England leads the home-international championship for the Camrose trophy, the opening rounds of which were contested online at the weekend. Ireland is in second place but the 13-point gap to the leaders will be difficult to close when the competition resumes on the first weekend in March.
Both teams won four of their respective five matches, but the English were more decisive in their victories as some poor decisions by the Irish players proved costly. This was especially so in the direct match between the two sides which the Irish lost by nine points. That result may prove decisive in the end as the English try to win the trophy for the fifth year in a row; although the competition is only at the halfway stage, Ireland will have an uphill struggle to regain the title it last held in 2017.
A new-look Northern Ireland team had a surprise win against England in the opening match but, despite decisively beating Scotland later, never threatened the leaders afterwards. Scotland, as host for the final weekend of the competition, fielded two teams, the second side under the banner of the Scottish Bridge Union.
Results and scores: 1. England 68.51 points; 2. Ireland 55.57; 3. Wales 51.37; 4. SBU 49.17; 5. Northern Ireland 44.92; 6. Scotland 29.46.
Home results
Waterford congress: Friday: 1. LizAnn Doyle, Paul Worswick; 2. Freddie Langford, Tom Hardiman; 3. Phyllis O'Regan, Horst Rosler. Intermediate B: 1. Michelle Hickey, Paula Oliver; 2. Siobhán McCarthy, Austin Leahy; 3. Liz Collins, Donie O'Shea. Saturday: 1. Peter Finnegan, Liam McKay; 2. Anthony Moloney, Paul Kane, 3. Carol-Ann Cummins, Sandra Newell. Intermediate B: 1. Cora Ryan, Jean Hennebry; 2. Colette Moreau, Renee Browne; 3. Pauline Duggan, Mary Creed.
Open intermediate competition (Doreen Cairnduff trophy), hosted by Dublin's Regent bridge club: 1. Paul Clinch, Jeremy James; 2. (and best first session) Paddy Cooney, Mags Kelly; 3. Liam Hanrahan, Edel Dunleavy. Best second session: Aindrias Ó Caoimh, Liz Sherlock.
The national women's and men's pairs championships (Jackson and Revington cups) will be contested on the BBO website next Saturday. The team championships (Geraldine and McMenamin trophies) will be played on RealBridge on Sunday. Starting time 11.00am both days. Entries via the online entry system at cbai.ie.
The Peter Pigot school of bridge will resume bridge lessons for all grades, from beginners to advanced from January 24th. Detailed information at bridgewebs.com/peterpigotbridge.