RARELY do prominent officials make the headlines on the field of play in any sport, but a pair of them came to the fore in the final of the Irish Bridge Union's AllIreland major championship, which was sponsored by The Irish Times. The event attracted an entry of some 8,000 and was played over three sessions in the Stand House Hotel, The Curragh, Co Kildare.
The event was won by Marie Gleeson, a former honorary secretary of the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland, and now the joint honorary secretary of the Irish Bridge Union. Her partner was Lt Col E.J. Fitzgerald, a former president of the CBAI, and now the vice president of the IBU.
The runners up were D. Ellis, and C. Brady. The third prize went to M. Moonan, and R. Carolan on a split tie from Marlene and Michael O'Connor. Intermediate A prizes: 1, E. Scott, D. O'Connor; 2, P. O'Reilly, Dr Z. Rahman; 3, T. and L. McCarthy. Sessional winners: F. Murphy, Dr J. Keane; R. Burns, K.Y. Singleton; V. Hamilton, M. Curran. The Rathcoole player, John O'Keeffe, won the prize for the best played hand, the main feature of which was a daring con job. He, the declarer, in a lowly no trump contract, lived dangerously. As soon as he obtained the lead, he cheekily attacked his weakest suit doubleton nothing opposite doubleton nothing. The dummy was bought.
The leading placings in the Irish Times intermediate B pairs championship were: 1, F. and B. Kelly; 2, L. Murphy, M. Ryan; 3, C. Doyle, C. Clarke. Sessional winners: D. Walsh, M. Horgan; D. and V. O'Neill; P. McCombe, A. Herman. The prizes were presented by Peter Moorhead of The Irish Times.
South of Ireland Congress, in the Lake Hotel, Killarney - Major Team Championship (Lough Lein Trophy): 1, A. and E. Cleary, D.J. Houlihan, G. Lessells; 2, D. Berry, M. Van Put, J. Peevers, A. Gallop; 3, R.D. McGrath, K. Hayes, M. Kennefick, M. Atkinson. Best third session: T. MacCormac, C. Melluish, A. O'Sullivan, R. Mordue.
Mixed pairs championship (Dr E.N.M. O'Sullivan Trophy): 1, J. Higgins, M. MacCormac; 2, B.N. and R. Goldenfield; 3, P. Meehan, K. Loveys. Best Munster: E. Murphy, J. Power. Sessional winners: M. Trench, J. Scanlon; R Cunningham, J. Woodruff.
The dates for the Ballina congress in the Pontoon Bridge Hotel (Co Mayo) have been changed to June 20th-22nd. Brochures: Josie Cawley (096-70055).
The Worldwide Simultaneous Pairs may be played on either June 6th or 7th. CBAI clubs wishing to take part should contact, without delay, Paul Porteous (01 2697275).