2003 :: Dianna Gordon, Beverly Kraft, Toronto, ON; Brenda Bryant, Ferndale, MI; Francine Cimon, Montreal, QC; Joan Eaton, Willowdale, ON; Barbara Clinton, Aurora, ON

2002 :: Bob Crosby (NPC), Pat Lopushinsky, Susan Culham, Kismet Fung, Lorna McDonald

the Canadian Womenís National Team, Venice Cup Qualifying
by Bob Christie

This was a two day battle featuring the 2002 winners crowned in Edmonton last year (Bob Crosby NPC, Pat Lopushinsky, Susan Culham, Kismet Fung, and Lorna McDonald) and the 2003 CWTC Gold Medalists crowned on Saturday evening. The Gordon Team (Dianna Gordon, Beverly Kraft, Brenda Bryant, Francine Cimon, Joan Eaton, and Barbara Clinton) had been the most respected squad in the 2003 competition from the beginning and they did not disappoint. I have been told that Beverly Kraft, for example, has never lost a competition at this level). This match which began on Sunday and ran through Monday. For the first three 32 board sessions it was Gordon, Gordon and more Gordon with the Crosby team winning only one 16 board session by 2 imps. So, going into the evening there was some suspicion that the Crosby team, down by 230 to 146 might concede. They decided, good sports that they are, that this was good and fun bridge, so all loose they went back in and came out to compare, 16 boards later with a victory of 73 to 14 imps-25 imps the difference. All of a sudden the miracle turn around seemed possible. Lots of well wishers paced the floor of the new lobby of the Trade and Convention Centre and crowded around the ladies when they came out for the last comparison. They had won the last stanza as well, but only by 17 imps and the final score was 260-252 by Gordon. The Edmonton team went home with their heads high and the Gordon team went home to prepare for Mexico and then, hopefully on to Monaco with one of the biggest scares of their bridge careers. The miracle that could have been was not to be, but, the sportsmanship was evident. Men shake hands, women hug. Hugs were everywhere.