The 61st West of Ireland congress, with a prize fund of £5,000, will take place at the Galway Bridge Centre, 16 St Mary's Road, from April 2nd to 5th. Open pairs will be run on Friday (7.30 p.m.), and twice daily thereafter including Restricted System gala pairs on Sunday afternoon and gala novice pairs that night.
The two-session major and intermediate pairs will be on Saturday (2 p.m.); the president, Mrs Margaret Walsh's, reception on Sunday (noon), the mixed pairs that night; and the two-session teams on Monday (10.30 a.m.).
The two-session pairs champions will win £300, and the team champions £400. Complimentary suppers will be provided on the nights of Saturday and Sunday. Entries: Una Walsh (091) 526502.
At the European championships in Warsaw, T. Hanlon and Dr H. McGann won £300 each for coming 13th in a field of 420 pairs. P. O Briain, and T. Roche qualified for the semi-finals. P. McCarthy, and C. Holland came 6th of 132 pairs in the open consolation event. S. Dowling, and P. Hanratty failed by two places to reach the final of the senior pairs.
Bankers' congress, in Dublin - Major pairs (McKeever Rowan Trophy): 1, T. Walsh, D. MacAonghusa; 2, J. McAndrew, J. Smith; 3, J. MacHale, A. Montwill. Sessionals: A. Moran, P. Kerins; D. Scannell, P. Thornbury.
Major teams (Irish Ferries Trophy): 1, J. Clarson, J. Carroll, T. Ryan, C. O Dalaigh; 2, McAndrew/Smith, E. O'Riordan, K. McGarry. 2nd session: J. Comyn, J. Kulchycky, B. Rafferty, J. Sexton. Women's pairs: 1, A. Johnson, M. Trench; 2, E. Meghan, A. Reville; 3, H. Holman, V. King. Inter: B. Kulchycky, W. McEvoy.
Fermanagh congress - Major pairs: 1, D. and D. Greenwood; 2, E. Fitzgerald, J. Furnival; 3, I. Hamilton, R. Burns. Sessionals: M. O'Kane, W. Dukelow; J. and S. Millership. Intermediate: M. Ward, R. Maguire. Non-expert: H. Cole, N. Irwin. Local: P. Love, M. Rafferty.
Major teams: 1, Fitzgerald/Furnival, O'Kane/Dukelow; 2, D. and D. Greenwood, Hamilton/Burns; 3, A. Sharpe, I. Lindsay, J. Conlon, C. Richey. 1st session: L. Sheeran, K. Murphy, S. Trant, F. Gibbons. 2nd session: S. and M. Dukelow, W. Wilkinson, F. Smith. Intermediate: F. Goodwin, K. Coleman, J. MacDonald, H. Walsh. Local: M. Ward, R. Maguire, B. Love, N. Farrell.
Intermediate pairs: 1, M. Smith, O. Comerton; 2, O. Cooke, M. Hegarty; 3, M. and B. O'Reilly. Sessionals: Wilkinson/Smith; E. McRory, E. McGarrity. Junior: N. Maguire, S. Magee. Local: A. Buckley, P. Laird. Mixed pairs: 1, J. McQuaid, C. Moroney; 2, A. Curran, J. Farrell; 3, C. Shannon, U. Lunny; 4, J. Furnival, V. Hamilton; 5, D. Leeman, I. Orr.