Peggy Bayer Match 9 & 10

The Scotland team were perfectly polite, but inwardly I think upset to be beaten by their younger SBU rivals. I encouraged them to channel their inner anger to the match against Ireland, where they produced a stonking 83-28 IMP win. "I like scoring up" said Niamh after this one. Why can't they play like that every match?

The SBU team didn't quite enjoy scoring up so much, and I think have been roundly beaten by England. I've not seen the final score yet, but hope they can grab a VP or two.

This board caused a lot of trouble around the event:

For Scotland our North-South pair got to 5D after a fourth suit forcing auction (1H-1S;2D-3C). This made plus one. In the SBU match they got swindled by England, who bid swiftly to 5C East-West which went undoubled down four. When he came out of the match South did say he had made a mistake, forgetting to double with three Aces. I later noticed the English coach reminding his over-enthusiastic East player that a 3C opening is usually seven cards.

Both Irish Peggy Bayer and Camrose teams ended up in failing grand slams, so clearly not an easy one to bid.

The gladiators are now in for the final combat, with Scotland looking to get a good result against Northern Ireland. I set a target at breakfast today of 100 VPs (average 10/20 per match), which is within reach. 

Turns out the SBU team lost by just 6 IMPs to England! Well done all of them. My players don't seem to enjoy having their photos taken but I'm now going to sneak in to the venue to take a few action shots. 

Niamh & Rachel

It was perfectly quiet in there apart from a tall man in shorts with a phone squatting down to get photos. Outside the playing area things are more relaxed.

"It doesn't matter about our score anyway, as we were down seven doubled at the other table"

Timon, thinking about the gala dinner at 830 tonight

As we await the final result I fear that our Scotland team have not done enough to overhaul Ireland and will finish in third, with the SBU team fourth having sabotaged the senior team by beating them earlier.

In the U26 event it looks it will also be England #1, Ireland #2 and Wales #3 not far behind.

All that remains is for me to beautify myself for the gala dinner and give a short speech thanking everyone. 

-------------------

It turns out that I wasn't required for the final speech, so instead I will here say thanks to Anne Perkins and all the team, and well done to both the wonderful Scotland U21 teams, for their impeccable behaviour and great effort on the bridge table. The honour of talking for Scotland went to Troy Van-De-L'isle, the non-playing captain of the SBU U26 team. His thanks was echoed by many others, including some remarkable moments.

David Wiseman turning the air blue

The distinguished speaker recalled the last time Scotland won the trophy, then told a rather risque joke that I won't repeat here as I think we got away with Eunice not hearing it the first time and I'd rather shield her young ears. There were two Welsh speakers. One recalled the heroism and suffering of their country, and another read a poem they'd prepared in honour of James Williams, who is playing for the final time this year having reached the age limit. It was proposed to honour all players who have 'aged out'. Only two others admitted that this was their last year, and those three awkwardly walked out to our applause and a song, before quietly sneaking back in later.

Michael Byrne gave a brutally honest and funny speech from the England U26 team, and Stephen Kennedy brushed off his sore throat to give another astonishing bridge-themed vocal performance, this time adapting lyrics to We Didn't Start The Fire. Although the English are given very grudging applause they are in fact extremely gracious winners, and their players are always very well mannered and the best at joining in and chatting with the other countries.

It turns out the finishing positions were not what I expected. In the last match the Scotland team faltered against Northern Ireland, losing again, whereas the young SBU team beat Wales. This was enough for the SBU team to overtake and finish third overall.

I'd set both teams a target of 100 VPs, and they were close. The wins are highlighted in Green.

The final scores for the Peggy Bayer:

It does slightly concern me that after 10 matches of 16 boards not every team has played 160 boards, but perhaps that is just a small scoring error. You can see that both Scotland teams were within touching distance of Ireland, a great effort considering how many inexperienced players we had.

In the Junior Camrose Wales were the standout improvers:

And finally, as I sign off, I must mention that to round off the evening Ailsa with the help of Isla and Anya and Niamh organised an impromptu ceilidh.

Next stop Dublin 2027. I'd forgotten this was in the rotation as last time it was played online due to Covid.