NH State Open Pairs Championship History

     Ed Gould, in Vo.16/No.3 of the New England Bridge Conference Bulletin (July 1970) claims that the American Auction Bridge League was formed out of the American Whist League at a meeting in Hanover NH in 1927. This was pretty fast work considering modern contract bridge was only invented in 1925 by Vanderbilt. Modern bridge must truly have swept the country quickly. Ed goes on to say that the American Auction Bridge League merged with the United States Bridge Association in 1937 to form the ACBL (American Contract Bridge League).

      The NH Open Pairs State Championship has been held every year since its origin in 1936. Other than an exception for military personnel serving in NH during WWII, it has always been Open only to NH residents.

                     LIST OF WINNERS

1st (see Note 1 at end) 1936 John J. Bacigalupo and Richard Moriarty of Nashua. Source: MUL (see Note 2 at end for Source abbreviations) 1/27/1936 and NEBCB 16/3 (July 1970). In many ways this event was truly a test run. There were no qualifying events and was open to anyone in NH. Some entrants had never played duplicate. It was run in 26 one-board rounds with a top of 25. Board 18 was fouled and thrown out completely. The NHBA itself was formed during the scoring of the event, which must have taken quite awhile. The winners appeared to have been worthy champions who would have been heavy favorites should the event have been handicapped. They had dominated the Nashua Bridge League in 1932, 1933 and 1934 and then stopped playing together because they felt it was not appropriate to win all the time. A followup story on the winners appeared MUL 2/5/36. It appears Bacigalupo and Moriarty never again played together in the State Championship. Second: Leroy Lake and Fred Montrose. A followup on Lake and Montrose appeared MUL 2/11/36 with a tone of wonder as to how a farmer (Lake) and unemployed truck driver (Montrose) had done so well. Ed Gould commented  in 1970 (NEBCB) that "the NHBA was formed out of several duplicate groups in the Nashua, Keene and Manchester areas ...... Ralph Langdell (who became a prominent lawyer) and Richard Willis of Manchester were among the early organizers .... Although we have been organized since the mid-30's the NHBA did not join the ACBL until the mid-50's."


2nd 1937 C. Carlton Coffin and Oscar L. Tacy of Nashua. Source: MUL 2/15/37 on the front page. MUL was a sponsor of the event and printed followup stories on 2/8, 2/9, and 3/11/37. In 1937 one had to qualify at one of 13 local qualifiers in order to play. 400 different people entered the qualifiers, some of them more than once. Top 20% qualified at each. The actual Championship was run as a 1-session semifinal of 32 tables and a 1-session 12-table Howell final, with carryover. The whole event cost a $1.00 entry fee.

3rd 1938 Eugene F. McQuesten and H.D. Stillman of Nashua. Source: MUL 2/27/39 where they are mentioned as defenders in the 1939 event. Nashua pairs dominated the origins of the State Championship, with different pairs winning in 1936, 37 and 38.

4th 1939 Robert (Roland? - see 1941) Murray and Fred Richardson of Wolfeboro. Source: MUL 2/27/39. Second were the defenders Eugene F. McQuesten and H.D. Stillman. One Semifinal (among 25 tables of previously qualified players) and two Final sessions were held. The MUL was again a sponsor and donated a trophy. Stories on Qualifiers and other bridge matters appeared in MULs of 2/4, 2/6, 2/10, 2/15, 2/18 and 2/25.

5th 1940 Ralph Langdell and Edith Morrill of Manchester. Source: MUL 3/1, 3/2 and 3/4/40 (Page 1). The margin of victory was half a point. Second: Mrs. John Childs and Mrs. Phillip Lockwood. Attendance was 55 pairs, culled from 10 Qualifying Events. The Championship had 2 Semifinal and 1 Final session. Dinner entertainment was a cock crowing demonstration by Robert Thurell of Wolfeboro.

