Despite Yahoo's speed bumps, the dogs rolled to number 4 today. The usually unflappable Iain got flapped by his internet server. One minute he was there, ready to do his usual good, impartial directing job, then POOF - he was gone (almost as though a dog had bitten through his G cable). True to the theatrical nature of the alley, "the show must go on" - so up jumped Incognito, Pob, Redwitch and others ready to help. If it wasn't for their perseverance the alley combatants may have drifted off in search of other battles. They had, between them, managed to record every early registration and easily provided them to me when I arrived. Thanks to them, everything got back to normal and we started on time - GOOD JOB!!!!

Once again the cunning BigDog enlisted the services of the reluctant Redwitch as well as two other feline "top guns" Incognito and Acastofmany. How he presses them into service is unknown to me but this is the second week in a row he has managed it. Like any good strategist, he just isn't talking.

Round 1 started with a runaway for the kitties. It looked like we were never going to hear a report of a dog win until the "cat-herders" DixieDeez and CE_Dean posted the first. Then win after win was reported and all of a sudden it was all tied up 7 to 7 at the end of the round. The second round was a mirror image of the first with the dogs dominating early. The "double agent duo" Pob and Orla led the charge for the cats to even things up at the end of round 2. Round 3 had some great matches. There seemed to be 2-0 teams playing each other all over the alley. James was amazed at the number of times we congratulated the undefeated pairs. Needless to say, there was fur flying all over the alley. The score was tied with 4 tables to go and it looked to be anybody's match. The cats found that Macmarine was right when he wrote his law, "If something can go wrong, it will" (and all along you thought it was some guy named Murphy). It went wrong alright. The dogs took the last 4 matches and ran away with the championship 32-24. "Lusty" Lorrrobb, who has taken over the directorship of the Spring Thing Social Tournament, was busy catching up with her duties and couldn't play today. She gave the cats a promise though by telling the dogs they had better watch out next Saturday.

Next week OldYank is back for St. Patrick's Day. Be sure you wear your best green and be prepared for a rowdy party. The following week Iain is back if his service will cooperate. The month ends under the watchful eye of Paul.

Happy Birthday to our friend Redbird - He reports he is celebrating his 39th - again.

Seen on the fire escape: MarySue, Jivetime,Irish, Bobmt, Moyan, Bobbie, Golfnlady, Cjo1929, Ab_cd, Lorrrobb, Barbara, Redbird, Mrykath, Ann_ryl, Hbear, Francylou, Timothy the toucan

Big welcome to our latest newcomers PPP_P3; Star; Jimmyshoes, we hope you enjoyed it and that we see you again next week.

Supersub was:- Rzzjohn

Slams were bid and made by: RSquirell/Seaweed - 6NT; Dittny/Errikos - 6D; oral/Pob - 6C; AlanMitchell/Lynh_uk - 6S and three by Softfire/Flaunce - 6H - 6D - 6H.

The trophy for purrrrfect 3-0 tournament goes to:

The dogs were: DixieDeez/CeDean; Kenny_ha2/Redwitch; Sera/Jimmyshoes; JamesGreyWolf/Nonny; Pupfinn/I8cats4dinner; Jean/Xbrorsen; Jbeach/Obie; Incognito/Acastofmany; Rsquirell/Seaweed; Lorainew/Brown_Kangaroo; Softfire/Flaunce; Glossit/Suegloss; Woo/Cocker; Kenebaby/Fancy

The cats were:- Dittny/Errikos; Pom2/Felden; Harlequin_Smiles/Roo; Poppeye/Top_billing; Kareyn_au/Ruff_hi; Jin/Kat_Masterson; Little_Ladybug/Silverwind; Amateoxlo/Aleyer; Scorpiokirsten/Midnight; Orla/Pob; Smilodonkiwi/J_lruh; PPP_P3/Star; Wombiepie/Producer; AlanMitchell/Lynh_uk