There were mixed fortunes for the Irish when two further matches were played in the home international bridge championship (Camrose Trophy). While Northern Ireland was beating Scotland 51/39 in the Dunadry Inn, Co Antrim, the Republic went under 36/54 against Wales in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny.
Northern Ireland was represented by A T R Anderson, D Greenwood, I Hamilton, J Ferguson, T G Mackenzie, Dr H Campbell, and J Lavery (non-playing captain). Republic: T Hanlon, Dr H McGann, N Toibin, P Walshe, Dr G M Keaveney, R Timlin, and M O'Connor (npc).
The table now reads: 1, Scotland, 125; 2, Wales, 118; 3, England, 112; 4, Northern Ireland, 91; 5, Republic of Ireland, 89. The Republic, England, and Wales have a match in hand. The two Irish teams meet in the Yeats Country Hotel, Rosses Point, Sligo, on February 23rd-24th.
The women's home international championship (Lady Milne Cup) will take place in Aberdeen from May 31st to June 2nd. To assist in selecting the Republic's team for the event, trials were held in the Regent, Dublin, with the following gaining the top placings: 1, H Carroll, J Kulchycky, H Dowling-Long, A M Horan, 59; 2, L Taaffe, T Byrne, K Vaughan, V Burke-Moran, 47; 3, C A Cummins, M MacCormac, P O'Neill, P Meehan, 45.
The Zanussi team championship, will be decided over three sessions next Saturday (1.30 p.m.), and Sunday in the Stand House Hotel, the Curragh. Apart from the usual prizes, awards will also be made to the best women, men, mixed, over 55s, third session, masters, and intermediates. The tournament is open to the intermediate A grade upwards.
As the championship is limited to 80 teams, and most of the places have been taken up already, entries should be made without delay to Paul Porteous (01-4929666).
The St Malachy's Old Boys' Association will run a two-session open pairs championship, with £1,250 in cash prizes, at the Dunadry Inn, Dunadry, Co Antrim, next Sunday (1.30 p.m.). Entries: J Lavery (028-9077 4505).
The Galway City team, M O'Farrell, S MacMathuna, S and A Glynn have qualified for the all-Ireland inter-county championship in Athlone on March 2nd-3rd. The qualifying event for the county team will be held in the Tuam Golf Club next Friday (7.30 p.m.).
Tralee congress, Brandon Hotel - pairs - Major: 1, B Kirby, N Hickey; 2, M Finn, P McCarthy; 3, M Bourke, H Milner. Inter: M O'Shea, G McSweeney. Sessionals: J and L Phelan; A Dillon, D O'Gorman. Mixed: 1, P O'Regan, J O'Connor; 2, B Gannon, J Agnew; 3, E Downes, M Bourke. Novice: 1, E O'Shea, B Fitzgerald; 2, M Murphy, E Ryan.
Teams: 1, M Prendergast, J Spratt, N Fitzgibbon, T Hardiman; 2, A Dillon, M Finn, D O'Gorman, P McCarthy. Best Kerry: P O'Regan, J O'Connor, M Bourke, H Milner.
Kilkenny open pairs championship (Lady Bellew Cup); 1, A Kavanagh, A Nolan; 2, K Molloy, M O'Brien; 3, M Nolan, A Morrissey. Best local: M O Briain, S Ryan. Sessionals: B Butler, G Delaney, J Byrne, P Wall.