Ireland

Bridge Notes: 2022 kicks off with Wigoder cup

Regent club hosted event won by Micheál Ó Briain, Derek O’Gorman, Mark Moran and Adam Mesbur

The European Bridge League’s BBO-sponsored women’s team tournament, aiming to prepare participants for major competitions ahead, was won by France with a 13-point margin over Turkey with Norway a further two points behind.

Seamus Dowling
Mon Jan 3 2022 - 19:27

The New Year's Day open team competition for the Wigoder cup, hosted online by Dublin's Regent bridge club was won by Micheál Ó Briain, Derek O'Gorman, Mark Moran and Adam Mesbur who finished 10 points ahead of Lucy Phelan, Dolores Gilliland, Ann O'Connell and Valarie Burke-Moran.

A key match occurred at the beginning of the second half when the winners beat the runners-up in the head-to-head meeting.

Mairéad Ní Oistin, Aidan Hodgers, Denis and Frances Gill had a superb tournament, in the strong field to be third, a further five points behind and, but for an early disastrous result against Phelan, might well have challenged for the trophy. Sandra Newell, Carolann Cummins, Mairéad Haugh and John Noonan were fourth, one point further back.

The European Bridge League's BBO-sponsored women's team tournament, aiming to prepare participants for major competitions ahead was won by France with a 13-point margin over Turkey with Norway a further two points behind. Four of Ireland's current national squad – Joan Kenny, Jeannie Fitzgerald, Gilda Pender and Rebecca O'Keeffe – were fourth, three points further back.

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Home-international championship

Tom Hanlon, Tommy Garvey; Nick FitzGibbon, Adam Mesbur; John Carroll and Mark Moran; with non-playing captain, Gráinne Barton will line out for Ireland in the opening rounds of the home-international championship (Camrose trophy) which will be contested on the RealBridge website from Friday to Sunday next. Many of the contests for the trophy in recent years have developed into a battle for supremacy between current holders, England and Ireland whose last win was in 2017. This year should be no different. All members of the Irish team are past winners of the championship. Northern Ireland will be represented by Wayne Somerville, Paul Tranmer; Pat McDaid, Zrinka Kokot; Michael Coffey and Ferghal O'Shea with NPC Ian Hamilton. Derry-based McDaid and Kokot who is a native of Croatia will be gaining their first Northern Ireland international caps. Spectators may follow play on RealBridge but there is a half-hour delay in transmission.

Waterford’s congress has been cut to two evenings: Friday next when two gala pairs events: one for master and intermediate A grades, the other for intermediate B and novice players will begin at 7.30pm. The programme will be repeated on Saturday also starting at 7.30pm. Entries, with real names, BBO names and grades to johnphelanwaterford@yahoo.ie. The North Down open pairs championship will take place next Sunday. Details on nibu.co.uk

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