North-South vulnerable.  South deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: 10 4 3 2          
                              H: A J 10 4 2       
                              D: A 8      
                              C: K 7     
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 9 8 7                         S: A 5          
            H: Q 9 8 6 5                     H: 7       
            D: 9 6 2                         D: K J 10 4 3        
            C: 8 4                           C: J 10 9 6 2  
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: K Q J 6
                              H: K 3      
                              D: Q 7 5     
                              C: A Q 5 3  
                  SOUTH    WEST    NORTH    EAST                  
                   1NT     Pass     2C      Pass
                   2S      Pass     6S   (All Pass)
     District 5 of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)
held the annual Grand National Team (GNT) competition over the
weekend of February 25 & 26 in Meadville, PA.  The flight B
(players with less than 1,500 master points) winner was the team
of Bernie and Barbara Greenspan of Beachwood, Keith Sechler of
Brook Park, and Frank Nawalanic of Brunswick.  They defeated the
team of Frank Aquila of Solon, Jackie Toth of Mentor, and Joe and
Alexandra Hart of South Euclid, to earn the right to represent
the district in the GNT finals at the Summer North American
Bridge Championships in New Orleans this coming July. 
     The Greenspan team held a 15 IMP lead at the half way point
in the match putting the Aquila team in a position where they had
to play "catch up".  After his partner opened one no trump and
then indicated that she held a four card spade suit, Joe Hart
decided that a small slam was a good possibility and bid it
directly.  It was now up to Alexandra to bring home twelve
tricks.
     The opening lead was the six of hearts.  The ten was played
from dummy and it held the trick.  A spade was led to the king,
both defenders playing low.  The queen of spades drove out the
ace.  East returned the jack of clubs which was captured by
dummy's king.  The two of hearts was led to South's king.  East
discarded the three of diamonds while West followed with the five
of hearts.
     From the play up to this point it was known that East
started with two spades and one heart and ten cards in the minor
suits.  It was also clear that West started with five hearts
making it impossible to establish long heart tricks.  The only
possible path to twelve tricks would be to squeeze East in the
minor suits.  To that end, a small spade was played to the ten,
drawing the last trump.  The ace of hearts was cashed, South
pitching a diamond.  The four of hearts was led and ruffed with
South's last trump.  Here is the five card ending: 
                              NORTH
                              S: 4                
                              H: J              
                              D: A 8      
                              C: 7     
            WEST                             EAST
            S:                               S:              
            H: Q                             H:         
            D: 9 6 2                         D: K J               
            C: 8                             C: 10 9 6      
                              SOUTH                         
                              S:        
                              H:          
                              D: Q 7         
                              C: A Q 5
     The seven of diamonds is led to the ace, West and East both
follow.  The four of spades is cashed and East's position is
hopeless.  South simply keeps whichever suit East discards and
scores the last three tricks. 
     The Ohio State Sectional Bridge Tournament was held over the
weekend of March 10 - 12 in Solon, Ohio.  Winners of events held
March 10 are listed below. Additional winners will be listed in
subsequent columns.
     Stratified open pairs (afternoon); Stratum A: 1. Roger
Tiktin, Cleveland and Joe Novak, Mentor.  2. Martin Baff,
Beachwood and Phil Becker, Cleveland.  Stratum B: 1. Richard
Lindsay, Richmond Heights and Louis Klimas, Pepper Pike.  2.
Donald Davenport, Willoughby and Samuel Mineo, Chardon.  Stratum
C: 1. Lindsay and Klimas. 2. Hal Feightner, Solon and Marjorie
Zimmerlin, Chagrin Falls.
     Stratified women pairs (afternoon); Stratum A: 1. Doris
Tubbesing, Parma and Susan Craney, Brecksville. 2. Marjorie
Baldwin, Akron and Charlotte Baff, Beachwood.  Stratum B: 1.
Adele Bianconi, Barberton and Doris Aldrich, Wadsworth.  2. Sara
Davidson and June Altschuld, both of Mayfield Heights.  Stratum
C: 1. Karen Holleron, Chagrin Falls and Dorothy Weed, Cleveland.
2. Barbara Allen, Aurora and Lois Butler, Chagrin Falls.
     Scholarship pairs (evening);  1. Martin and Charlotte Baff,
Beachwood.  2. John Quinn, Jr., Akron and Susan Corbett, Mentor.
     Senior pairs (evening);  1. Robert Bingham, Cuyahoga Falls
and Harry Fall, Akron.  2. Marjorie Baldwin and Bettie Garson,
both of Akron.
     Stratified 99ers pairs (afternoon); Stratum A: 1. Sheila
Fasbender, Grafton and Rose Liszak, Avon Lake. 2. Jerry Basen,
Campbell and Bruce Moore, Mentor-on-the-Lake.  Stratums B & C: 1.
Kitty Jo Hellman, Latrobe, PA and Dorothy Poglein, Jeannette, PA. 
2.  Janet Rice, Pepper Pike and Linda Stahl, Orange.
     Stratified 199ers pairs (evening); Stratums A & B: 1. Sally
and Harold Kolp, North Canton.  2. Donald Crooker, Mentor and
Herb Dessner, Painsville.  Stratum C: 1. Herbert and Janice
Scribbe, Brecksville. 2. Linda and Jim Stahl, Orange.
----------------------------------------------------------------