The Ballybunion and the Northern Ireland Bridge Union congresses will take place next weekend, with the former in the Golf Hotel and the latter in the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle.
Ballybunion - mixed pairs, Friday (7.30 p.m.); two-session major pairs, Saturday (2 p.m.); extended session of teams, noon to 5.15 p.m., Sunday; open pairs throughout; separate novice pairs Friday (7.30 p.m.), Sunday (2 p.m.). Entries: Peg Mullins (066-7125775).
Ballycastle - two-session major, inter and junior pairs, Friday (8.15 p.m.); mixed pairs, Saturday (7.15 p.m.), followed by golden oldies disco; major and inter teams start 12.30 p.m., finish 9.30 p.m., Sunday; open pairs throughout. Entries: Kay Murphy (Belfast 028 9077 1220).
The annual friendly match between the Northern Ireland Bridge Union and the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland (Sonya Britton Trophy), played in St Malachy's College, Belfast, resulted in the visitors winning by 790 victory points to 639.
The CBAI inter B quartet won the prize for the best overall team score, while the association's officials took the David Hannon Trophy for the direct match against their NIBU counterparts.
Teams - CBAI - Open: G Lessels, S O Lubaigh, B Pattinson, L Walsh. Women: H Carroll, J Kulchycky, G Finegan, C Pippet. Masters: P Quinn, P Barrett, G Connolly, P Liston. Inter A: R and C Latham, B Duffy, B Martin. Inter B: A Fitzgerald, P Kealy, B Steffanini, J Latham. Officials: S Dowling, T Roche, U Walsh, M O'Connor.
NIBU - Open: I Lindsay, M Rosenberg, K Singleton, V Russell. Women: K Murphy, F Boyd, N Franklin, M Kelly. H Ferguson, S McCaughen. Masters: J Ferguson, I Hamilton, J Lavery, H Kane. Inter: P Johnson, P Piper, G Smyth, H McKnight. Junior/inter B: D and A Anderson, S Mulholland, A O'Reilly. Officials: S and J Millership, H and A Hill, D Franklin, C Richey.
Congress dates - Drogheda, October 5th-7th; Limerick, October 12th-14th; CBAI inter, and novice, Portlaoise, October 19th-21st; Dun Laoghaire, November 1st-4th; Kenmare, November 2nd-4th;
Donegal, November 9th-11th; Kilkenny, November 16th-18th; Tralee, and Waterford, January 4th-6th; Cork, January 11th-13th; Dublin North, and Ennis, January 25th-27th.
Wexford, February 8th-10th; Torc, Killarney, March 1st-3rd; Bankers, Dublin, March 12th-18th; West of Ireland, Galway, March 29th-April 1st; Fermoy, April 5th-7th; Rosapenna, April 7th-11th; Clonmel, April 12th-14th; Tramore, May 3rd-6th;
South of Ireland, Killarney, May 11th19th; Yeats Country, Sligo, and Youghal Bay, May 24th-26th; East of Ireland, Dundalk, May 31st-June 3rd; Ballina, July 12th-14th.