WELSH GRAND SLAM WEEKEND

On 15^th March most of Wales either descended on the Millennium Stadium or gathered around televisions screens in rugby clubs, bars or homes across the Principality hoping to see a second Wales Grand Slam in three years.

With James Harris being fortunate enough to have a ticket to the Wales rugby match, the remaining members of the Wales Under-20 team, comprising Claire Evans, Becky Watkins and Jonathan Richards, joined forces with Sinead Bird from Bristol to travel to Loughborough to play in the Harry Scully Trophy; part of the EBU’s Young Bridge Challenge.

Eleven teams entered, mostly made up of players from different schools or clubs. The teams competed in a short three-match Swiss Tournament from which the leading four teams would then play in semi-final and final to determine the winner.

After the initial three rounds of Swiss the Anglo-Welsh team was lying third and moved into the semi-final. In the 8 board semi-final they easily despatched their opposition from Loughborough/Bristol by 36 IMPs.

In the final they played a strong Yorkshire team of Mark Dessain, Jack Simm, Tom Copeland and Jakub Gembecki that had won their semi-final convincingly by 60 IMPs. Not overawed by their opposition the Anglo-Welsh team lost narrowly by 15 IMPs.

However it could easily have gone the other way as on the last board Jonathan and Sinead settled in 3NT on the following hand:

Q2 AT83

93 AKJT5

872 A6

AKQT74 J3

After a diamond lead Jonathan quickly claimed 10 tricks. However the Yorkshire team were more adventurous and bid to slam. Although 6C is a good spot, needing Qxx hearts in either hand, the Yorkshire team had bid to 6NT and, on a same diamond lead, had to bring in the hearts for no loser. If the queen had been offside then another Welsh Team would have brought home silverware but Qxx was onside and thirteen tricks rolled in!

Still a good showing by the Welsh Juniors, who continue to advance and develop their game.