THE Mullingar bridge congress, with over £5,000 in cash prizes, will be run from September 20th to 22nd. The major events will be decided in the Greville Arms Hotel and the County Hall. All the open pairs tournaments will take place in the Bridge Centre on the Dublin Road.
The mixed pairs will be played on Friday night. Both the major and intermediate pairs will be over two sessions on Saturday, and the novice pairs will be that night.
The Swiss teams will begin at 11.30a.m. on Sunday. The open pairs times are - 7.30 p.m. on Friday, continuously on Saturday from 1 p.m., and likewise on Sunday from 11 a.m.
Among the prizes, the winners of the major pairs will receive £600, the team winners, £400, and the mixed champions, £160. The player with the best overall record in the main events will receive an extra £200. Entries: K. Murphy (044-41929).
The open team championship for the Harry Devine Perpetual Trophy will start at 2 p.m. in the Blackrock College RFC, Stradbrook Rd, Co Dublin, on September 22nd. All the players on a team must be members of the same club. The best intermediate side will win the Maeve Devine Trophy. Entries: T. Corcoran (01- 2861 527).
The major pairs championship of the Bangor (Co Down) congress, held in the Marine Court Hotel, was won by M. Shannon, and Mrs R. Megahey. Runners up were J. Lavery, and M. Coffey. Third prize went to J. Murchan and R. O'Keeffe.
Sessional winners: I. Lindsay, D. Johnston; Mrs J. Whiteside, Mrs J. Montgomery. Local prize: Mr and Mrs D. Cole. Best non experts: C. McFadden, J. Wills.
Teams: Mr and Mrs E.C. Andrew, Lindsay/Johnston; 2, J.Ferguson, I. Hamilton, R.Burns, W. Dukelow; 3, Mrs H. Murdy, Mrs M. Murray, Mrs J. McDowell, Mrs H. Conroy, Mrs P. Nicholl, Mrs J. Gallagher. Intermediate prize: J. Nugent,
S. Siva, Mrs W. Wilkinson, Mrs F. Smith. Junior: Mrs G. Smyth, Mrs H. McKnight, C. Jones, M. Mahood, R. Cowan.
Mixed pairs: 1, C.J. Richey, V. Hamilton; 2, J. Murchan, Mrs M.Sharkey; 3, Mr and Mrs J. Lavery; 4, J. Millership, Mrs A. Gibson. Best married couple: Mr and Mrs D. Greenwood. Non expert: S. Jones, Mrs J. Montgomery.
Intermediate: J. Orr, Mrs P. Nicholl. Junior: Mrs P. Brown, S. Murray. Local: Mr and Mrs C. Grimes.
Beginning in the last week of September, classes catering for beginners, improvers, and intermediates will be run in Ballsbridge and Dun Laoghaire.
Details: J. O'Keeffe (01-280-0917).