Youth Awards for 2016
Andrew Reiner Trophy: Ella Pattison and Renee Cooper
This award is granted to the best performed pair in international competition taking account of performance in the events themselves, commitment to preparation and contribution to team success
The unanimous choice of the two non-playing captains at the World Youth Team Championships in Salsomaggiore, Renee and Ella anchored the Australian Girls Team to their outstanding silver medal performance..
They then went on to perform a similar role in Croatia at the World Youth Open Championships with a stirring quarter-final victory over the fancied Italians, but bowing out in the semi-finals to the eventual winners “Zlatan” and narrowly losing the bronze medal match to “Greswe Axon”.
Helman-Klinger Achievement Award: Jamie Thompson
This award, worth $400 annually and supplemented with a further $200 from the Friends of Youth Bridge Fund, is presented each year to the Australian Youth Bridge Player whose ability, achievements, sportsmanship, attitude, contribution and commitment during the calendar year are most deserving.
A regular on the Australian Under-25 Team for three straight years, whilst still eligible to play Under-20s, in 2016 Jamie played every single national teams event together with the Open Team Play-Offs. Jamie has also taken over the running of the Victorian kiddies night at Waverley Bridge Club and plays regularly with up-and-coming <16s, anchored an inexperienced Victorian Youth team at ANC
Helman-Klinger Masterpoint Award: Matthew Smith
This award, worth $200 annually and supplemented with a further $100 from the Friends of Youth Bridge Fund, is awarded to the Australian Youth Player who earns the most masterpoints in the calendar year in question.
This year Matt won with 216.79 masterpoints (actually Jamie won with 221.07 but you can only win this award once). Matt’s move across the Nullabor to pursue a bridge career in Sydney is certainly paying off well in terms of masterpoints!
Hills-Hurley Trophy: John and Charles McMahon
This trophy, donated by Richard Hills and Steve Hurley, is to encourage talented young bridge players in forming long-standing partnerships and reward successful pairs which have developed a well-organised partnership to harness their full potential.
Following their first-time appearance at Youth Week in 2016, the McMahon brothers made an immediate impression with their thoughtful and skilled play and were given the opportunity to represent Australia at the New Zealand National Congress where they won the Intermediate Teams and defeated the New Zealand Youth Team 184 – 83 to take out the Stern-Cornell Trans-Tasman Trophy.
