2007 BRIDGE GREAT BRITAIN GOLD CUP
Alexander Allfrey, David Bakhshi, Tony Forrester and Andrew Robson win the Gold Cup
A convincing performance from one of England’s leading teams saw the Gold Cup return south of the border at the Gold Cup Congress in Peebles, Scotland, on the weekend 8 – 9 December 2007.
The final, broadcast live on Bridge Base Online www.bridgebase.com, proved to be a one sided affair, Stevens resigning with 16 boards to play, 98 IMP down (126-28).
It was a second win for Allfrey, a third for both Bakhshi and Robson and a ninth for Forrester who moves up to second in the all time winners list, one ahead of Terence Reese and now only two behind Boris Schapiro, whose 11 victories spanned 52 years.
Tony Forrester is bridge columnist of The Daily Telegraph and Andrew Robson, one of the country's leading bridge teachers, is bridge correspondent of The Times, Country Life and Money Week. In partnership they won the European Championship in 1991 and in 1998 became the first Englishmen to win one of the three major American Contract Bridge League tournaments, The Reisinger. In defending their trophy the following year, they became one of only three teams to have done so since its inception in 1919.
David Bakhshi has represented England as both player and coach and finished sixth in the World Open Pairs in 2006. Alexander Allfrey teaches at the Andrew Robson BC in London and its offshoot in Dorset.
The Swiss Pairs event at the Gold Cup Congress was won by leading Scottish players, Liz McGowan and David Liggatt. McGowan is a World and European Champion and a World Grand Master, the highest rank in world bridge. Her partner, David Liggatt has represented Scotland on numerous occasions and was himself a Gold Cup winner in 1981.
Andrew Petrie, playing with his wife Veronica and teammates Sue and Nick Woodcock, celebrated his recent appointment to the EBU Tournament Committee with a fine win in the Swiss Teams.
In the semi finals Allfrey beat Armstrong (John Armstrong, Graham Kirby, Danny Davies, Hugh McGann, Phil King & Les Steel) by 67 IMP (141-74) and Stevens (Nick Stevens, Paul Bowyer, Duncan Happer, Ben Green, Jim Mason and Dick Pathan) beat the Liggins (Glyn Liggins, Peter Crouch, Martin Jones & Neil Rosen) by the same margin (172-105)
Quarter Final Draw - matches to be played by Sunday 28 October 2007
| Team |
Captain |
|
Seed |
|
Team |
Captain |
|
Seed |
| 39 |
P Collins |
Kent |
8 |
v |
208 |
N Stevens |
Leicestershire |
1 |
| 130 |
G Liggins |
London |
3 |
v |
221 |
T Townsend |
London |
6 |
| 80 |
S Gillis |
London |
4 |
v |
4 |
J Armstrong |
Northants |
7 |
| 8 |
J Baker |
Hampshire |
5 |
v |
2 |
A Allfrey |
London |
2 |
|