6th 1941 Ralph Langdell and Edith Morrill of Manchester. Source: MUL 3/10/41. Record attendance of 64 qualified tables. Article claims NH to be the most active bridge state in the USA. For the second year in a row, Langdell and Morrill won by half a point and they became the first pair to win more than once. Second were Herbert Gove and Leroy Lake. Third: Roland (Robert?) Murray and Fred Richardson. Unless Fred Richardson competed with two different Muurrays, either Robert in 1939 or Roland in 1941 is a MUL typo. A bridge hand was given in the story in which every pair in the field but one was in 6S or 6NT. The exception was 7NT, bid and made, against Gove and Lake.

7th 1942 Sumner Carlisle and Percy A. Foster of Manchester. Source: MUL 3/7/42 and a pregame article the week before. 12 Qualifiers were run. Championship had 1 session Friday night and  2 final sessions on Saturday. The finals had 16 tables and a Consolation was run opposite the first Saturday session.

8th 1943 Mrs. Daniel Goodwin of Hollis and Mrs. Warren Greer of Nashua. 19 qualified tables were entered. Source: MUL 3/1, 3/6, 3/8/43. Still front page news.

9th 1944 Robert P. Booth and Ralph Dillon of Manchester. Source: MUL 3/7/44 for results and 3/4/44 for pregame analysis. Margin of victory was 1 point. Second: Mr and Mrs Edward Sullivan of Keene. 55 pairs preregistered and approximately 27 tables are listed in the results. It was run as a 2-session playthrough. The event was restricted to NH residents AND military serving in NH. 30 boards were played in each session and 10 people served on the scoring committee.

10th 1945 Sgt. Phillip Abramsohn and Harry Fishbein of New York. Source: MUL 4/9/45. Abramsohn was eligible as a member of the US military serving in NH (at Grenier) and Fishbein (well-known inventor of Fishbein Convention) was allowed to play by special invitation. Abramsohn was an elite player who won two Vanderbilts and a National Mixed Board-A-Match. They won by a huge margin. Second: Herbert Gove and John Magnusson of Exeter. Gove-Magnusson were listed as the official NH winners. Third: Price Gaines and Egidio Giovannangeli. A famous hand defended by a 'Phil Abramson' appears in Bridge World magazine (Vo. 80, No.4 - January 2009) as part of a 'Classic Rewind' article titled "Three Remarkable Deals" written up by W.S.Holdine. It features a redoubled slam, a wagered watch, and a big number.

11th 1946  Elmer Olson and Alex Rennie of Concord. Source: MUL 3/31/46. Second: Edward (NOT Egidio) Giovannangeli and Edward Sullivan. The article comments that both were finishing second for the third time. A MUL 3/4/46 story on the Wolfeboro Qualifier mentions that only 20% in each direction qualify. Fed Graf comments that the excellent newspaper coverage in the early years may partially have been due to the prominence of the participants. Ralph Langdell was a top lawyer in Manchester, Herbert Gove was an important state official, and Robert Thurell was the Commissioner of Agriculture (a big job then).

12th 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sawyer of Ossipee. Source: MUL, still front page news. There were local qualifiers, a semifinal and 2 final sessions. The front page story included a large picture of the incoming officers. The NHBA, which had organized in 1936, was officially incorporated at this annual meeting.

13th 1948 Don Ritchner and Erlon Woodard of Dover. Source: MUL 3/22/48 with run-up MUL stories also on 3/12, 3/19 and 3/20. 95 pairs qualified and 82 appeared, a record number (so perhaps 1941 had 64 PARS not 64 TABLES). The TD was Frank Perkins, who also bylined the MUL article which started on Page 1. The format was a Friday night Semifinal and then a 2-session Saturday Final. 28 tables (56 pairs) contested the Final. Two hands are discussed and there is a picture of the officers.

