The Kilkenny bridge congress will take place in the Hotel Kilkenny from November 19th to 21st. The programme is: Friday, wine, and cheese reception (7 p.m.); mixed, and novice pairs (7.30 p.m.); Saturday, two-session major, and intermediate pairs championships (1.30 p.m.), social and presentation of prizes (11.15 p.m.); Sunday, two-session teams (11.30 a.m. sharp).
Open pairs will be run throughout, including separate novice sections concurrently, whenever entries warrant so. Tournament directors: Joe, and John Murray, M. Coffey, M. Murphy. Entries: Teresa McGrath (056) 22855.
The trials to select squads for this season's international championships began at the Templeogue Centre, Dublin.
In the open event, over 128 boards, the following teams gained the top placings: 1, T.G Mackenzie, D. Greenwood, I. Lindsay, Dr H. Campbell, 174 victory points; 2, B.J. O'Brien, R. Milne, J. Clarson, C. O Dalaigh, 162; 3, G. Lessells, S. O Lubaigh, G. Connolly, B. Pattinson 149.5.
They will join the exempted team, Dr G.M. Keaveney, R. Timlin, N. Toibin, and R. Boland in a knock-out event next weekend at the same venue.
O Briain, T. Roche, J. Carroll, T. Garvey, 143; 5, M. Quinn, K. McGarry, F. and B. O'Farrell, 127.5; 6, D. O'Gorman, C. Holland, P. McCarthy, G. Cummins, 123.
The women's series is being run right through, as a Round Robin pairs test, over 224 boards. At the halfway stage the leading standings are: 1, P. McMahon, P. Ryan, 132; 2, P. O'Neill, P. Meehan, 117; 3, H. Carroll, J. Kulchycky, 111; 4, H. Holman, C. McCarthy, 109; 5, H. Hill, S. Millership, 102; 6, E. Cleary, M. Griffin, 93. They also will finish in Templeogue at the weekend.
The Dublin North festival will again be played at the Great Southern Hotel, Dublin Airport, January 14th-16th.