I was a judge ("tournament director") at the Youth Team Bridge Championships in Riccione, on the Adriatic Coast in Italy. Doreen joined me and we had a very enjoyable time.
Riccione is an Italian holiday resort with miles of shops and an unending
stream of shoppers, cyclists everywhere and displays of impressive fireworks
nightly. Each hotel has its own beach area, with miles of umbrellas and
beaches. Doreen decided to join the shoppers and cyclists and leave the
beaches to the holidaymakers. Notwithstanding an accident the first day,
leading to a deep gash in her leg requiring stitches, she managed to tour
the vicinity by bike.
We ate mainly in the hotel and the food was good, especially the antipasti.
We went out to eat a few times, and on the last night enjoyed a seafood
meal in the most pleasant company of Patrick Jourdain and Maggie Pierce.
Israel was represented in both the Junior (under 26 years) and Schools (under 20) events.
Poland finished in first place in both the Schools and the Junior events, while Holland took the Girls' Teams honors.
The Juniors finished a rather disappointing 6th. With one day to go
they were in contention for the bronze medal, but couldn't sustain the
effort. The first 5 teams qualified for the World Junior Championships,
so Israel just missed out.
The Schools team, after leading for much of the way, finished a very
commendable 2nd.
Doreen and I were moved when the team received their Silver Medals
and Hatikvah was played.
The full results, and other details, appear on the official site.