our Club Championship and Plate competitions finished on Sunday. It was a great event thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who participated. The weather provided a few surprises with strong winds, occasional rainfall, and uncommonly low temperatures for mid May, but the players coped exceptionally well. Both men and ladies champions managed to come from behind in Day 2 and showed an exceptional performance. The BBQ buffet and concert were attended by over 70 people, which is considerably more than in any of the previous years and the ovation they gave to the Club Champions was deafening. 

2024 Club Ladies Champion is Joanna Roussinia, who repeated her 2020 success and 2024 Club Champion is Andy Koulaouzos, who is now a three times Club Champion, previously holding this title in 2013 and 2014. 

2024 Plate Ladies Winner is Jayne O’Driscoll who scored an amazing 80 points and 2024 Plate Winner is Robert Wilson who scored 78 points. 

The awards ceremony participants enjoyed a concert and had an opportunity to welcome two little girls from Latvia, whose visit to Cyprus became possible thanks to our members’ generous donations to the “Rainbow in Cyprus” charity foundation.  

The 2024 Championship and the Plate competitions were enjoyed by an overwhelming majority of the Club members. With regret I must admit that some members were influenced and decided to withdraw, many in an orchestrated manner just before the start of the event. At the same time their withdrawal allowed Joanna (Employee) and Robert (Corporate) to move up from the waiting list into the competitions and win. I have looked up the boycotts of 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 LA Olympics. While the political ambitions of the superpowers were cherished, it was the athletes who suffered being unable to compete. Everyone remembers the most famous track and field athlete Carl Lewis. Because of politics he lost his chance to compete in Moscow in 1980, then four years later he won in LA, while many strong athletes from the Eastern Block were absent. Did it make him less of a champion? Definitely Not. Does attempted boycott of the 2024 Club Championship make either Joanna or Andy less worthy of their trophies? The answer is the same – Definitely Not.

Prior to the competitions the Committee members received a number of emails, which will be discussed at the May Committee meeting and responses will be provided.

Best regards,

Boris Zilbermints

Captain