Bridge players descend on Knysna

The popular yearly national bridge tournament used to be held during the Knysna Oyster Festival period. Due to popular demand by both out-of-town and local players it was held at the bridge club’s own venue, the Knysna Angling Club before the Oyster Fest this year.

For many years the organisers had to take all the equipment to the Brenton hall as the angling club was not available, partly for its own fishing competition and for lack of parking facilities during the cycling and running events.

Generous sponsors

Knysna Duplicate Bridge Club thanks Trevor Cooper for his help and patience to assist with the planning and setup, the catering and coordination during the weekend. The club also thanks the sponsors Warwick Wealth for the prize money, City Lodge Group for their generous accommodation vouchers and Knysna Superspar, Standard Bank, Café Mario, Blend Restaurant, Final Cut, Knysna Elephant Park, Jukani, Bosuns Pub & Grill, as well as the club members. Mama Persella provided an excellent lasagna lunch, Joyce Miles the most delicious trifles and Fruit & Vegetables three hearty soups.

As a first in South Africa, Stephe Collinson of N2RS, an event manager and Knysna guesthouse owner, presented the players with a bridge trivia quiz during the lunch break on Saturday which the players thoroughly enjoyed. Rob Stephens and Lotte Sorensen scored 18 out of 20 and Mike Wright and Viv Lloyd came second.

The mixed bunch of players came from the Southern Cape as well as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Bedford and St Francis – from novices to our SA champs. Noah Apteker is our youngest SA teams champion and his older brother Jude played with the youngest brother Aras (11). This is why the prizes for winning were staggered into groups:

Overall winners

A segment: Bernard Donde and Noah Apteker (Jhb); Alon Apteker and Sven Bjerregaard (Jhb and CT/ Sweden); Rob Stephens and Lotte Sorensen (Jhb).

B segment: Judy Deuchar (Knysna) and Trish Curzon (Jhb); Di Sendin and Jane Underwood (CT); Koos Bezuidenhout (Wilderness) and Bernard Richards (Knysna). C segment: Ian and Joan Huskisson (Knysna); Elsabe and Pat Verner (Pretoria); Jill de la Rey and Louise More (Plett).

For the full results, consult www. bridgewebs.com/knysna or contact Southern Cape Bridge Union president Heidi Atkinson on heidi@hidealoerie.co.za.

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(From left) Koos Bezuidenhout, organiser Heidi Atkinson, Bernard Richards and Warwick manager Brett van Vuuren.

(From left) Noah, Aras, father Alon and Jude Apteker Noah have recently won the nationals. Aras is 11 and on his way to becoming a master. Alon is a grandmaster and Jude is a life master.

Quiz winners Rob Stephens and Lotte Sorensen with quiz master Steph Collinson.

C Segment winners: Ian and Joan Huskisson with Warwick manager Brett van Vuuren.

Heidi Atkinson with little future champ Aras Apteker (11). Heidi gave him a “little” trophy for a “little champ”. He has the courage and ability to take part in an adult regional bridge tournament.