The Irish Bridge Union's trials to select teams for the European Union championships in Salso maggiore, Italy, next April, resulted in the following gaining their caps: Open: T Hanlon, Dr H McGann, P Walshe, N Toibin. Women: A and R O'Keeffe, M Barry, A Montwill.
Hanlon's team defeated P O Briain, T Roche, P Pigot and D MacAonghusa in the final, after beating D Greenwood, Dr H Campbell, T.G. Mackenzie and Dr S. Hall in their semi-final. O Briain's side overcame D and T Garvey, J Carroll and M O Briain in the other semi-final.
In the women's series, O'Keeffe beat G Barton, R Ennis, T Rigney and H Dowling-Long in the final and C Pippet, E Joyce, G Finegan and B Lynch in their semi-final, while Barton overcame P Meehan, P O'Neill, P Ryan and P MacMahon in the other semi-final. All the matches were played at the Regent, Waterloo Road, Dublin, under the directorship of Joe Murray.
The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland has used those trials to select a squad for the women's home internationals (Lady Milne Trophy) in Cardiff next June. After the results were cross-imped Barton and Ennis were chosen to join O'Keeffe's team.
The CBAI national major pairs championship (Davidson Cup) and intermediate A pairs final (Laird Cup) will be decided in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise, on February 14th-15th. The intermediate B pairs final (Civil Service Cup) and the novice pairs (J.J. Murphy Trophy) will be played in the Mullingar Centre on February 14th.
Ennis congress, in the Auburn Lodge Hotel - Major pairs: 1, A and E Cleary; 2, P Liston, G Connolly; 3, A and S Glynn. Sessional winners: B Kirby, M Hanrahan; J Kiely, M Hayes. Best Co Clare: C Murphy, D Liddy.
Mixed pairs: 1, A Power, A Cleary; 2, K Cussen, D O'Sullivan; 3, M Hanrahan, N Hickey. Intermediate: A Bradshaw, O Creighton. Clare: M Griffin, D Liddy.
Intermediate pairs: 1, M O'Gor man, C Pierse; 2, P Seery, B Hanlon; 3, J Whiriskey, J Rabbitte. B prizes: 1, J Burke, M Gannon; 2, N Fitzgibbon, M Sheehan. Sessionals: M Dolan, P McDonald; B and E Keating. Novice pairs: 1, A Jones, P Keane; 2, B Mannix, T Houlihan; 3, O and T Aherne.
Teams: 1, Dr G.M. Keaveney, E Glynn, R Timlin, Comdt E.J. Fitzgerald; 2, J Cunningham, M Harris, B Hanlon, B Morris; 3, E and A Cleary, G Lessells, P McCarthy. Intermediate: H Armstrong, J Corr, Whiriskey/ Rabbitte.