14th 1949 Mary (Mrs. Archie) Gile and Mrs. John Mecklin. Source: MUL 3/28/49. Small front page story with a picture of the officers on the jump. 20 qualifying events were held and attendance was 50 tables for the Friday night 1st session. MUL 3/25/49 has an article consisting entirely on the SEATING assignments for all 99 pairs. Apparently qualifying results were used as the basis for seeding. Other MUL run-up stories were printed on 1/29, 2/25, and 3/15. Attendance at qualifiers was encouraged by giving a prize to the pair with the highest average in their best 5 games. This prize was won by Mrs. Shirley Dodge and Mrs. W.R.Pattee.

15th 1950 Ralph Dillon and Ferdinand Edgerly of Manchester. Source: MUL 3/27/50. This was the second win for Ralph Dillon. 78 pairs entered and there were 3 sessions with a cut after each. One interesting item in the story is that the 'Bacigalupo Memorial Trophy' was awarded to Manchester for having the 3 best scores. A 3/24 MUL story gives the seating assignments for the whole field, which as usual was Qualified. A lot of space in March 1950 was given in the MUL to the Dr. Sander mercy killing trial. One of the Doctor's attorneys was Ralph Langdell.

16th 1951 Antonio and Ruth Gregoire. Source MUL 4/5/51.

17th 1952 Egidio Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Sr. Source MUL 3/30/53 in which EG and HL Sr. are mentioned as Defending Champions.

18th 1953 Sheldon Ball and Walter Smith of Charlestown. Source: MUL 3/30/53. Manchester again received the Bacigalupo Trophy which may have been contested only between Manchester and Nashua. A MUL run-up story on 3/27 gives seating assignment for 32 tables of qualifiers and the info that there would be a 2-session Semifinal and cut to a 14 table Final. Another MUL story on 3/17/53 on the Manchester Qualifier contains the info that you only needed to finish in the top 50% to qualify, as opposed to the earlier 20% figures.

19th 1954 Frank Marble and Maurice Read of Derry. Source: MUL 3/29/54 and run-up stories MUL 3/26 and 3/28. Second: Antonio and Ruth Gregoire, also mentioned as 1951 champs. Third: Herbert Gove and John Magnusson. 61 pairs signed up among those qualified. After the semifinals, Erlon Woodard and Don Freeman were leading and took a carryover into the 28-pair final but it was not enough for them.

20th 1955 Egidio Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Sr. Source: MUL 3/28/55 and other stories MUL 3/25 & 3/27. 32 tables of qualifiers entered, with seeding done in advance. The winners had a 3 point margin over second place Erlon Woodard and Don Freeman.

21st 1956 Herbert Gove and John Magnusson of Exeter. Source: MUL 3/26/56 and run-ups MUL 3/23 and 3/25. Second: Mrs. Walter Davol and Mrs. Mabel Pattee of Manchester.

22nd 1957 Fred Brown and Howard Burpee of Manchester. Source: MUL 4/8/55 and run-ups MUL 4/3 and 4/7. A picture of the winners was taken by Ed Gould and included with the article. Second: Arthur Cooper and Gerson Miller. 30 Qualifying events were held and you needed at least one 50% score to qualify. Consolation: Sheldon Ball and Walter Smith [Carpenter Trophy established for the Consolation overall winner]. The Consolation became a recognized event in 1957. In earlier years it was merely a chance for those who did not qualify to play some bridge. With one or two exceptions it was run as a regular club game with only NS and EW winners. It was opened to new entries in the early 60s (per Fred Graf).

23rd 1958 Betty Rosenberger and Celeste Robitaille. Source: MUL 4/14/58 and MUL run-ups 4/11 and 4/13. Second: Ed Gould and George Reed. Consolation: William Lawless and PS Tambling of Exeter. 60 Pairs Qualified, again seeded in advance.

