The fourth annual bridge match between Dublin and Liverpool for the Cantor-Dowling Shield will take place at the Regent, 25 Waterloo Road, Dublin, on July 8th-9th. Four teams will play for each city - open, women, masters, and officials. In the previous contests Liverpool have won twice, and Dublin once.
The Arklow open pairs championship was won by D. Crosbie, and J. Doyle. Runners-up were K. Kelly, and B. Murphy. The third prize went to F. and B. O'Farrell. Intermediate awards - A: B. Byrne, B. King. B: M. Whelan, K. O'Shea. Sessional winners: H. Kelly, A. Kavanagh; V. King, H. Holman.
The World Bridge Federation's simultaneous pairs tournament was run recently. In the worldwide Friday session Italian pairs came first, and third, and a Welsh pair came second. The leading Irish pair were R. Hill and D. McAughey (Derryvolgie, Belfast), who came thirteenth.
In the worldwide Saturday session Chinese players took the top two places. A pair from Thailand were third, with the Belvedere, Mullingar partnership, M. Harris, and J. Cunningham fractionally behind them in fourth place.
Leading national rankings for the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland - the Friday session: 1, M. Duffy, P. Byrne (Galway Centre); 2, P. McCarthy, C. Holland (Cork); 3, M. Curran, M. Hession (Galway Centre); 4, A. Mullarkey, K. Shaw (Templeogue College); 5, J. Fahy, L. Bracken (Cork); 6, M. Burke, P. Liston (Limerick).
Saturday session - 1, Harris/Cunningham; 2, J. Fitzgerald, J.K. Ryan (Cahir); 3, R. Walsh, M. Costelloe (Cahir); 4, K. Walshe, A. O'Faherty (Coolagad); 5, B. and F. Baradi (Coolagad); 6, W.M. Cashen, P. Stokes (Thurles).