How did you get started in Bridge? At what age? Who did you learn from?
I discovered bridge around 9 years ago after retiring from work. I basically taught myself using Derrick Browne’s flipper and hounding Will Jenner O’Shea after every Club Session. I used to analyse the hand record and then review the difficult hands with Will who very patiently provided excellent guidance. I found the few lessons I tried too boring to persist.
What do (did) you do professionally?
My background is as an IT Executive with a long and varied career that spanned systems engineering, sales, consulting, operations, and various management and staff positions with international experience in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Who is your partner and for how long? Longest Partnership?
I have had multiple wonderful partners in my nine years – I learned something new from each one and am so grateful to them playing with me when I was so new to the game. There is the delightful Frances Lyons, Greer Tucker who is sold as a rock and helped to control my flights of fancy, Yumin Li whose invaluable guidance I call on every time I play, Axel Johannsson who shared my love of the intellectual excitement of the game, and Les Grewcock – steady and calm and so underrated. Of course there is also Peter Gill whose genius never ceases to amaze me – whenever I have an opportunity to play with him, he fills me with awe.
If you had a choice who would you like to play with? Australia and Internationally – living or dead.
My greatest joy comes from playing with folk new to the game and watching their excitement when we get a good score on a board and the huge step up in confidence if we happen to win a session.
In your playing career, what is the bridge success that has the most meaning for you?
Winning the 2025 Australian Mixed Team Playoff. We have such a lovely fighting team and came from behind because we never gave up.
And your worst moment in bridge?
I love it all
What do you do between sessions to put you in the best frame of mind for the following sessions?
Blank out my mind – try not to think about Bridge especially not the score.
Do you have a favourite and least favourite convention?
I don’t have a favourite convention and prefer to have as few as possible – but of course play all the basics and whatever partner likes except for Bergen, which I hate and loathe.
Would your prefer to have more system or less?
I like minimum system so that I have the freedom to experiment and bid naturally.
What do you to do to improve your game?
Mainly I analyse my game and seek feedback from good players on my weaknesses – I do wish they would be more forthcoming. I try to address the three areas of Bridge – Vugraph the world’s best tournaments and players on BBO to address bidding, and Bridgemaster and reading for declarer play. I find defence is the most difficult area to study as there really seems to be only books. Book study bores me so I mix it up – I usually have around 4 books on the go, reading a few pages in each before moving onto the next one and then back again.
Favourite bridge book?
“The Workhorse” by Krystoff Martens which provided me with my strategy for defence.
What interests or hobbies do you have besides bridge?
Family, cooking, and travelling
What is the number one thing that bridge has done for you as a person and for your life?
Bridge has filled the intellectual void left by retirement.
National Titles
2022 Barrier Reef Teams
National / International Representation
2025 Mixed Teams Playoff