24th 1959  Lionel Fineblit and Rudy Rosenberger. Source: KS 4/10/59. MUL stories 4/9 and 4/12. Third: Ralph Langdell and Price Gaines. There were 2 semi-final and 1 14-table final session. 75 pairs qualified. Price Gaines won a trophy for the highest individual average in at least 10(!) Qualifiers and Fred Graf Sr. - Price Gaines were third in the partnership competition in the Qualifiers. 75 Pairs qualified.

25th 1960 Antonio Gregoire and Leo Robitaille. Sources MUL 4/10/60 and NHBN. Second: Robert Farmer and Mary (Mrs. Archie) Gile of Hanover. Consolation (renamed 'Manchester' Pairs instead of 'Carpenter' Pairs): Celeste Robitaille and Russ Smith of Durham. Event held at Manchester Country Club.

26th 1961 Robert Burger of Hanover and Gordon Leland of Meriden. Sources: MUL 4/12/61 and MUL run-ups 4/5 and 4/9 and NEBCB 6/5 and NHBN. Consolation: Lois Booth and Charlotte Knoepfel. Event held at the Manchester Country Club.

27th 1962 Betty and Herman "Dutch" Krueger of Franklin. Source: KS. A runup story in the 4/2 MUL has a picture of Ed Gould (high individual average in the Qualifiers) and Price Gaines- Ralph Langdell (high pair average in the Qualifiers).

28th 1963 George Reed and Celeste Robitaille. Source: MUL 4/10/63. Also material in KS 4/4 and MUL 4/7. Second: Betty and Herman "Dutch" Krueger. The leaders after the Semifinals were Ed Gould - Lionel Fineblit and Maurice Emond - Oscar Boisvert. Event held at the Manchester Country Club. A 50% game in a Qualifier was necessary in order to play and 76 pairs entered. Henry Francis directed. Consolation was a tie between Lester Bienveneue - Herb Larson and Florence Bienveneue - Mrs. Yvan Guimont.

29th 1964 Lionel Fineblit and Ed Gould. Sources: NEBCB 9/4 (May 64), MUL 4/13/64 and associated stories MUL 4/4, 4/10 and 4/12. 80 tables entered and there was an 18-table Final at the Manchester Country Club 4/10 and 4/11. $9.00 paid for 3 rounds of bridge, doughnuts and coffee Friday night and the Saturday buffet. Second: McCarty and Perron of the Seacoast. Third: Mr. and Mrs. Garnis. Consolation: Alfred Beaudoin and Maurice Emond.

30th 1965 Lionel Fineblit and Ed Gould by a huge margin. Source: MUL 4/6/65 and other stories MUL 4/2 and 4/5. Also NEBCB 10/5 (May 1965). 44 tables entered with a 26 table final. Second: Charles Feustel of Hanover and Robert Miller of Hanover. Third: Edith Morrill and Theodore Wadleigh. Event was at the Highway Hotel in Concord. Directed by Al Oszy and Robert Norton. Consolation: Lawrence Burney and Robert Spaulding of Charlestown.

31st 1966 3-way tie between Betty and Herman "Dutch" Krueger, Arthur Cooper and George Reed, and Henry Clevenson (Laconia) and Louis Wuelper (Belmont). Source: NEBC Bulletin 13/1 (March 67). This is the canonical result, further buttressed by George Reed, one of the winners, who remembers it very clearly as a 3-way tie but not WHY. Something strange may have happened. Fred Graf's research in the MUL (4/5/66) shows a TWO-WAY tie (Cooper-Reed and Clevenson-Wuelper) with Erlon Woodard/Don Freeman 3rd, 2 points back and the Kruegers 4th another 1.5 mps back of that. Against that, Ed Gould in NEBCB goes out of his way to emphasize that the Kruegers would be "the pair to beat" in 1967 as "although officially tied with two other pairs in 1966, they had the edge". What this all means is not clear. Consolation: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Wishnew of Manchester.

