Jeffrey Storey of Overland Park has only been playing Mahjong for five months. But last weekend, he played well enough to earn the first-place crown for racking up the most points in the Bamboo division at the Four Winds Classic, the first Mahjong tournament sponsored by the Clinton Four Winds Social Club.
It was Jeff’s first Mahjong tournament.
The event drew 80 players, many of whom drove down from the Kansas City area for the two-day event. It was also the first event held in the community room of the newly-built Cheryl Craig Share and Care Learning Center on north Price Lane.
“We’re not even moved in yet,” said Becky Gregory, Share and Care executive director.
The community room where the tournament was held is a light-filled, high-ceilinged space, with lots of windows letting in the fall sunshine. After the digital clock ran down to the closing moment of play late Saturday afternoon, Amy Brookshire announced that the charity tournament had raised more than $15,500 for the center, and not all the proceeds had been tabulated.
“The official total will be announced Wednesday,” Amy said.
Share and Care Inc. provides classes and resources to expand people’s independence and personal development. The not-for-profit agency, which started in 1989 in a Clinton church basement, moved to an office complex on South Second, then outgrew those buildings. The organization bought 15 acres adjacent to the Clinton Community Center, and built a new complex of classrooms and offices, naming it for Cheryl Craig, a special education teacher who served as director for 25 years.
For last weekend’s tournament, the community room was filled with 20 tables with four players at each table. The two outside walls were lined with tables of raffle items and Mahjong merchandise from the eight vendors, including Crave Boutique of Clinton.
The sound system had not been installed yet, but the community room otherwise provided a lovely location for the tournament.
“We’ll have an open house for the community in early December,” director Becky Gregory said.
A side room off the hall was used for ‘garage sale’ items —Mahjong mats, tile racks — that Four Winds’ members donated. The community room is at the back of the Share and Care complex. A paved courtyard with planters separates the meeting room from the offices and classrooms in front.
After tournament play ended, Amy Brookshire, in a bubble-gum pink dress with Chinese characters on it, announced the winners of the raffle prizes. Special guest Michele Frizzell of Mahj Life drew the tickets. Items included designer Mahjong mats and racks, quilted tile bags and a floating Mahjong board for games in the pool. Nikki Steinmetz of Topeka, Kansas, was surprised to win the grand raffle prize, a “Dear Santa” Mahjong holiday tablescape with a plaid mat, Christmas-themed tiles, red and green dice and shufflers. The designer set, by Anders Ruff, lists for more than $500.
“I never win anything,” Nikki said as she gathered up her prize.
The Four Winds Classic was divided into two divisions: Bamboo, for people who are novice tournament players, and Peony, for advanced players. None of the experienced players were surprised that Kerri Barton of Kansas City, Mo., took home the crown and prize money for top score in the Peony Division. Trophies were also presented for second and third place in both divisions.
Amy, a neonatal intensive care nurse who moved to Clinton five years ago, started the Four Winds Social Club last April. The club now draws players from Clinton and Warrensburg, mostly women in their 40s and 50s. They have been meeting at the Meadow Lake Country Club to play Mahjong in the clubhouse on Monday nights.
The Four Winds Classic was a two-day event, with enthusiasts, which included two men, gathering last Friday night for social play. The evening also featured a 50/50 “Face-off” with Michele Frizzell, Debi Allen, Amanda Tippie and Anita Mooney. Debi Allen from Sunflower Mahjong Club won the face-off, which consisted of six hands of Mahjong. Wendy Borgmeyer correctly predicted the winner and winning score.
Jeff Storey, also a member of the Sunflower Mahjong Club, thanked the club members for the messages of congratulations posted on the club Facebook, adding “I had a blast.”
After expenses, all proceeds from the tournament — entry fees, raffles, vendor fees and garage sale items —were donated to the Care and Share Center, making it a win-win for Clinton.
