IRELAND has had a successful series of matches at the Generali European Bridge Championships, which enter their second week in Montecatini, Italy.
The Irish team in the Open Championship Hugh McGann, Tom Hanton Donal Garvey, Micheal O Briain, John Carroll, Tommy Garvey and Niall Toibin - won four out of five games to move into the top half of the table at the halfway stage.
The run of success began when Hanlon, McGann, Carroll and Garvey (jnr) beat Germany 19-11 in Round 14; thereby avenging a heavy defeat in Rhodes last year.
Garvey (snr) and O Briain joined Hanlon and McGann in a 20-10 win over Iceland, world champions in 1991 and one of Europe's strongest teams.
In Round 16, Ireland lost 8-22 to Belgium, a team which has included among its victims Britain, Denmark and Poland, all potential medal winners, and is holding on to a top 10 position.
Hanlon, McGann, Garvey and Briain again combined to score Ireland's first maximum 25 of the championships against Switzerland. This put them into the top half of the field. The Irish consolidated their position with a steady 1614 victory over Estonia in Round 18.
Italy, despite losing 6-24 to Iceland in Round 16, continues to dominate. France has climbed to second to head a group of nine challenging for the medals.
Ireland's recent good run gives the team an outside chance but it will need good results against Austria and Russia in the next two rounds.
Ireland featured in a medal ceremony yesterday when John O'Keeffe and Alex Montwill took the silver medals in a special pairs event for members of the International Bridge Press. Former winners of the World Pairs Championship for Bridge Journalists, they were narrowly beaten for the gold by Michael Rosenblum (Russia) and Cees Tammens (Netherlands). The bronze medal went to Steen Moller (Denmark) and Klaus Reps (Germany).
Ireland's other pair, Seamus Dowling and Damien Hand, were sixth.
In the women's championship, Ireland had an abysmal weekend, losing four of the five matches.
They started well when Aileen and Rebecca O'Keeffe, Petra O'Neill and Patsy Hand defeated Turkey 20-10. However, they then lost 11-19 to Belgium, 2-25 to the Czech Republic, 14-16 to Russia and 14-16 to Poland. They will next meet Germany and Iceland.
The British women's team of Sandra Landy, Michelle Handley, Pat Davies. Nicola Smith, Liz McGowan and Heather Dhondy is beginning to look like champions. Big wins over Spain, Iceland and Portugal and a narrow, but key, success against France have put them into an 11 point lead.
The seniors (over 55) championship got under way yesterday. France is setting the early pace.