"Coach" Hazel, Steve Scott, Cliff Ackman & Ralph Gleaton form an early foursome for the old favorite in start-of-the-week action.	Rich Irving, Jeff Mullet, and Bob Wicks conspire to keep you-know-who out of the running for wood. Good work, guys.

Union Pacific moved to Monday in an effort to revive the flagging fortunes of this old favorite. It also switched back to a true swiss system with the second and third rounds paired by players with similar records. Alas, it was clearly stated that there would be no more than four players per board. As the crowd amassed to over 60 with only 12 boards in view, I grew concerned about mass turn-aways. But enough boards were scrounged and everyone was seated at a 4-player board. I again urge everyone to bring your copy of this out-of-print classic next year.

Winners from the first round included: Fred Minard, Carol Haney, Bobbi Warczak, Bruce Reiff, Kurt Miller, Richard Irving, Jeff Mullet, Bob Wicks, Bruce Bernard, Sean McColluch, Bruce Young, Curt Collins II, Rich Moyer, Rob Flowers, Jeff Senley, Rod Davidson and the man in the hat - Keith Levy.

We had several dropouts and one new entrant in Round 2. Winners were Bob Wicks, Jim Carvin, Jason Levine, Rich Atwater, Bruce Bernard, Secret Party Room Bartender Ralph Gleaton, Secret Party Room Enthusiast Scott Pfeiffer, Jeff Meyer, Rod Davidson, Jeff Senley, Jason Ley, and Raphael Lehrer.

Due to the large number of entrants, the third round effectively became a semi-final for those who still had a chance. Winners were Kyle Greenwood and Alan Stancius (tied), Jim Carvin, Rod Davidson and Jeff Senley (tie), Steve Shambeda, Brandon Bernard, Curt Collins II, Derik Galullo, Bruce Young and Jeff Mullet.

After the pencils finishing toting up the points, the final four were Curt Collins II, Rod Davidson, Jeff Mullet and Jeff Senley. Jeff Mullet, the assistant GM and a finalist gives this report on the Final:

The Final had the first player, Curt Collins, getting the least number of Union Pacific stocks and the rest of the field being tied for first in UP stock. In most games, the first player often has the most UP stock, while the last player, often has the least. We would soon see if Curt's gamble of giving up a perceived advantage would pay off or hurt him.

As the players began collecting and laying down stocks, no one seemed to get a large lead in any one stock. And since not many stocks went uncontested, the payouts were fairly small each turn. First place in most stocks would change with almost every turn. Even the second place stocks were highly sought after. There were an unusually high number of three-way ties for stocks in first and second places.

When the steam, er, smoke cleared, Curt was on top. A low scoring game and a couple of more stocks than his opponents offset his lack of UP stocks.

Thanks to all who participated and next year, bring your game!!!!!!!!

Tedd Mullally, Bruce Young and Sean McCulloch ride the rails on Monday.	The finalists do their dirty work and successfully keep the Cabbie out of wood. Somehow, it just ain't the same rooting against Jeff.