The best EBU tournament of the year is, IMHO, the Schapiro Spring Foursomes, held at the beginning of May in lovely Stratford-upon-Avon. The format is double knockout with one team emerging undefeated on Monday afternoon. For the second year running that team has been Frances Hinden’s squad of four (almost all the other teams field six), which is a serious achievement in itself. Last year they were ousted in the semi-finals but this year they beat everyone, including the number one seed Allfrey (with most of the England Open team on it), to win the coveted trophy. It was an outstanding performance — many congratulations.
Frances played with her regular partner Graham Osborne and together they produced perhaps the defence of the tournament on this board.
Frances was West and led her singleton Heart. Declarer (a world champion) called for the Ace of Hearts and played a second Heart from dummy.
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