Keckler & Mindy Foos, Steve Chen, Richard Jacobs & Hiram Shen; in Berkeley, Gary Soules and Lynn Yokel & Ray Yuenger; in Marin, Jim Tseng; in San Mateo, Bin Dai, Ray & Maxine Lubow, Don Nemiro, Edward Lin, Hiram Shen & Ray Crist, Bob Elliott, Ed Lee, Gary & Jan Soules, Chee Tung, Bill & Joyce Keckler, Robert & Joan Rouse, Stan Batiste.

Pleasanton Swiss team winners were Neal Webb & Ray Yuenger and Richard Jacobs & Phyllis Vierra & Hiram Shen & Alexander Tampilang. San Mateo team winners were Mike Roney & Mansoor Gowani, David Chang, and Chee Tung.

Corrections, comments and news are welcome at (408)379-7717 and rayyuenger@starband.net (my new address).