Many congratulations to Steve Cosham and Des Nash, and Elizabeth Mckee and Marge Way, for taking the 2026 Men's and Ladies Bermuda Bridge Club Championships last weekend.

Finishing second in the Men's were David Cordon and John Rayner and in the Ladies, Betsy Baillie and Lisa Ferrari took second place.

There was a reasonable turnout of nine pairs in the Men’s and ten pairs in the Ladies — there were also four junior pairs taking part in this event: well done to Ross Cooper and Scott Gilbertson, who led the Junior field.

Both Elizabeth and Marge are in familiar territory, as both have been at the top of the local game for many years, having won numerous titles at the club — Marge keeps defying Father Time and has just come off a great win with Tony Saunders in the Mixed Pairs.

After the Friday evening session, Steve and Des had opened up a healthy lead with a 67.36 per cent game ahead of two pairs on 56.25 per cent and an average game in the second session saw them win fairly comfortably.

Their win is highlighted by the fact that they were also qualified to win Strata B and Strata C — finishing third were Delton Outerbridge John Glynn.

In the Ladies event Elizabeth and Margie started with a healthy 66.2 per cent game ahead of Judy Bussell — Stephanie Kyme on 57.87 per cent and two other pairs with 52 per cent plus.

Another good session saw them coast to a comfortable win over Betsy and Lisa who had a remarkable second session to leap into second after a 49 per cent first session! Finishing third in the Ladies were Sancia Garrison and Lynanne Bolton. .

A big well done to both sets of winners and the podium pairs in the three strata.

***

Here is this week’s hand:

All you are asked to do is make your contract — forget the overtricks for which you will get no praise and might even get a rebuke! And one big hint — the opponents have no singletons in the non-trump suits.

Give it some thought — again, don’t worry about the overtrick — making the contract is the difference between success and failure, life and death, time in Heaven or for ever in purgatory …

How did you get on? Read on …

The key is to set up the heart suit without risking an overruff.

Ready? Win the Ace of clubs and lead a low heart from dummy! East wins and plays the club King — you ruff, play the Queen and Ace of spades and ruff another low heart — now draw the last trump with the King of spades, throw four diamonds on the four good hearts and claim …

So, is it the Pearly Gates or a dark inferno for you?

• David Ezekiel can be reached at davidezekiel999@gmail.com

BRIDGE CLUB RESULTS

Friday, June 12

1 Jane Smith/Margaret Way

2 Gertrude Barker/Martha Ferguson

3 Carol Jones/Jane Clipper

Saturday, June 13

Ladies Pairs Championship

1 Elizabeth McKee/Margaret Way

2 Betsy Baillie/Lisa Ferrari

Men’s Pairs Championship

1 Stephen Cosham/Desmond Nash

2 David Cordon/John Rayner

Monday, June 15

North/South

1 Charles Hall/Kim Simmons

2 Molly Taussig/Elysa Burland

East/West

1 Sancia Garrison/Jane Smith

2 Betsy Baillie/Joyce Pearson

Tuesday June 16

North/South

1 Desiree Woods/Ross Cooper

2 Sally Irvine/Sandra Ogden

3 Tracey Pitt/Kim Simmons

East/West

1 Joshimar Hussey/Julia Tadman

2 Dan Stephan Vlad/Miruna Dudceac

3 Tim McKittrick/Keri McKittrick

Wednesday, June 17

1 Duncan Silver/Marion Silver

2 Sheena Rayner/Magda Farag

3 Charles Hall/Margaret Way

Thursday, June 18

1 Stephen Cosham/Margaret Way

2= Erika Jones/Caitlin Conyers

2= Joshimar Hussey/Julia Tadman