The Ballina bridge congress will take place in the Bridge Hotel, Pontoon, Co Mayo, from July 9th-11th. The mixed pairs will be played on Friday (7.45 p.m.); both the two-session major and intermediate pairs on Saturday (2 p.m.); the two-session teams on Sunday (noon); and open pairs throughout, with the Sunday sessions at noon and 4 p.m.
Among the prizes, the major pairs winners will receive replicas, Moy salmon, plus £200, and the team champions will receive replicas, Moy salmon, plus £160. The tournament directors are F. O'Boyle and J. Mulkearns. Josie Cawley (096-70055) will accept entries and supply a list of accommodation in the vicinity. The Irish Bridge Union's all-Ireland championship for the Egan Trophy, in which the agreed representation was four teams from the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland and two from the Northern Ireland Bridge Union, was decided at the Mourne Golf Club, Newcastle, Co Down. The event was won by A.T.R. Anderson, I. Lindsay, David and Diane Greenwood (NIBU). Runners-up were T. Roche, P. O Briain, B.J. O'Brien, and J.P. MacHale (CBAI). Third came M. O Briain, J. Carroll, T. Garvey, and D. Mac Aonghusa (CBAI).
The Mullingar Lake Club's festival of open pairs will be run on July 4th (7 p.m.) with three separate sections - master/intermediate A; intermediate B; and novice. Entries: Kay Murphy (044-41929).
Rabbi Leonard Helman of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League, was a long-time friend and fan of Paddy Walsh, the late editor of the Irish Bridge Journal. He has donated £4,000 to the CBAI for the establishment of an annual prize in memory of the much-admired editor.
The prize, including a trophy presented by the CBAI, will be awarded to the under-25 player who accumulates the most master points at CBAI events in each bridge season.