IRELAND had a good day at the Generali European Bridge Championships in Montecatini yesterday, winning two and drawing one of the three matches played in the open teams event. The series began with a 15-15 draw with Croatia. John Carroll and Tommy Garvey played throughout.
Tom Hanlon, Hugh McGann, Donal Garvey and Micheal O Briain lined out against Belarus and won 16-14. Against Hungary in round 26, the Irish were behind at the interval.
Then Hanlon, McGann, Garvey and O Briain put in one of Ireland's best sessions of the championship to overtake Hungary and win 19-11.
An Appeals Committee awarded Ireland two extra victory points from the round 23 game against Norway. Donal Garvey had received wrong information from his Norwegian opponent, which caused him to take an incorrect line of defence. The Appeals Committee adjusted the score in Garvey's favour, making it 18-12 to Ireland instead of the original 16-14.
With three days and nine matches to go, eight teams have pulled away from the rest of the field. Italy continues on course to retain its title. Poland, Norway, Spain, Iceland, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are fighting for the minor places. Britain's chances diminished yesterday when it went down 8-22 to Norway.
In the women's championship, Valery Hand, Anne Montwill, Patsy Meehan and Petra O'Neill lined out to defeat Croatia 20-10 in round 15. Sweden, European champions in 1995, was expecting an easy game against Ireland in the next round. However, in a close match in which Aileen and Rebecca O'Keeffe played throughout, Ireland lost by the narrowest of margins, 14-16. In round 17, Ireland went down to Greece 7-23.
Despite losing to the Czech Republic, the British women's team has taken the lead. Only six more rounds remain in this event.
Open teams (after 26 rounds) leaders: 1, Italy 502; 2, Poland 483; 3, Norway and Spain 479; 5, France and Iceland 471; 7, Denmark 464; 8, The Netherlands 462; 9, Britain 428; 10, Sweden 426; 17, Ireland 394. 35 teams competed.
Women's teams - 1, Britain 324; 2, France 322; 3, Israel 319; 4, Germany and Austria 296; 6. Poland and Spain 290; 8, Sweden 88; 9, Italy 287; 10, Belgium 284: 16, Ireland 225. 24 teams competed.
Senior (over 55) teams - Italy 134; 2, Netherlands 132; 3, France 130. 14 teams competed.