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Ratty on Bridge

The MSO WorldWide Bridge Gossip Column
By Mark Horton

12 April 2000
Andrew Robson, who has just won the Cap Gemini Invitation tournament partnering Zia, has been appointed Bridge Correspondent of The Times, reputed to be the best paid job on bridge, at over £30,000 per annum. He takes over in the middle of June, round about the time his wife is expecting their first child, so the money will come in handy!

Following on from the Welsh bridge Scandal, a similar incident is reported to have taken place in Belgium. The affected player promptly sued his Federation, and when the judge decided the evidence was not convincing, he awarded the plaintiff £1,000.

Selectors are still in the news. The English have just chosen a Senior team to compete in Maastricht (to join Glyn Liggins,Joe Fawcett,David Burn & Brian Callaghan) They would have a hard time explaining why they rejected a team containing John Collings and Paul Hackett, both easily still good enough to play in the Open team.

It is rumoured that the English Bridge Union are planning to cut back on International expenditure. Does that mean their teams in Maastricht will also have to contribute some of their own money?

Wales have chosen their team for Maastricht, but their is no place for their most capped player, Patrick Jourdain. He has to be content with the role of Non-Playing Captain. The team are getting help with their expenses, but will still have to find a considerable sum from their own resources.

News comes from Scotland that their Selectors are under fire. The words being bandied around include such old selectorial favourites as 'biased' and 'clique'.

Competitors in the European Mixed Championships being played in Bellaria, Italy, faced severe penalties for being caught smoking, drinking, using a mobile phone or leaving the table before the end of each round. Was there, I wondered, any penalty for being caught in flagrante at the table? I asked one of the directors, and after a momentary pause he ventured an opinion. 'None at all, unless you smoke afterwards!'

The Canadian company Master Point Press have established themselves as one of the leading publishers of bridge books. One of their forthcoming books was provisionally entitled The Professionals, written by Brian Senior and Mark Horton. However, since everyone thinks it refers to Meckstroth & Rodwell, a new title is being sought. Any suggestions?

The Netherlands stage some of the best events in the world, so why not book you place at Forbo 2001 next February? This years closing ceremony featured a brilliant magic act - and not a playing card in sight!