Englewood pair leads ’13’s victory trophy champions

By Jared Johnson

The 2014 Colorado Victory Trophy race is moving into the home stretch with a shakeup in the standings. The trophy goes each year to the Colorado player winning the most masterpoints for first through third place in upperdivision sectional championships.

As of the Colorado Springs tournament in late September, Don and Anita Heitler of Englewood are leading with close to 160 each. Spencer Jones and PeggyWare, both of Denver, who have led most of the year, are at 149, with Allen Kane of Highlands Ranch still within striking distance at 138.

Jones andWare were the 2013 winners.

Just two tournaments remain, one in Longmont at the end of October and one in Denver in early November.

These were top scorers in upper-division events in Colorado Springs.

Single-session Stratified Swiss Teams: Fred Herring of Aurora, Shirley Scott of Colorado Springs and Don and Anita Heitler tied the team of SusanWong ofMonument and Edward Texel, James Hurley and Thomas Goings, all of Colorado Springs.

Bracketed Knockouts: En Hay of Highlands Ranch, Allen Kane, Don and Anita Heitler.

Single-session Stratified Open Pairs: The first session went to Judy Hummel and RobertWingeard, both of Colorado Springs, the second session to Bill Allegar and CarolWard of Arvada, and the third session to Margie Schrader andMelvin Levine, both of Colorado Springs.

Double-session Stratified Open Pairs: Chuck and Pat Henke of Aurora.

Double-session Stratified Swiss Teams: Cal and Flo Newlin of Aurora, Spencer Jones and Peggy Ware nearly lapped the field on victory point scoring.

Upcoming tournaments: The Boulder bridge unit has its annual fall sectional at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont Oct. 24-26.

Oct. 24 has Bracketed Knockout Teams at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 7 p.m., with single-session Stratified Open Pairs and single-session Stratified 299’er Pairs same times.

October 25 has double-session Stratified Open Pairs (single-session entries permitted) at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., with single-session Stratified 299’er Pairs same times.

The tournament concludes Oct. 26 with two-session Stratiflighted Swiss Teams at 10 a.m.

Novice-Intermediate Tournament: The northern Colorado bridge unit has a one day 299’er sectional scheduled for Nov. 1 at the Christ United Methodist Church at 301 E. Drake Road in Fort Collins.

Single-session Stratified 299’er Pairs are on tap at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with 0-20 side games same times, if enough players, otherwise you will play in the regular events.

Fall Nationals: Those looking for bridge-tournament action beyond what is available in Colorado may be interested in the Fall North American Bridge Championships, set for Providence, R.I., Nov. 27 to Dec. 7.

Providence is the smallest city the American Contract Bridge League has picked to host a national tournament in a long while, but there just might be a few bridge players within several hours’ driving distance.

Multiple national championships as well as countless regionally rated games are on tap.

Next fall you won’t have far to go at all. The nationals will be right here in Denver.