Ireland are still in contention for the open teams championship after yesterday's play at the World Bridge Olympiad. Rory Boland, Niall Toibin, Gay Keaveney and Rory Timlin outplayed Colombia to win 24-6. Tom Hanlon and Hugh McGann then teamed up with Boland and Toibin to beat Hong Kong 21-9.
Hanlon, McGann, Keaveney and Timlin only managed a 15-15 draw with Tanzania, but despite this they still hold on to sixth position. Their next three matches will be against Pakistan, Poland and Slovenia. The women's team of Helen Carroll, Jill Kulchycky, Pat MacMahon and Pat Ryan drew 15-15 with China. MacMahon and Ryan were joined by Helen Holman and Carol McCarthy to lose to Russia 13-17.
In the seniors cup, Joe MacHale, Alex Montwill, Pat Barry and David Jackson beat Venezuela 25-0. Jackson and Barry with John O'Keeffe and Greer McKenzie beat Scotland 20-10. MacHale, Montwill, O'Keeffe and McKenzie then took on England, who got the upper hand 18-12.
The UCC team in the Universities championship lost to Indonesia, Japan and Norway.
World Bridge Olympiad Leaderboard Open Championship:
Group A: 1, Poland 232; 2, Belgium 226; 3, Brazil 225; 4, Denmark 224; 5, Austria 223; 6, IRELAND 209; 7, Spain 204
Group B: 1, USA 242; 2, Netherlands 228; 3, Australia 221; 4, Hungary 216.
Group C: 1, England 253; 2, Indonesia 239; 3, France 237; 4, Sweden 227.
Group D: 1, Italy 258; 2, Argentina 228; 3, Norway 225; 4, Iceland 216. Four to qualify from each group.
Women's Championship Group A: 1, Norway 257; 2, Austria 236; 3, USA 230; 4, Chinese Taipei 226; 5, Finland 224; 6, Denmark 218; 7, England 215; 8, Japan 205; 17, IRELAND 161.
Group B: 1, France 257; 2, Germany 247; 3, Netherlands 229; 4, Canada 226; 5, Poland 221; 6, China 218; joint 7 and 8, South Africa and Greece 213. Eight to qualify from each group of 20. World Seniors' Cup: 1, USA 323; 2, England 307; 3, France 306; 4, Sweden 304; 19 IRELAND. Universities' Cup: 1, Austria 296; 2, Italy 290; 3, Germany 256; 4, Czech Republic 249; 19, IRELAND.