Ireland

Bridge Notes: Veteran competitors win main pairs competition of Clonmel online congress

Team competition developed into tussle between a leading male quartet and four of the current national women’s squad

The all-Ireland pairs championship (Moylan cup) will return to its traditional venue, Malahide regional bridge club, on Saturday and Sunday next. Photograph: Getty Images

Seamus Dowling
Mon Mar 28 2022 - 17:45

Veteran competitors David Scannell and Eoin MacNeill won the main pairs competition at the Clonmel online congress at the weekend. The partnership which had been among the country's leading pairs during the 1980s and 1990s when they won a number of national titles including the all-Ireland pairs (Moylan cup) four times, quickly established their superiority over a strong field and won comfortably from Kay Cussen and Denis Sheehan, with Alan O'Sullivan and BJ O'Brien third.

Area masters: 1. David Cope, Patricia McCormack; 2. Tie: Geraldine and Rick Crowe and Úna Flynn, Olive Kilbane. Inter A: 1. Ann Nolan, Clare Doyle; 2. Emer Roberts, Collette E. Maher; 3. Margaret MacDonald, Margaret Aylward. Inter B: 1. Ian Kingston, Maura King; 2. John Corcoran, Finola O'Connell; 3. Seán Keane, Martin Connell.

The team competition developed into a tussle between a leading male quartet and four of the current national women's squad. When Peter Pigot, Donal MacAonghusa, David Walsh and Ciaran Coyne defeated Lucy Phelan, Dolores Gilliland, Ann O'Connell and Valarie Burke-Moran decisively in the early head-to-head match the women's team seemed out of it. However, they fought back determinedly and the teams were tied when the last round began. Both won their respective final matches but Pigot emerged with a two-point better score.

Brian Madden, Genie O'Regan, Verna Brownlow and Geoff Roberts had a good last round to finish third.

READ MORE

Other Clonmel results: Mixed: 1.Mary Kelly-Rogers, Danny Liddy; 2. Betty and Dermot Cotter; 3. Catherine Lonergan, John O'Connor. Gala: 1. Freddie Langford, Angela Dunne; 2. Rosemary O'Brien, Elaine Caulfield; 3. Jean Sayers, Tess O'Hara. Intermediate B (Friday): 1. Michelle Hickey, Paula Oliver; 2. Nicola O'Dowd, Maura King. Novice: 1. Clare O'Neill, Orla Duffy. Closing gala: 1. Mark Tiernan, Orla McEntee; 2. Alan Atkinson, Steve Burgoyne; 3. Mary Kenny, Jim O'Sullivan.

Blackrock charity results: Mixed pairs: 1. Zrinka Kokot, Pat McDaid; 2. Alexandra and David Blair; 3. Don and Lola O'Donovan. Intermediate B: 1. Bernadette Jokinen, Paul Clinch; 2. Connie Collins, Fintan Scanlan.

The all-Ireland pairs championship (Moylan cup) will return to its traditional venue, Malahide regional bridge club, on Saturday and Sunday next; starting times: 1pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday. Participants have qualified for this event through major competitions, North and South.

The annual nine-day South of Ireland congress also begins on Saturday; all competitions will be played on the BBO website. Details on cbai.ie

Alan AtkinsonAlan O SullivanAngela DunneAnn NolanAnn O ConnellBernadette JokinenBetty CotterBj O BrienBrian MaddenCatherine LonerganCiaran CoyneClare DoyleClare O NeillCollette E MaherConnie CollinsDanny LiddyDavid BlairDavid CopeDavid ScannellDavid WalshDenis SheehanDermot CotterDolores GillilandDon O'DonovanDonal MacaonghusaElaine CaulfieldEmer RobertsEoin MacneillFinola O ConnellFintan ScanlanFreddie LangfordGenie O ReganGeoff RobertsGeraldine CroweIan KingstonJean SayersJim O'SullivanJohn CorcoranJohn O ConnorKay CussenLola O'DonovanLucy PhelanMargaret AylwardMargaret MacdonaldMark TiernanMartin ConnellMary KennyMaura KingMichelle HickeyNicola O DowdOlive KilbaneOrla DuffyOrla McenteePat McdaidPatricia MccormackPaul ClinchPaula OliverPeter PigotRick CroweRosemary O BrienSeamus Dowling VeteranSean KeaneSteve BurgoyneTess O HaraUna FlynnValarie Burke MoranVerna BrownlowZrinka Kokot
IN THIS SECTION
LATEST STORIES