Sitting in the Stade de France enjoying the late afternoon sunshine your Editor interviewed the delightful Rose Meltzer, only the third woman to represent the U.S. in the Bermuda Bowl and the first ever to win her way there through a team trials format.
In view of the revelation made at the end of this interview, it was deliberately held back until today.

Before we talk about your exploits at the bridge table, tell me something about your family life.

I live in California with my husband Clifford, who is the President of a company specialising in technology. I have two grown up sons, aged 30 & 32 - both still single but with no shortage of girlfriends! I was a Chemist by education, but I've retired to concentrate on my volunteer work. I give piano lessons - I went to Julliard where one of the piano teachers was Adam Zmudzinski's father. How's that for a coincidence? Yes indeed. So how did your bridge playing career begin? I learnt at Columbia University - I thought there must be something in it if people stayed up all night playing - but it was only because my mother's bridge group was one short that my interest developed. But it was some time before it turned into a passion? I started playing duplicate in the early seventies and I played in the Women's game with my great friend Jo Morse. When Cliff decided to leave Cisco Systems to develop his own company he was worried about the fact that he would not be able to spend quite so much time with me and he wanted me to keep busy, so I was thinking of playing more when my great friend Rita Shugart started nagging me to get involved in the Open game.

Yes, but how did you get involved with your present team?

Rita introduced me to Peter Weichsel and Kyle Larsen and it sort of flowed on from that. My team is so supportive. Peter and my partner, Kyle along with teammates Alan Sontag, Chip Martel & Lew Stansby have helped me enormously, bridge-wise.

Did success come right from the start?

Not at all! The early going wasn't easy. We made our first appearance as a team in the Spingold at the 1999 Summer NABC in San Antonio and lost in the round of 64. Then we went to the 1999 Fall NABC in Boston and we didn't even make it to the second day of the Reisinger.

How depressing was that?

Very! But one swallow does not make a summer and in January 2000, I went to Bermuda with Peter & Alan and the Polish stars Adam Zmudzinski & Cezary Balicki to play in the Orbis World Transnational Open Teams.

How did it go?

Only four teams out of 73 would qualify for the knock out phase and when and we lost our first two matches I went upstairs crying, and called my husband. I told him I just didn't think the bridge gods were on my side. Cliff encouraged me to stay with it and promised, "The bridge Gods will turn around."
He was right because we went on to win the event.

As I recall that was the start of a golden run?

I guess you could say that. We finished second in the Open Swiss Teams at the 2000 Spring NABC in Cincinnati, advanced to the semifinal round of the USBC, were runners-up in the Flight A Grand National Teams at the 2000 Summer NABC in Anaheim - and won the Spingold Knockout Teams at the same event. (Rose is the first woman to win the Spingold since Edith Freilich did it in 1963)

How did you feel at the moment of victory?

I was so excited. Winning the Spingold was even more exciting than winning the World Transnational Open Teams I owe a lot to the support of my husband and my friends.

And then you played in the US trials?

That was one of the most emotionally draining contests I have ever taken part in. I like to call it the 'Jaws of Death' team trial. Winning the repechage final was a fantastic thrill.

How do you relax between sessions?

I read, especially mysteries and historical novels. Robert Ludlum, John le Carré and Barbara Kingsolver are among my favourite authors. I sometimes play chess & backgammon and if possible prefer to miss the evening session so I can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. Before you ask my favourite food is spaghetti and meatballs.

So you are not a fan of late night playing times?

No, I much prefer the European style where the sessions start at 10.00 and 15.00, leaving the evenings free, but the ACBL likes to organize a lot of events at Championships and that means some late night finishes.

What about events with prize money?

I am not against it but I think the Cavendish style events are best.

Do you get nervous?

Every time I sit down to play. But once the cards are out of the board the adrenalin starts flowing and I'm a tiger.

And when things go wrong?

I try hard to keep my concentration. Deep breaths help and so does getting up for a glass of water. The most important thing is not to worry about your mistakes.

Are you disappointed not to be in Bali?

My husband is working in Australia and was planning to meet up with me there, so to a certain extent the answer has to be yes, because Paris is not the obvious stopover if you are flying back to California.

No, but maybe you will get a surprise next week?

Well, when you are involved with bridge you never know what is around the corner. Whatever happens I would like to pay tribute to Fred Gitelman who has been an outstanding coach and Jan Martel, one of the select band of women who have captained an Open team in World Championship play.
Bridge has brought me so much happiness and friendships and I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world.

Thanks Rose - and good luck.

A victory in the Bermuda Bowl would continue Rose's history-making march in Open competition. It just so happens that her birthday is today 3 November - but her team mates have no idea. It could prove to be quite a party!