32nd 1967 Arthur Cooper and Antonio Gregoire of Manchester. Sources: MUL 4/10/67 and NEBCB 13/2. Second: K.Chase and John Magnusson. Consolation: Mrs. Ann Melvin and Mrs. William Nulson. Unit Secretary Leroy Lake passed away in November 66 and the Leroy Lake Trophy was created in his memory.

33rd 1968 Joe Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Jr., Keene. Source: NEBCB 14/2 (May 68). Event held at the Highway Hotel 3/23 - 3/24, directed by Henry Francis and Robert Norton. Second: Celeste (Mrs. Leo) Robitaille and Mrs. Norman Sessler of Manchester. Third: Maurice Emond and Leslie Lajoie. Consolation (now the 'Concord' Pairs): Mrs. Gene Schultz, Durham and Mrs. Amy Scott, Rochester. Doreen Mitchell, Concord had the high individual average for 10 Qualifying games, 4 different partners minimum. Antonio Gregoire, Manchester and Maurice Raleigh Jr. of Bedford were the high pair in the Qualifiers. The Leroy Lake Trophy went to Mrs. Arthur Houle of Concord.

34th 1969 Lionel Fineblit and George Reed. Source: listed as defenders in NEBCB 16/2 (May 1970). First of 3 consecutive titles.

35th 1970 Lionel Fineblit and George Reed. Source: NEBCB 16/2 (May 1970). Second: Richard Hall, Berlin and Harold Russell, Gorham. Third: Russell Smith, Dover and Mrs. W. E. Smith, Northampton. Norman Sanborn of Rochester was awarded the Leroy Lake Trophy as the player who had done most to promote bridge in the past year.

36th 1971 Lionel Fineblit and George Reed. Source: NEBCB 17/2 (May 1971). An unprecedented, and never yet repeated, feat of 3 straight wins. They won this year by 2.5 matchpoints. Second: Herbert Larson and Celeste Robitaille. Third: Joe Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Jr. Consolation: Arthur Houle and Elaine Tornstrom. The Leroy Lake Trophy went to Jane Smith. The George Giguere memorial trophy for highest-scoring Concord area pair went to James and Val Garnis. Ralph Langdell must have died in this time period as efforts to memorialize him are discussed. Another death reported was that of Marie Dresser, former Editor of the State Bulletin who, though well into her 80s, had conducted a weekly duplicate in Berlin up to within a few weeks of her death.

37th 1972 Dottie and John Kennedy. Source: NEBCB 18/2 (May 72). Ed Gould wrote that they were probably the youngest champions ever, and the accompanying picture makes that a likely guess. Second: Maurice Emond and Oscar Boisvert. Third: Don Curtis and Larry White. Consolation: Arthur and Betty Lilly.

38th 1973 Henry Clevenson and Ken Tripp. Source: NEBCB 19/2 (May 73). Second: Oscar Boisvert and Maurice Emond. Third: Irv and Mickey Pastor of Dover. Consolation: Peg Blodgett and Ruth Gregoire. The Leroy Lake Trophy, awarded to the person who has best promoted bridge in the NHBA, was awarded jointly to Paul Natale and Professor James Hogan of Plymouth. The George Giguere Concord Trophy went to Florence Bean of Allenstown and Joan Delorie of Hooksett (NEBCB 19/3 August 73].

39th 1974 Janet (Beckingham) and Peter Cosgrove. Source: NEBCB 20/2. The winners married soon after their win and went on to win an Open Swiss Teams at the Granite State Sectional with Carl Conti and Judy Cody. A formidable winning streak! Second: James Jordan, Concord and Don Rivard, Nashua. Third: Lionel Fineblit and George Reed. Consolation: Bill and Ginny Moore of Nashua. The George Giguere Trophy was awarded to Alleen Houle and Louise Weber. Louise also received the Leroy Lake Trophy for her long service in the Unit as secretary-treasurer. The event was at the Highway Hotel in Concord.

