A partnership between a master and rookie proved to be a winning combination for two members of Powell River Duplicate Bridge Club.
Master Jean Brach and rookie John Silver won this year’s Helen Shields Rookie Master Game with an excellent 68 per cent game.
Brach and Silver won the event at the club level on April 23 and their winning score turned out to be top in Canada as well.
The event is held all across Canada, with all pairs playing the same hands. Rookies must have fewer than 50 masterpoints. This year, 25 clubs and 590 pairs participated.
Helen Shields played bridge in Thunder Bay for many years. As president of the Canadian Bridge Federation, her primary objective was to promote bridge for beginners.
Silver moved to Powell River five years ago. “Since 2009, he has been a keen club member, always willing to participate in all our club activities,” said Vivian Thickett, club owner.
Brach has been a member of the club since its inception over 40 years ago, Thickett said. “Besides possessing great card sense, Jean always has something positive to say to her partner,” she said. Silver and Brach were thrilled to win at the club level, Thickett added. “Now, they cannot believe they were first overall across Canada,” she said.
