Michelle Brunner
Encyclopedia
Michelle Brunner was a British bridge
player, writer and teacher. She was a member of the British team that won the 1985 Venice Cup
, the biennial world championship for women national teams. She also once finished second and twice third in the women's event at the World Team Olympiad
. She holds Historic rank 24 among European Grand Masters, Women category.
Brunner was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2007 and died on 24 June 2011, aged 57.
in Hampstead Garden Suburb
, London, where she learnt and practiced her bridge playing skills during her sixth form years. Following this, she went to Manchester University where she read Italian and French, but her increasing involvement in bridge meant that she left without getting her degree to work in the travel industry for Thomas Cook
for seventeen years. At university, she met and played with John Holland, who would also become an international player. He soon became her partner in life as well as in bridge, and they married in 2008.
Life Master and an English Bridge Union
(EBU) Premier Grand Master.
Her Venice Cup win in 1985 was achieved when partnering Gill Scott-Jones as part of the Great Britain
team. However the pair did not play enough boards to qualify for the title of World Champions. In 1980 she and Pat Davies were part of the Great Britain team which finished third in the World Team Olympiad, but the pair did not play enough boards to qualify for bronze medals. In 1988 the Great Britain team of which she was a member finished second in the same competition. She partnered Sandra Landy on this occasion, and this time did get her silver medal. In 2004 she was part of the England
team in the Olympiad which finished third, and received a bronze medal partnering Rhona Goldenfield.
In mixed and women's events she won gold and bronze medals in the Common Market Championships and gold, silver and bronze in the European Championships. Partnering John Holland, she was part of three England teams which won the Camrose Trophy
. Brunner was also in winning teams in the Lady Milne competition, the equivalent of the Camrose Trophy for women teams, on seven occasions.
She turned professional in 1995, when she launched her Mobile School of Bridge. Brunner taught beginning and intermediate players until 2006. She did private teaching, as well as offering her services as a professional partner. As well as writing articles for bridge magazines, she authored two books.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
player, writer and teacher. She was a member of the British team that won the 1985 Venice Cup
Venice Cup
The World Teams Championship in contract bridge for women players only is also known as the Venice Cup, because the first edition was held in Venice, Italy in 1974.It is held every two years, in parallel to the Open World Teams Championship, the Bermuda Bowl....
, the biennial world championship for women national teams. She also once finished second and twice third in the women's event at the World Team Olympiad
World Team Olympiad
The World Team Olympiad was a contract bridge meet organized by the World Bridge Federation every four years from 1960 to 2004. Its main events were world championships for national teams, always including one open and one restricted to women...
. She holds Historic rank 24 among European Grand Masters, Women category.
Brunner was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2007 and died on 24 June 2011, aged 57.
Early life
Born in London, Michelle attended the Henrietta Barnett SchoolHenrietta Barnett School
The Henrietta Barnett School is a voluntary-aided grammar school for girls in Hampstead Garden Suburb in London The Good Schools Guide called the school "One of the best academic state schools in the country, providing a gentle, inspiring education in a wonderful setting for very clever...
in Hampstead Garden Suburb
Hampstead Garden Suburb
-Notable Residents :*Theo Adams*Martin Bell*Sir Victor Blank*Katie Boyle*Constantine, the last King of Greece*Greg Davies*Richard & Judy Finnigan*David Matthews*Michael Ridpath*Claudia Roden*Jonathan Ross*Sir Donald Sinden*Marc Sinden...
, London, where she learnt and practiced her bridge playing skills during her sixth form years. Following this, she went to Manchester University where she read Italian and French, but her increasing involvement in bridge meant that she left without getting her degree to work in the travel industry for Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook Group
Thomas Cook Group plc is a travel company created on 19 June, 2007 by the merger of Thomas Cook AG and MyTravel Group plc. At flotation on the London Stock Exchange 52% of the shares in the new company were held by the German mail order and department store corporation Arcandor and 48% owned by...
for seventeen years. At university, she met and played with John Holland, who would also become an international player. He soon became her partner in life as well as in bridge, and they married in 2008.
Bridge career
As a player, Michelle Brunner’s achievements were outstanding. She was a World Bridge FederationWorld Bridge Federation
The World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...
Life Master and an English Bridge Union
English Bridge Union
The English Bridge Union or EBU is a player-funded organisation that promotes and organises the card game of duplicate bridge in England. It has an office in Aylesbury with a staff of more than twenty people...
(EBU) Premier Grand Master.
Her Venice Cup win in 1985 was achieved when partnering Gill Scott-Jones as part of the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
team. However the pair did not play enough boards to qualify for the title of World Champions. In 1980 she and Pat Davies were part of the Great Britain team which finished third in the World Team Olympiad, but the pair did not play enough boards to qualify for bronze medals. In 1988 the Great Britain team of which she was a member finished second in the same competition. She partnered Sandra Landy on this occasion, and this time did get her silver medal. In 2004 she was part of the England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
team in the Olympiad which finished third, and received a bronze medal partnering Rhona Goldenfield.
In mixed and women's events she won gold and bronze medals in the Common Market Championships and gold, silver and bronze in the European Championships. Partnering John Holland, she was part of three England teams which won the Camrose Trophy
Camrose trophy
The Camrose Trophy or "The Camrose" is an annual bridge competition among open teams representing the home nations of Great Britain and Ireland: England , Northern Ireland , Republic of Ireland , Scotland and Wales...
. Brunner was also in winning teams in the Lady Milne competition, the equivalent of the Camrose Trophy for women teams, on seven occasions.
She turned professional in 1995, when she launched her Mobile School of Bridge. Brunner taught beginning and intermediate players until 2006. She did private teaching, as well as offering her services as a professional partner. As well as writing articles for bridge magazines, she authored two books.
External links
- Michelle Brunner player record at the World Bridge FederationWorld Bridge FederationThe World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...