Canada best women bridge player revisited
A while back I was thinking about some of the great players in Canadian bridge. I think Canada has developed an amazing number of really talented players, many unfortunately have been part of a bridge brain drain to the USA. Nick Krnjevic from Montreal did send in a great suggestion, Sharyn Reus. Sharyn is not only a great player but she is one of those lovely ladies that you really enjoy having on your team. I am so glad that she came out of retirement to play bridge again.
I could write a lot about Sharyn’s successes. She along with my other teammates Francine Cimon and Diana Diana joined by other great players like Rhoda Habert Katie Thorpe, Mary Paul, Joan Eaton and others are part of a great bridge dynasty that has had success on the world stage for many years.
I would be interested in any additions or ideas you might have. Add a comment or send me an email. What about the best open player? Who is our greatest current player? I think Jeff Hampson might be my pick if we can count players who no longer play for Canada. Perhaps we should pick a partnership rather than a single player.
Speaking of Canadian success it was amazing how very well Canadian has done in these Olympics after such a slow start. I know that we are sending out best wishes with our bridge teams that will represent us at the World Mind Games.
Subscribe to our feed
Bridge-related
Uh, how about Pamela Nisbet? She did win the last three Canadian Women’s Team Championships. And she did it with three different partners and three different teammates. Not too shabby.
Pamela has started to amass a fine record in winning the CWTC 3 times and having played with Pamela in Shanghai I know she is a very good player. So yes, she is someone who should be considered.
But, I suppose I am comparing that achievement with the achievement of the women in my BLOG who won 15 or 20 times, several of them got a silver medal and several bronzes and of course Diana Gordon was part of the pair that won Canada’s only gold medal in international play.
I am not trying to belittle Pamela’s achievements but it does take a number of years and victories to put numbers on the board like the women in the article.
What does best woman player even mean….best technical player? I have a favorite there…best current player? I have a different person I would put there…Best player of all time, I have yet a 3rd person there…
I guess you have to define what best means 🙂
That’s a good point Jeff. Herve’s comment did make me think about what I meant too. He was focusing on current performance and my answer focused on longterm performance.
I do realize that it is hard to judge how a person plays without observing them. playing with them or against them quite a bit. And I personally don’t have enough experience with a lot of women players to really answer that.
It is definitely easiest to focus on performance.
Anyway, who would you pick for each of the categories you suggested. You should tell us all since you brought it up.
You asked for it!
The best female technical player I ever played against was the late Laurie McIntyre, technically she was a wonderful player. I don’t remember her as being especially creative in any of the times I got to play against her, but she always knew the book play, and executed it flawlessly. I played against her quite a bit, and never saw her take the wrong line.(not to be confused with winning line)
As to the best current player, I think the discussion starts and ends with Francine Cimon. If you asked any women in Canada who they would start building their team with, I expect the poll would be unanimous with Francine being at the top of everyone’s list. Francine has the CWTC wins, the world medals, the reputation, the judegement and the technique to be considered Canada’s best current woman player.
The best player of all time to me has to go to the only woman ever to win a World Championship for Canada. That’s Diana Gordon. For me, you can be the best player ever, but until you win something you have no proof, and Diana has a gold medal to prove it. I don’t know a lot about Diana’s game, as I have rarely if ever played against her, but for me, winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing, and Diana has won.
You are a brave man, Jeff. I didn’t really know Laurie McIntyre that well but I agree with your other two selections.
Anyone else brave enough!
What a truly good writing..