- Gold Cup 1973, 1976, 1982; Runner-up: 1972, 1986, 1992, 1993
- Portland Cup 1979, 1982
- Camrose 1972-93, 42 matches, 24 wins; Winning series: 1975-76, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1988-89
- Junior Camrose 1971-77, 7 series, Winning series: 1971; 1973;1975; 1976, Tied series: 1972
- National Trophies Scottish Cup x7, National Pairs, BBL Cup x2, Edwin Berry x4, Men's Teams, Junior Pairs, Bowman
- President's Prize 1975 (Henry Simmonds), 1976 (Ian Morrison), 1979 (Peter Spence), 1980 (Alan Bishop)
Barnet was born in 1950 in Glasgow into a bridge-playing family. It was at the age of 13 that he first went to Albert Benjamin's club. Without knowing what stakes were involved, he ended the session by being given 7/6d, untold riches for a 13 year old in those days. He worked for many years in the family business, buying and selling rugs, but his main interest has always been bridge.
He burst on to the bridge scene as a Junior with a truly remarkable run of success. He represented Great Britain in two Junior European Championships: in Delft (1972) with George Cuthbertson, finishing 6th of 17 teams; and in Copenhagen (1974) with his cousin David Shenkin, where they won a bronze medal.
Barnet was the first Scottish player to win the prestigious "Sunday Times" (Macallan) Invitational Pairs, in 1976, aged 25, with 21-year-old Michael Rosenberg. (link to Flashback)
Barnet also played with Michael in the British Open Team at the 1977 European Championships. The partnership won bronze medals in the British Open Team at two Common Market Championships in 1975 and 1977. In 1978 they led the prestigious Cavendish Invitation Pairs in New York till the very last round, when a costly lead against a slam relegated them to second place.
Barnet's third appearance for Britain at a Common Market Championship was in 1979 with Victor Goldberg, and this time the medal was silver. Later that year he and Victor played in the British Open team at the European Championship. In 1980 Barnet won his second Sunday Times Pairs with Victor, a truly remarkable achievement.
Barnet's next partner was Willie Coyle, with whom he played in the British Open team at the 1984 World Teams Olympiad and the 1985 European Championship. His fifth and final appearance in a British Open team was in 1993 with Les Steel. Barnet also won the Lederer Memorial Trophy (London CBA invitational Teams) twice, in 1977 and 1979. He is a World Master in WBF ranking lists.
In 1997 Barnet decided to move to USA to concentrate on playing, writing about and teaching Bridge. In the year 2000 his book Playing With the Bridge Legends was published by Masterpoint Press. Since moving to USA he has won 3 National Championships and many Regionals. He had a second place finish in the Vanderbilt Teams, and the US team trials, a third in the Reisinger and reached the semi–finals of the Spingold.
Barnet has played for the USA in several World events and finished 5th in the Rosenblum World Championship in Verona in 2006.
As a writer he has written for the ACBL Bulletin and Sunshine Bridge News.
As a teacher and lecturer Barnet is presently working on new "Power Teaching Programs" His original presentation "Put Yourself in the Hot Seat" has been well received.
Maggie Shenkin,
Barnet's wife won the Scottish Cup with Barnet in 1994. Also a winner of the Portland Pairs with Richard Benstead. She travels with him, and they played together in the Mixed Pairs at the World Open Championships in 2002 and 2006 and in the European Open Championship in 2007.
* Above from the Scottish Bridge Union 1933-2008.