Bridge Blog 841: July roundup

The elves at ACBL center have been busy tonight. When I checked in about 10 p.m., the website still was displaying last month’s master point races. Now, shortly after midnight, the new totals are posted. Did my 10 points in July move me up? Let’s take a look.

In the Ace of Clubs race, for points earned in club play, the pecking order in the 1,000 to 2,500 point category for Unit 116 (just Buffalo) seems relatively unchanged. My new total of 45.11 still puts me in 12th place, albeit a little more securely than a month ago. My closest pursuers, Elaine Kurasiewicz (42.43) and Gene Finton (42.05), are no longer right on my heels.  

Leader continues to be John Ziemer, with 114.57 points, followed by Ken Meier, 110.82; Mike Silverman, 108.56; Fred Yellen, 98.37; Martin Pieterse, 93.29; David Millward, 83.84; then a big step down to Allen Beroza, 58.93; Bill Finkelstein, 56.95; Walt Olszewski, 54.12; Barbara Pieterse, 52.27; and Dorothy May, 50.65.

As for the Unit 116 Mini-McKenney race, which counts all points earned everywhere, I’ve moved up a rung, from 11th to tenth place, with an overall total of 64.79 points.

John Ziemer has taken over the lead on this list with 141.01 points, while last month’s frontrunner, Martin Pieterse, has fallen to third with 133.03. Slipping in front of him is Ken Meier with 134.28. The rest of the top 10 includes Fred Yellen, 122.53; Mike Silverman, 122.32; David Millward, 115.74; David Hemmer, 111.92; Barbara Pieterse, 82.72; and Allen Beroza, 66.91.

Overall point leader in all Unit 116 player categories for Ace of Clubs is Jerry Geiger with 146.24, followed by Meg Klamp with 139.45 and then John Ziemer. The overall Mini-McKenney king is Saleh Fetouh with 205.32, followed by Meg Klamp with 196.82 and Jerry Geiger with 174.77. John Ziemer is eighth overall.

Moving on to District 5 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh), the Buffalo players dominate the 1,000 to 2,500 Ace of Clubs point list, holding the top five positions. I sit in 45th place.

Ohio players rule the upper reaches of District 5 Mini-McKenney race. Sue Lan Ma of Kirtland Hills leads with 369.92, followed by Fleur Howard of Gates Mills with 330.74, Peter Merker of Mentor with 220.23 and Charles Ladiha of Vermilion with 173.05. Buffalo’s leaders are sixth, seventh and eighth. I’m 65th on this list.

Nationally, the 1,000 to 2,500 Ace of Clubs roster is topped by Sanford Robbins of Pompano Beach, Fla., with 299.52, followed by Edward Rauch of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with 280.94. Unit 116 leader John Ziemer is 108th.

The national Mini-McKenney list for 1,000 to 2,500 point players is headed by Peter Gelfand of Corralitos, Calif., with 750.34; Edmund Wu of San Francisco with 647.78; and Aaron Jones of Orange, Calif., with 628.05. No Unit 116 players here. The list cuts off at 143.97.