The opening rounds of the women’s trials to select Ireland’s team for the European championships in Belgium in June were played in Templeogue at the weekend.
Three pairs - Teresa Rigney and Jill Kulchycky, Dolores Gilliland and Maria Whelan, and Louise Mitchell and Maureen Pattinson - are separated by only six points at the top of the table but they have opened a gap on the rest of the field.
The leaders beat both of their nearest rivals in the head-to-head matches. Valerie Burke-Moran and Petra O’Neill kept their hopes alive by beating the leaders in the last round but they are sixteen points behind the crucial third place.
Carol-Ann Cummins and Sandra Newell and Margaret Fitzpatrick and Bríd Kirby are fifth and sixth respectively. The trials will be completed on February 16th to 18th.
At Wexford congress Phyllis O'Regan and Kay Clement won the pairs championship from Pat Breslin and Liam McKay, with Dave Noonan and Terry O'Hara third. In the team event Richard Elvin, BJ O'Brien, Conor Boland and Paul Delaney finished ahead of Michael McAuliffe, Marcin Rudzinski, Wojciech Gorczya and Maciej Katek, with Margaret Walsh, Cathal Louth, Pascal Doyle and Jane Smith third.
Other Wexford results:
Mixed pairs: 1. Maureen Carroll, Frank Browne; 2. Imelda Mulcahy, Derek Crosby; 3. Katherine Lennon, Seán Connor.
Intermediate A: 1. Helena and Paul Redmond; 2. Michael Mulligan, Jer Moynihan; 3. Val Mernagh, Teresa Cowman.
Intermediate B: 1. Marguerite and Cathy Sweetman; 2. Donla Twomey, Brendan Ruddy; 3. Theresa Nanigian, Sari Winckworth.
Novice (Friday): 1. Pauline and Feargal Weatherhead; 2. Nuala Sheehan, Joan O’Connell.
Novice (Sunday): 1. Jane and Graham Porter; 2. Tie: Sheehan and O'Connell; Mary Watson, Jim Kehoe.
The John Lane Cup in Balbriggan went to Gerry Murtagh and John Fagan from Brendan and Helen Sheridan, with Frank Davey and Tom Lawlor third. Best Intermediate A: Vivienne Donnelly, Tim Carroll. Best Intermediate B. Joe Bassett. Phyllis Carew. Sessions: Mary Timoney, Donek Szennejko; Maura Hand, Patsy Gibney
The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland’s intermediate and novice congress will be held in Donegal from February 16th to 18th and will include national pairs and team championships for the different grades. Entries to competitions at cbai.ie
The CBAI team championship for the Holmes Wilson trophy will be contested on Saturday and Sunday next at Mount Wolseley, Tullow, starting at 1.30pm on Saturday.
The CBAI simultaneous pairs continue in clubs throughout the country this week.