THE finals of the Irish Bridge Union's all Ireland pairs championships, sponsored by The Irish Times, will be held in the Stand House Hotel, The Curragh, Co Kildare, on May 17th-18th.
In addition to the usual prizes there will also be awards for the best played hands in the regional and national finals. A buffet meal will be provided for the competitors after the third session.
Niall Toibin, the captain of the Irish open team competing in the European championships in Italy in June, is organising a 60 board challenge match between ex internationals and the current team Tomas Hanlon, Dr H. McGann, Donal Garvey add his son, Tommy, Micheal O Briain and John Carroll.
The match will be played in the Regent, 25 Waterloo Road, Dublin, on May 10th, starting at noon. Admission is free. Kibitzers are welcome.
The top placings in the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland's national team championship finals were - Major (Kelburne Cup), in Athlone: 1, Dr G.M. Keaveney, the Rev E. Glynn, P. Scannell, R. Timlin; 2, M. Hanrahan, A. Power, G. Connolly, Y. Yuan; 3, D. Scannell, R.J. Fitzgerald, B. Lynch, N. Kennedy.
Intermediate A (Bankers' Trophy), in Cork: 1, F. Kelly, G. Dunne, J. Dolan, J. McCurdy; 2, A. Delaney, J. Timlin, B. McGuinne, P. Sparks; 3, R. King, C. O'Driscoll, N. Minogue, B. Kemple; 4, J. Riordan, S. Gleeson, L. Gaynor, M. Cox. Best third session: K. Meade, M. Flynn, B. Byrne, J. Creagh.
Intermediate B (Tierney Trophy), in Dublin: 1, M. and D. and D. Sheehan, J. Young; 2, B. Moran, C. Fox, A. and S. O'Rourke; 3, M. Delaney, A. Cotter, M. Healy, C. Kelly; 4, L. and B. Reilly, P. Dowd, D. Reid. Third session: J.H. and the Rev P. Murphy, F. and B. Kelly.
The Dublin North Region ran an interclub league this season to encourage more club interaction to emphasise the social aspect of the game. The home team provided refreshments, and made a social, as well as a competitive night of each round. Through the sponsorship of Aer Rianta the region will host a grand finale in the Malahide Centre, starting at 4.00 p.m. on May 24th.
The final round of the master and intermediate A leagues, and the playoff between the two leading teams in each section of the B leagues will take place. There will also be a competition for the officials of the participating clubs, and the members of the nonqualifying teams in the B league.
The Northern Ireland Bridge Union's spring congress will be played from May 9th to 11th in the Causeway Coast Conference Centre, Ballyreagh, Portrush, while the South of Ireland congress will be in the Lake Hotel, Killarney, from May 10th to 18th.
NIBU entries: I.H. Lindsay (Belfast 763113). Killarney entries: Peggy Cronin (064-34948).