You can never go back ?

Well we'll see if that is true. It has been 21 years since the last time I played in the CNTC (in Vancouver in 1988 with Wayne Timms, Steve Aarons, and Tommy Greer) - we came 3/4, losing to Molson-Baran, Guoba Carruthers, etc.

I have emerged from my cocoon to resume my partnership with Keith Balcombe. Keith and I last played together in 1984 - in the CNTC in Toronto. We had a five man team including Irving Litvack, Eric Kokish, and Joey Silver.

I don't remember much about it - the highlights as I recall are as follows:

We sailed through the round robin; beat a spirited East Coast team in the playoffs (aided by bidding and making a grand off two aces !!!) and made it to the final against an Alberta team. We were very strong in the first half, and sailing to victory. In the third quarter, the wheels came off when I allowed myself to become distracted after I failed to play the card I was known to have while defending a poor slam, and the slam then came home on a squeeze which declarer may not have otherwise played for.

The fourth quarter we tried to mount a comeback but it was too late - we had suffered a very disappointing defeat.

I also recall sitting on the edge of a glass table in the hotel lobby while discussing hands, and falling through the table !! My hand was lacerated, and I lost a lot of blood and my customary red face went pretty white. John Gowdy drove me to the emergency room of a local hospital and I played one-handed the rest of the way.

Anyway, I retired from the game after 1988, and in fact moved to Edmonton to pursue my career in financial services. I lived there five years, and stayed on the wagon. (Bridge wagon that is) Back to Aurora in 1993, a digression into the world of technology with a company called Netron (in fact founded by a group of very sharp guys who were also well known bridge players) and stayed there till 2000 - when the axe finally fell.

Back to financial services helping companies secure growth financing, and eventually into my current business with Svetlana in 2003 - which is more "all things financial" for individuals and small businesses.

I followed the 2008 CNTC online and noted the return to high level bridge of my old friend Michel Lorber - who seemed to effortlessly slough off the rust of his own self imposed retirement and made it to the final of the event.

This got me thinking maybe I should take up the game again. So I checked out the 2009 playing site and dates, and booked me a plane ticket to Penticton. All I needed now was a partner and some team mates. Keith fell off his chair when I asked him to play with me - actually I asked twice because he did not take me seriously the first time !

Anyway, after scrambling to free up his availability for the better part of a month, he masochistically said yes, and then hooked us up with Paul Thurston and Jeff Smith for this year's event.

Later John Duquette (actually my very first regular bridge partner while in University) and Herve Chatagnier rounded out our sextet.

So here we are. It is June 6, 8 AM in the morning. Like most of the players from Eastern Canada, I struggled to stay in bed till a normal time (I first woke up at 3.40 AM) and forced myself to sleep longer. The event starts at 10.30 AM - time for a brisk walk and some breakfast.

Also time to refamiliarize myself with our defenses to some of the exotic bidding methods which have been adopted as mainstream since the last time I sallied forth.

Keith and I will sit out the first match and then sit down to play against one of the "name teams" - Joe Silver, John Carruthers, David Turner, Nader Hanna, Jim Green, and Roy Hughes. Nothing like jumping in the deep end !

If anyone would like to contact me directly I can be reached at rosstaylor999@hotmail.com