Progress after day 1
Australia has sent 4 teams to the old Portuguese settlement in Goa.
At the end of the first 4 rounds after the morning session on Wednesday 6th June, the following is the status.
The Open (Men's) team is well placed in second place.
The team is captained by David Wiltshire and he is partnered by the young Victorian Max Henbest. Before qualifying for this team, they had played successfully together in winning the VCC open teams in Melbourne one year ago. Unfortunately for them, the timing of the Asia Cup coincides with this year's VCC, so they have no opportunity to defend their title. This pair was leading the overall datums at the end of the first day.
Andy Hung and Sartaj Hans are another pair on this team. They need little introduction as they have been successful individually in many events in various partnerships both in Australia and overseas.
The South Australian twosome of Joe Haffer and Phil Markey is the other pair. In the last year or so, they have formed a very effective partnership and their aggression in the auction is complemented by good technique.
The Women's team after round 4 are in a ding dong battle at the top of the leader board with China. This is an excellent result to date as this Chinese team are perennial top performers in many international events in both open and women's fields.
The team is captained by Kim Morrison.
Viv Wood and Jane Reynolds are leading the overall datums at the end of the first day. As individuals and as a partnership, their results have been very impressive recently and they are currently living up to this form.
Karen Creet and Sheila Bird are a very well established partnership and their understanding of their system and each other's strengths has enabled them to be playing on this team.
Eva Caplan and Jenny Thompson play together on a semi-regular basis and their solid style and consistent results assist any team they play with.
The Mixed team is a relatively new format for Australian players. They are currently holding down a very admirable second position.
Matthew Thomson is captaining the team with his soul mate Cathryn Herden. Matthew's results with many different partners is well documented and Cathryn offers good support. As a partnership, they won the VCC in Melbourne previously with another pair of soulmates, Peter and Kathy Buchen.
David Beauchamp and Jodi Tutty are the other pair. David, like Matthew, has played successfully with many different partners and Jodi is an experienced international. This background, although not as a partnership, is standing them in good stead.
The Senior team is running just out of the top 3 currently.
Bruce Neill is captaining the team and, in partnership with Avi Kanetkar, they have been successful in many local and international events for more years than either would care to remember in their partnership and in others. Avi will be happy to go there as 'home' is not far north in Pune. At the end of the first day, they were leading the overall datums.
Martin Bloom and Nigel Rosendorff have been playing together in senior events on the local scene and overseas for a while as well and they have developed a good understanding of each other's strengths.
Pauline Gumby and Warren Lazer probably play more bridge together in one year than most pairs play in three or four years. They are a model of consistency which has been honed by this extensive experience playing as a partnership.
In the next few days, we shall follow their progress and comment on some interesting hands where appropriate.
Posted by Chris on Wednesday, 6 June 2018 at 20:19