THE Irish Bridge Union's trials to select teams or the European championships in Italy in June have begun at Elm Park GC.
The outcome of the preliminary round of the open series is that the following have qualified to join the exempted pairs in the second round - 1, I. Hamilton, J. Ferguson; 2, Comdt E.J. Fitzgerald, M MacDonagh; 3, T. Roche, P. O Briain; 4, P.J. and M. Barry; 5, P. McCarthy, G. Lessells; 6, I. Lindsay, A.T.R. Anderson; 7, M. Moran, C. 6 Dalaigh.
At half way in the women's series, which is being played through without preliminaries, the leading placings are - 1, A. and R. O'Keeffe, 217; 2, C. Pippet, E. Joyce, 211.5; 3, H. Dowling Long, T. Rigney, 209; 4, A. Montwill, V. Hand, 208.5; 5, P. Ryan, P. MacMahon, 206; 6, G. Finegan, B. Lynch, 205.
The major pairs championship for the Lambert Cup will be decided on January 25th (1.30 pm.) in the Malahide Centre, Co Dublin. The event is confined to players in the master or intermediate A grade. Regional masters are excluded. Entries: R Porteous (01-2697275).
The national, intermediate B, one session, open entry, pairs tournament (Kervick Trophy) will be played at the following venues - Ballinasloe Centre, 2.00 p.m., entries to M. O'Connor (091-592093); Cork Bridge Club, 2.30 p.m., O. Rose (023-44947); Dun Laoghaire, Victor Hotel, 7.30 p.m., J. Kilduff (01-2852334); Limerick Centre, 7.30p.m., N. Spillane (061-336546); Mullingar Centre, 2.00 p.m., A. Hanlon (044-22149); Slane, Conyngham Arms, 5.00 p.m., A. Timoney (049-31310); Wexford Centre, 2.00 pm., J. O'Leary (051-38 1957). The Cork event will be on January 25th, the rest on January 26th. Prizes of Newbridge Cutlery will be awarded at each centre. Later the event will be rescored to find the overall, national winners.
The Ennis congress will be held in the Auburn Lodge Hotel from January 31st to February 2nd, brochures Mrs B. Vaughan (065-21133).
Waterford congress - Major pairs: 1, T. Tierney, M. Lavelle; 2, C. Holland, A. O'Sullivan; 3, N.K. and K. FitzGibbon. Best A: M. Clancy, M. Hayes. Local: K. Byrne, D. Kearns. Sessionals: D. O'Gorman, T. Walsh; A. Heffernan, M. Prendergast.
Teams: 1, B. Kirby, V. Hamilton, G. Connolly, N. Hickey; 2, N. and A. Grant, P. Holden, W. Walsh. Best A: L. Power, M. Hoban, M. Daniels, M. Jackman.
Local: J. Richardson, A. Heffernan, M. and H. Prendergast.
Mixed pairs: 1, P. and S. Breslin; 2, B. and D.L. Seligman; 3, T. Tierney, I. Mulcahy. Local: K. Byrne, P. Finnegan.
B pairs: 1, V. Burke Moran, K. Hughes; 2, R. Langford, M. Walsh; 3, C. Condon, M. Walsh. Best novices: S. Roche, F. Starmer. Local: T. Martin, D. Quinn. Sessionals: M. Brosnan, R. Walsh; T. and F. Jordan.