The 2024 Eastcoaster Swiss Pairs was held at the Eastcoaster Resort in Orford on the weekend of 24-25 August. This year the event attracted 36 pairs from all over the state. Many people stayed overnight at the Eastcoaster and there was an event dinner on the Saturday night at the Eastcoaster's restaurant.
The field covered the full range of experience, with some people playing in their first Swiss Pairs competition. The field played nine matches of nine boards across three sessions, two on Saturday and one on Sunday morning. Prizes were awarded for the overall field and for novice and restricted categories (less than 50 and 150 masterpoints respectively). Pleasingly all players earned some red masterpoints for their weekend's efforts.
The winners overall were Tania Lloyd and Hugh Grosvenor, Andrew and Sandra Richman were second with Julie Rhodes and Leigh Blizzard finishing Third.
Winners of the restricted category (and 7th overall) were Rose Rowell and Marleen Lynch. Second in the restricted category were Julia Johnson and Sharn Davies. Winners in the novice category (and 9th overall) were Helen Hebblethwaite and Debbie Martyn. Second in the novice category were Dennis and Wendy Butler.
Full results for the event are available here.
Many thanks to the Eastcoaster for their generous support of the event, and for all of their efforts in making the weekend a success. The Eastcoaster donated a free accommodation package as a lucky door prize, which was won by Trish Colles and provided the venue free of charge.
Thank you to Julie Rhodes for her work as event convenor. Thanks to Annette Keen and Jegs Nuttall for stepping in at the last minute to replace a pair who had to withdraw. Thanks also to Simon Edler for directing and acting as caddy when sickness disrupted our plans. And, of course, thank you to everybody who played ...
Thanks to Maria Gibbs for the dinner photos