40th 1975 Don Curtis and Frank McCarty. Source: NEB 21/2 (June 75). Ed Gould, in his 'Granite Chips' column says the winners "had three good sessions and did not need the carry-over to win." Second: Lionel Fineblit and George Reed. Third: Wayne Burt and James Jordan. Consolation: Barbara Bowler and Philo Snow.   

41st 1976 Lionel Fineblit and George Reed. Source: NEB 22/2 (June 76). Lionel's 7th and last NH title. George has 6. The margin of victory was more than a full board. Second and Third: tied between Lucille Bradley (Keene) - Jean White (Nashua) and Ed-Shirley Gould. The Leroy Lake Trophy went to Richard Laberge.

42nd 1977 Joe Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Jr. Source: JG.

43rd 1978 Joe Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Jr. Source: JG.

44th 1979 Arthur Lilly and Kay Watman. Source: KW.

45th 1980 possibly William Ashford and Bob Woodard. Source: Bob remembers winning with Ashford, but not an exact year. This year is open and unproven so far.

46th 1981 Ed and Shirley Gould. Source: Many mentions of the Goulds as winners but this is unproven. Marginalia in the Unit Secretary records suggests that 1981 was their year.

47th 1982 Ed and Ruth Katz. Source: Ruth Katz saved a newspaper clipping.

48th 1983 Oscar "Beaver" Boisvert and Maurice "Mo" Emond. Source: Mo cannot find his trophy but remembers receiving it. Geoff Phipps remembers presenting it to him.

49th 1984 Jan Buote and Jay Keenan. Source: BANH.

50th 1985 Bob and Erlon Woodard. Source: BANH. Erlon's second title - his first was in 1948!

51st 1986 Ed and Ruth Katz. Source: Ruth Katz saved her trophy.

52nd 1987 Geoff Phipps and Steve Robbins. Source: Geoff has his trophy.

53rd 1988 Wayne Burt and Fred Graf. Source: Fred and Wayne have their trophies.

54th 1989 Arthur Lilly and Kay Watman. Source: KW. FG says event was 2/11-2/12.

55th 1990 Ava and Howard Schutzman. Source: AS has her trophy (5/24/90).

56th 1991 Geoff Phipps and Steve Robbins. GP has trophy.

57th 1992 Bob Cohen and Jim Drake. Source: 1)Bob remembered winning with Jim but not the exact year, except that it was the year Jim moved out of NH. 2) Alice Bruist-Mak took lessons from Jim Drake in 1991 and he left NH soon thereafter and 3) I spoke to Jim by phone in North Carolina (where Geoff Phipps told me he'd moved) and he confirmed that he left NH in 92 and that he won with Bob that year.   

58th 1993 Darryl Legassie and Betty Lilly. Source: BANH and trophies.

59th 1994 Karen McCallum and Cenk Tuncok. Source: BANH

60th 1995 Karen McCallum and Cenk Tuncok. Source: BANH. Consolation: Wayne Burt and Fred Graf (event 4/2/95 [per Fred's trophy]

61st 1996 Ron Mak and Geoff Phipps. BANH and GP has trophy.

62nd 1997 Bob Cohen and Jay Keenan. Source: trophies.

63rd 1998 Ron Mak and Geoff Phipps. Source: GP has trophy.

64th 1999 Karen McCallum and Cenk Tuncok. Source: recent U150 memories.

65th 2000 Lawrence Cheetham and Dave Littleton. Source: recent U150 memories. Consolation: Wayne Burt and Fred Graf [event 5/5/00 per Fred's trophy]

66th 2001 Bob Clements and J.J. "Jiggs" Zamierowski. Source: recent U150 memories.

67th 2002 Bob Cohen and Jay Keenan. Source: recent U150 memories.

68th 2003 Ron Mak and Geoff Phipps. Source: recent U150 memories.

69th 2004 Stephanie Colpitts and Ron Mak. Source: recent U150 memories.

