I hadn’t realised quite what a thriving bridge scene Manchester has until spending a weekend there recently. I went with Sally Brock and Barry Myers for the annual mixed pivot teams held in memory of Michelle Brunner. It’s a wonderful event: Michelle, who died of cancer four years ago, was one of England’s top players
Jonathan Hawkins has emerged as the winner of this year’s British Championship, which finished last week at the University of Warwick in Coventry. Several players were in contention for the laurels as they entered the final round, but Hawkins’s rivals could only draw, and his win clinched the title. In the past there was a
In Competition No. 2910 you were invited to submit a poem by a pet who is cheesed off with its owner. The contempt in Basil Ransome-Davies’s closing couplet, written from the perspective of a bolshie moggy, was echoed throughout the entry by a hacked-off parade of bullied, misunderstood and condescended-to pets: He wants affection, he
The unclued lights (two of two words), individually or as pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 9 Aromatic fragrance from front half of royal residence (4) 11 How embroiderers’ work fell apart — without any trouble (10) 12 The best spinners? (4) 16 Loved one
The unclued lights are heraldic terms. First prize Simon Horobin, Kidlington, Oxon Runners-up Mick O’Halloran, Dunsborough, Australia; John Roberts, Cheltenham, Glos
Black to play. This is a variation from Osborne-Hawkins, British Championship, Coventry 2015. Black is a piece down. What is his idea? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 18 August or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a
