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Paul & Olivia HACKETT

Paul Dorman Hackett è nato a Peshawar in India nel 1941, ha completato i suoi studi in Inghilterra, prima al Marlborough College e, poi, al Trinity College di Dublino.

Paul	Olivia

 Perduto il padre che era un pilota militare in un azione di guerra sullo stretto di Singapore, tornò in Inghilterra con la madre  e al termine degli studi Paul, non volendo iniziare una normale vita lavorativa cercò il modo di sbarcare il lunario con il Golf (al mattino) e con il Bridge (la notte).

 Alla fine ha scelto il Bridge e, di fatto, è stato il primo vero giocatore professionista britannico.

 È sposato con Olivia, una giocatrice che gli ha dato i due gemelli che completano la portentosa famiglia Hackett.

 Tra le numerose affermazioni nazionali ed internazionali, i suoi migliori successi sono state le medaglie d'argento conquistate agli Europei del 1981 e del 1995, quelle d'oro nel Senior Bowl del 2009, nella Rand Cup del 2010, nel Campionato Europeo Seniores del 2014 e nelle NEC Cup del 2015e del 2017.

 Ma, forse, la notizia più straordinaria che riguarda la sua vita professionale è stata la partecipazione alle Olimpiadi del 1996 in squadra con i due figli gemelli Jason e Justin.

Oggi vive a Manchester ed è anche un formidabile organizzatore di manifestazioni bridgistiche di largo successo tra le quali la Buffett Cup.

Oltre al bridge sono suoi hobbies:  la genealogia, il teatro, la musica, la danza e i vini.

Olivia è la segretaria da da oltre 16 anni al Grand Slam Bridge Holidays di Manchester che è diretto dal marito.

The Patriarch of arguably the most famous bridge family in the world, Paul was born in Peshawar in 1941. With the death of his father, killed in action in a fighter plane over Singapore Straights, he returned to England. Not wanting to go into the business world after University, Paul took up golf and bridge and tried to earn a living from both of them.

Unable to last the pace of early mornings on the golf course, late nights at the table and a couple of hours recovering in Turkish baths, Paul opted to concentrate on bridge.

He soon formed a partnership with Martin Hoffman. They travelled round Europe in the Phillip Morris tournaments, the equivalent of the European pairs, winning Gold and Bronze in successive years. Later Paul, partnering Tony Waterlow, won the silver in the European Pairs in Rome.

Paul qualified for the Bermuda Bowl in 1980, partnering John Collings, and playing one of the worst systems ever invented the Walpurgis Club, which was followed by an equally poor replacement, the Walpurgis Diamond. Booked by Phillip Morris to play with Giorgio Belladonna, Paul for several years toured the North African Circuit, together with teammates, Martin and Zia.

Probably the creator of the modern European Professional, Paul travelled the world and has won more tournaments in different countries than anyone else.

In the senior category Paul also won the Senior Bowl in 2009, the Rand Cup in 2010 and the European Senior Championships in 2014. He won 2015 and 2017 NEC Cup too.

Paul married Olivia and is the father of Jason and Justin. Justin's wife Barbara, a world champion representing Germany, has added medals to the trophy cabinet. A very close family Jason was asked what his relationship with his father had been throughout his life. He summed it up by saying “When I was a child I saw very little of him because he was always travelling; now I see him almost every day.”

As well as fulfilling his playing commitments Paul has been instrumental in creating many well known tournaments, such as the Nat-West Trophy, The Molex, The Commonwealth Bridge Championships and the Warren Buffett Cup, often working in conjunction with Manchester Bridge Club owner, Jeff Morris.

Hobbies include Genealogy, tracing his ancestry back to the 10th century and having over 4000 names on the family tree, Soca, Calypso music, dancing, the theatre and bridge politics. Together with the rest of his family their exploration of food and wines is well known.

A member of Staffs and Shropshire and supporting their events Paul also plays in three different leagues.

Olivia is the secretary since 1998 of Grand Slam Bridge Holidays in Manchester where Paul is the directory.