Bridge Week … It should be more
I am not complaining about the organizers. Dick and Jan Anderson worked like dogs. All the volunteers worked hard and were wonderful friendly people. I felt I made new friends when I chatted with them.
But it just wasn’t enough. Now here I am talking about the social aspects of Bridge Week. We definitely had enough boards to play. Let me start by saying the tournament itself was run efficiently. The directors were great. The organizers were willing to change the schedule when requested by all the women’s teams. So far so good.
I know that there was no money. I contributed to a raffle to help make money to pay for the hospitality even though I couldn’t take home the prize! But here is what was missing:
No coffee in the playing area (once in desperation I bought coffee myself for everyone in both rooms during the finals of the Women’s event and semifinals of the Open). Not only was there no coffee in the playing area but you would have had to go down four floors to the main floor Starbucks to get a coffee while playing. When you are playing that many boards without a break that is just not good enough.
The hospitality bag was put together with love and I am sure the booklet with the schedule was useful. That was about it. Even a printed sheet with a list of restaurants in the area would be nice.
The hospitality room was too small to contain everyone and at times it was very crowded. In the morning they had bananas and muffins and coffee which was okay.There was food after sessions but it was hard for somebody (like me) who couldn’t really tolerate chicken wings or pizza or various junk food. Beer and wine was available at $2.00 a pop although your first two were free (tickets in the hospitality bag).
Results were posted and there were hand records but there was no newsletter or any other reporting. Since the “hotel” didn’t have a bar there was no really good place to all get together. I missed that.
I know this sounds like I am a whiner. But really I think things could be better. I am proud of all the terrific bridge players from Regina who helped out. They were very nice. But maybe this event needs sponsorship if it is to go to a small bridge center. If Regina can’t raise money then maybe it would be best to hold the event elsewhere. I am certain that the small size of the field was partly a result of the location. It was very expensive to go and play. And it wasn’t an attractive destination. While it did draw one or two players from the area especially in secondary events it wasn’t enough to make up the difference.
There should be guidelines which set minimum standards for Bridge Week. Organizing committees should understand that they will have to find some money.
But believe me I don’t blame Regina. You were all wonderful friendly people and I know how hard you all worked.
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Hi Linda,
I heartily approve of your post, while sincerely appreciating the difficult, efficient and time-consuming effort of the hosts, still mentioning ways of improving future tournaments.
The administration of conducting bridge tournaments has always been a complicated, under appreciated, very difficult process. While sincere volunteer efforts are needed, sometimes along with it, there needs to be at least one or two experienced high-level administrators who understand the expert game and what is necessary to provide. Lacking that, any tournament will always come up short in what veteran tournament players vitally need. Available coffee, daily bulletins, uncrowded conditions of play, a place to congregate in the late evening are only about half of the requirements for any high-level bridge event to take place. Perhaps the ACBL should write a manual where Linda’s comments should all be included.
In addition, perhaps the volunteers should meet with a qualified person (on the necessities of what is required with a very high-level bridge event) in order to oversee a formal check list. “Little by little we can do great things” but only if someone is present to understand what is ALWAYS needed.
Thank you, Linda, for writing a necessary post, in spite of the possibility of making enemies.
Wasn’t there, but I can add that it took quite a while before the web site was updated with results — sometimes well into the next day.
From a non-expert.
Linda says, “I know this soujds like I am a whiner.” I have no reason to think that she is an inveterate or categorical whiner. This particular post does not sound like whining. It is whining.
No coffee in the playing area. I live happily without coffee (or cocaine). But if I did need the stuff, I would make darned sure I had a supply of it, and not complain because the organizers didn’t supply it. This tournament ran for a week. The conditions did not sneak up on the finalists.
I, too, can’t really tolerate chicken wings or pizza or various junk food, so I arrange for food that I can tolerate.
“I am certain that the small size of the field was partly a result of the location.” Yes. Regina is a small city in a thinly populated region. But I am not certain how important the size of the field is for a national team selection. Are there that many contenders? Some people and some countries prefer an arbitrarily selected team.
“It was very expensive to go and play.” Are the plane tickets cheaper in the opposite direction? I live in a village. To go to a regional (200 or 300 miles away from the nearest) is expensive. To go to a sectional (150 to 300 miles) is expensive. To go to an ACBL accredited club (110 to 180 miles) is expensive.
“It wasn’t an attractive destination.” Nolo contendere. I haven’t found any cities an attractive destination. And one hotel bed looks like another. It is the people who make destinations interesting.
“There needs to be at least one or two experienced high-level administrators who understand the expert game and what is necessary to provide.” These were in place. Nader Hanna is CBF president and one of the country’s top players. He was there. In the finals. Dick Anderson has over 10,000 points and was president of the ACBL. He lives there.
Coffee: It is impossible to keep yourself with a supply of coffee when you have to play 24 boards with only a small break. I need coffee when I am playing
Expense: I talked to a lot of players and it was a hardship for some of them. The plane fare, the hotel and especially the entry fees. The high entry fees are needed to provide money for the winning teams I know that but the package puts it out of reach of some of the players.
Dick did a terrific job but I think it was hard to do all that could have made it a great event.
Of course the people are important but it is nice to have good restaurants and places to gather.
There were far fewer teams in Regina than there will be in Montreal next year and these are some of the reasons why.
Anything can be made better … if we don’t look at the things that can help us to improve than we don’t get the best event. Being satisfied is not the road to getting players out to compete.
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the tournament. For the most part, I did.
Some of your issues were:
“Even a printed sheet with a list of restaurants in the area would be nice.”
If you walked out the door you could see the signs for several. Earl’s, The Keg, and Brewsters were within a block. If you want fast food, you’d have seen Burger King, Timmies and a couple of others.
“Since the “hotel” didn’t have a bar”
You might not have found it, but I sniffed it out within 5 minutes of check-in. Hint: the door was right beside the Starbucks you did find.
“It was very expensive to go and play. ”
Yes it was, I probably won’t go to Montreal since I expect it to be a lot more expensive.
“While it did draw one or two players from the area especially in secondary events”
Well, excuse me, maybe us local yokels (cannon fodder, dog meat or whatever) shouldn’t play. While my team did not make the cut, we did beat several of those who did or were expected to. I also managed a 4th in the (secondary) IMP pairs. What were the primary events, to me they were the CNTC & CNOP.
“There was food after sessions but it was hard for somebody (like me) who couldn’t really tolerate chicken wings or pizza or various junk food.”
That’s what you get at 10:00 PM. You were expecting free-range filet and organic sprouts? One night I ate veggies and dip.
“I know this sounds like I am a whiner.”
Sorry, I’m with Jim McLaren on this one.
Now that we’ve dealt with your complaints, here’s mine. I was embarrassed (as a bridge player) to hear stories (no, I wasn’t there) of a player loudly explaining to their partner, in the lobby, how “Everyone on BBO says your bidding sucks” and so on and so on. Bridge players should be above that.