70th 2005 Joe Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Jr. Source: recent U150 memories. FG says event was 4/23 - 4/24.

71st 2006 Ron Mak and Geoff Phipps. Consolation: Fred Graf [ per Fred's trophy] and Carol Kitchel.

72nd 2007 Krystyna Ciesluk and Bruce Downing. Krystyna and Bruce have trophies. Event was June 2nd and 3rd at the Bow Community Center with Kevin Griffin directing.

73rd 2008 Joe De Gaetano and Bob Woodard. Concord Country Club. Source: recent U150 memories. Consolation: Tie for first between Fred Graf and Bill Landis, [per Fred's trophy] and Jules Lemire / John Maxwell (per JM). Kevin Griffin directed.

74th 2009 Wayne Burt and Dan McGuire. Source: eyewitness account from Bruce Downing. Second: Joan Cook and Maurice Emond. Third: Gretchen and Mark Teich. 28 pairs entered on Saturday and 14 pairs qualified for a 13 round, 26 board Howell in the Sunday Final. The event was held in the IBEW Hall in Concord with Kevin Griffin directing. The Consolation was won by Paul and Rhoda St. Laurent.

75^th!!! 2010 Maybe You

Ed Gould wrote in the New England Bridge Conference Bulletin from May 1971: "This event...is a three-session event. Although only local-rated, it is more highly respected within the state than any sectional."

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Note 1 - Event occurrence number. Some source articles are a year off in listing the event occurrence number, down through the decades. Sometimes this is a math issue. If you are not a detail person, it is easy to think that 1946 is the 10th anniversary of the 1936 1st event, when it is actually the 11th. Ed Gould was right on his math about 50% of the time in his Granite Chips column and MUL newspaper accounts were no better - sometimes right, sometimes not, perhaps depending on the reporter or his/her informant. A second issue is that the first year, 1936, was not originally intended as a Championship but became accepted as one almost immediately. Fred thinks this acceptance may be due to the early Nashua dominance and the desire of the Nashua folks to celebrate winning the first three.

Note 2 - Abbreviations used for Sources:
     BANH = Bridge Across New Hampshire, a Unit 150 newsletter
     KS = Keene Sentinel
     MUL = Manchester Union Leader
     NEB = Northeast Bridge, a differently-formatted newsletter successor to the NEBCB, starting in 1975 but numbering its issues as though it still were the NEBCB.
     NEBCB = New England Bridge Conference (District 25) Bulletin up to 1974
     NHBN = New Hampshire Bridge News, a Unit 150 newsletter

Note 3 - Records:

     MOST INDIVIDUAL WINS
          7 - Lionel Fineblit - 59, 64, 65, 69, 70, 71, 76
          6 - Geoff Phipps - 87, 91, 96, 98, 03, 06
          6 - George Reed - 63, '66', 69, 70, 71, 76
          5 - Ron Mak - 96, 98, 03, 04, 06
          4 - Joe Giovannangeli - 68, 77, 78, 05
          4 - Howard Lane Jr. - 68, 77, 78, 05

     MOST PARTNERSHIP WINS
          4 - Fineblit / Reed - 69, 70, 71, 76
          4 - Giovannangeli / Lane - 68, 77, 78, 05
          4 - Mak / Phipps - 96, 98, 03, 06

      MOST CONSECUTIVE PARTNERSHIP WINS
          3 - Fineblit / Reed - 69, 70, 71
          2 - Giovannangeli / Lane - 77, 78
          2 - Langdell / Morrill - 40, 41
          2 - McCallum / Tuncok - 94, 95

      MOST WINS BY MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF TWO FAMILIES PLAYING TOGETHER. This may not be the best name for this category but some recognition is due to Egidio Giovannangeli and Howard Lane Sr. winning together in 52 and 55 and then Joe (Egidio's nephew) and Howard Jr. winning 4 more together for a total of 6.