The all-Ireland inter-county bridge championship (Burke Trophy), held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone, was won convincingly by G Lessells, D Houlihan, E and A Cleary (Clare) with a score of 391 points.
The runners-up were B McDowell, I Lindsay, A Alcock, and A Sharp (Derry) with 366. The third prize went to M Kelly-Rogers, E Caulfield, E McCann, and M Linehan (Fingal) with 361. Best 3rd session: P and D Redmond, M Fitzgerald, L Gaynor, J Riordan (South Co Dublin).
Other leading placings: 4. C McLoone, F Sweeney, P McDaid, J Nugent (Donegal), 350; 5. P Gibney, G McArdle, S Stack, L F Sheeran (Meath), 348; 6. L and J Phelan, L O'Donnell, L McKay (Waterford), 343. Director: F O'Boyle.
England successfully defended An Corn Cairdis in their annual friendly international match against the Republic, this year played in Norwich. The score, 194/166 in their favour, broke down as follows, with the English scores first - officials, 71/52; county, 66/65; club, 57/49.
Republic's teams - Officials: S Dowling, M O'Connor, U Walsh, M Tuite. County: M Burke, P Quinn, B Kirby, G Connolly. Club: P Howard, S Costello, J Keane, F Murphy.
The 25th Fermanagh congress will take place in the Manor House Country Hotel, Killadeas, Enniskillen, on March 22nd-24th. Programme: Friday (8 p.m.), two-session major, and intermediate pairs; Saturday (7.30 p.m.), two-session teams; Sunday, presentation of prizes (5 p.m.), mixed, and women's pairs (7 p.m.). Open pairs throughout. Contact Eric Lesage (028 66 344562, office hours), for all details. Directors: F O'Boyle, P O'Flaherty, Mrs M Basquille.
Torc congress, Gleneagle, Killarney - Major pairs: 1. J Higgins, P Cassells; 2. M Hayes, K O'Connor. Intermediate: M O'Kelly, E Kehoe. Sessional winners: M Murphy, M McNamara; P Kelly, C Linnane. Teams: 1. D O'Sullivan, K Cussen, C Murphy, K Long; 2. S Dowling, P and T McCarthy, D O'Gorman.
A remarkable feature of the all-Ireland schools' championship, played at the Galway Centre, was that while 15 teams from the Republic and 14 from Northern Ireland competed, the event was dominated by the latter, who took the first seven places.
The prizewinners were: 1. K Lomas, A Flynn, A Carrigan, R Nicholls (Belfast Royal Academy No 1), 387; 2. J Quinn, R Kenny, J Savage, A Longmore (Banbridge Academy), 358; 3. (tie,) G Williams, A McCrea, M McVea, R McMullen (Bangor Grammar), K McAughey, C Quail, R Connolly, K Nash (B R A No 3), 319 each; 5. S Duddy, J Fillis, S Burton, S Fleming (Coleraine Academic Institute), 311.
The leading team from the Republic was P Scannell, J Monahan, R Lydon, and N Burke (St Joseph's, Galway) who finished in eighth place with 294.
The under-20 championship will take place in the Methodist College, Belfast, next Friday (6 p.m.), and Saturday. Contact: Alan Breen (028 25 822916, evenings). Coaching in Belfast, April 6th-7th; details, Hilary Dowling-Long (01-6621791).