Tania Moalem and Phyllis Vierra worked together to put on another successful Santa Clara Valley sectional. Attendance was down a little after the Reno nationals, but the prevailing mood was cheerful. Thanks to Dan Turkus and Alex Tampilang for helping set up tables and chairs.

          Stu Goodgold & John Hoffman won the two-session open pairs game, with Marilyn Imaoka-Yancey in second. Stratification firsts in pair games went to Malcolm Stewart & Eric Yang, Eryl Barker, Jim Hayashi & Anne Boboricken, Dana Brown & Srinivasan Ravindran, Janet Adamiak & Phyllis Gaffney, Fia Bosklopper & Maralyn Smith, Jerry Lundquist, Carol Woodward & Nadia Nilsson, Erma McCrory & Josephine Murray, Alka Mathur & Jo Ann Rogers, Margaret Wenzel, Bob & Nancy Ward.

          In Swiss teams, strat firsts were earned by Rose Meltzer; Zag Kadah, Mughith Adham, Bassam & Walid Baroudi; Ben & Fia Bosklopper, Maralyn Smith, and Mary Harvel.

          In the national events at the Reno nationals, Rose Meltzer’s team was fourth in the Open Swiss. In regional events, a Swiss team with John Hoffman & Robert Dean was first in their strat. On winning knockout teams were: Rose Meltzer, Faye Parsons, Mansoor Gowani, Stuart Goodgold, Zag Kadah, Richard Jacobs, Eric Yang, Gerry & Joan Piaget, Erin Gove, Fung Bao, Janet Adamiak, Michael Fleisher, Mike Roney, Derek & Teddi Fiero, and John Prior.  (No, they weren’t all on the same team.)

          First in their strats in two-session pair games were Richard Reitman, Qing Yang, Gary Soules, Li-Chung Chen, Audrey & David Mitchell, Ray Yuenger, Mansoor Gowani, Zag Kadah, Michael Fleisher & Kathy Maxfield.  Strat firsts in intermediate/novice pairs included Arun Shah, Jennifer Gu, Shaila & Hemant Mandpe, Robert Martin, and Carol Woodward. 

          Earlier in the month, 12 tables turned out for our Ace of Clubs/mini-McKinney unit game. Top honors went to Mike Roney & Marilyn Imaoka-Yancey. First in the other direction were Ed Lee & Bill Langlois. First in strats B and C were Jane Casciano & Raja Smadi. 

          At the Berkeley/El Cerrito/Richmond sectional, first in their Swiss team strat were T-C Yang, Fang Wu, and Peter Sun.

          At the San Mateo sectional, first in their strats were Gary & Jan Soules, Cassandra Leung & Ivy Chueh, Carol Woodward & Nadia Nilsson, Shirley Foreman & Rekha Nirula. In the Swiss teams, strat firsts were earned by Henry Fahri, Kit Humphrey, and Bill Langlois; Steve Chen, Shih-Ming Shih, and Gigi Spinazze; Kathy Maxfield, Mindy Foos, and Michael Fleisher; Fung Bao, Chien Fan, and Boyer Chu.

          Jim Hayashi’s team won the open GNT flight in District 21. Sathya Bettadapura’s team won flight B. Li-Chung Chen’s team won flight C.

          Several positions are becoming available on the Unit Board. Nominate yourself or a friend at the club. Voting will begin in May.

          I’m saddened to note the passing of Don Hayden, the gentle giant who never stopped serving as a mentor in my Tuesday night game.

          Old columns can be found at sjbridge.org under old stuff. If I’ve overlooked anything, let me know at rayyuenger@starband.net or 408-379-7717.