Welcome to the 2014 Spring Nationals
Posted by Marcia Scudder on Wednesday, 29 October 2014 at 08:08
My name is Marcia Scudder. I wear the hat of Tournament Organiser.
I am delighted to welcome you to the 2014 Spring Nationals.
Your Chief Tournament Director is Matthew McManus. He will be assisted by John McIlrath, Ed Barnes, Bruce Crossman and Jeff Carberry.
Matthew John Ed Bruce Jeff
Novice Pairs
This year sees the introduction of the Novice Pairs and a new Sponsorship by Australian Bridge 
The event is just for players with fewer than 100 masterpoints. I am delighted to announce that the top two pairs in the Novice Pairs will be awarded free 12 month subscriptions to the new on-line magazine Australian Bridge - Novice Edition.
All members of the best performing team comprised only of Novice players in the Two Men & a Truck Restricted Teams will also be given free subscriptions.
BBO Broadcasts 
The Semi-Finals and Finals of the Open Teams and the Finals of the Women's and Seniors' Teams will be broadcast on BBO. I am grateful to the ABF, as they will pay for the staff to facilitate this.
eBulletins 
As in 2013, there will be a 2014 Spring Nationals eBulletin. Anyone can contribute an article. Email john@scudder.id.au or see John at the eBulletins Help Desk to obtain a login and password. You can then use the site to write and submit articles to the Esteemed Editors.
Melbourne Cup and the Women's and Seniors' Teams
This year, the Women's and Seniors' Teams will be played when the Melbourne Cup is being run. You won't miss out. Match 2 on Tuesday 4th November will be split into two halves. Boards 1-10 will be played before the Cup and 11-20 after. You will be able to view the race which will be broadcast at the venue. We will run Sweeps for those wishing to have a flutter.
Consequently the end of play for the day will be delayed until shortly after 7 pm.
Oaks Day Pairs 
The finals of the Women's and Seniors' Teams will be held at this venue on Thursday 6th November. As a side event that day, the Sydney Bridge Centre will sponsor a two session Super Congress, the Oaks Day Pairs. Enter at the Reception Desk.
Australian Playoffs - Discussion 
The ABF Tournament Committee has reviewed the timing and format of the Playoffs to select the Australian representative teams for different years of the 4-year International Representation cycle.
In summary, starting with the selection of the 2017 representative teams, the TC recommends that the Open and Women’s Playoffs be held in early December each year, and that the format follows the current practice of Teams-based selection in all years except even non-leap years (2018, 2022 …) when it will be Pairs-based.
The deadline for comments is 30th November, 2014. The Tournament Committee invites interested players to join our representatives to discuss and comment on Friday 31st and again next Wednesday 5th at lunchtime in the Galaxies Room.
2013 Winners
Two Men & A Truck Restricted Teams
Allan Pike - Kathryn Hawke - Edward Truscott - Mike Edwards
Spring National Open Teams
Michael Wilkinson - Griff Ware - Pauline Gumby - Warren Lazer
Dick Cummings Open Pairs
Ian Thomson - David Beauchamp
Ted Chadwick Restricted Pairs
Lavy Libman - Tomer Libman
Linda Stern Women's Teams
Paula McLeish - Jan Cormack - Lynn Kalmin - Lorna Ichilcik
Bobby Evans Seniors' Teams
Ron Klinger - Bill Haughie - Robert Krochmalik - Paul Lavings - Paul Wyer - Robbie Van Riel
Sponsors
I am very grateful to our sponsors:
Paul Lavings Bridgebooks and Supplies Two Men and a Truck Penline
Australian Bridge Sydney Bridge Centre
Australian Bridge Federation Queensland Bridge Association Tasmanian Bridge Association
I urge you to support those who support our Tournament.
