THE Contract Bridge Association of Ireland's national pairs championship for the Lambert Cup, starting at 1.30 p.m., will be decided over two sessions at the Mullingar Centre on January 27th. The event is open to players in the intermediate A grade and to masters whose holding is legs than 30 national points. Entries: P. Porteous (01 269 7275).
The Irish Bridge Union ran a preliminary round of the open international trials at the Regent, Dublin, where 12 pairs competed for five places in the final trials, which will begin on January 26th. The following qualified to join the seven exempted pairs - 1, T. Walsh, D. O'Gorman; 2, I. Lindsay, D. Johnson; 3, J. Comyn, B.J. O'Brien; 4, P. Pigot, D. MacAonghusa; 5, R. Brennan, P. Scannell.
The Waterford congress in Jurys Hotel, had a prize fund of over £9,000. The main prizewinners were - Major pairs: 1, D. Dillon, K. Cashen; 2, B. Kirby, M. Hanrahan; 3, T. Tierney, M. Lavelle. Best intermediate A: K. Carew, D. Boyle. Local: M. Phelan, I. Reynolds. Sessionals: P. and E. Flynn; D. and N. Corcoran.
Mixed pairs: 1, B. Isdell, D. Crosbie; 2, P. Murphy, L. Moran; 3, K. Lennon, S. Scallan. Local: M. and H. Boland. Teams: 1, G. Nolan, H. Lillis, J. Higgins, M. McGloughlin; 2, K. Lennon, T. Tierney, D. Crosbie, J. Doyle. Best A: M. Quinlan, M. and A. O'Sullivan, C. Holland. Local: J. Richardson, M. and H. Prendergast, A. Heffernan.
Intermediate B pairs: 1, M. and T. Dalton; 2, T. Martin, D. Quinn; 3, M. Brosnan, R. Walsh. Local: R. Dowling, M. Fleming. Sessionals: M. and N. Sheehan; K. Walsh, C. Delaney. Novice pairs: 1, J. Collins, P. Kelly; 2, G. O'Mahoney, S. Roche; 3, M. and T. Galvin. Local: L. and A. McKay.
From January 19th to 21st, the Dublin North festival will be held at the Regency Hotel, Swords Road, Dublin, while the Tralee international congress will be at the Brandon Conference Centre. Dublin entries: N. Dockrell (01 840 1110). Tralee entries: B. Brennan (066-23617).
The Bankers' Club, 93 St Stephen's Green, Dublin, runs open pairs tournaments every Tuesday, starting at 7.30 p.m.