England secure fifth straight home win in Gormanstown – The Irish Times

England won their fifth consecutive domestic international championship in Gormanstown over the weekend. The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland beat Ireland in the first round but it was their only win, eventually finishing fourth. Ireland were never in contention and only Wales really challenged England, only two points down at the start of the final round. However, England then beat Northern Ireland and Ireland put in their best effort to defeat Wales. Complete results: 1. England 138.84 points; 2. Wales 120:11; 3. Ireland 102.90; 4. CBAI 94.67; 5. Scotland 84.97; 6. Northern Ireland 58.51.

John and Kelan O’Connor made the journey from Tralee to the Malahide Congress and registered a remarkable one-two. They won Saturday’s pairs tournament when they finished third ahead of Valarie Burke-Moran, Ann O’Connell with Wojciech Gorczyca and Marcin Rudzinski. On Sunday they finished strong with Denis Sheehan and Gordon Lessells to defeat Billy Ronan, Pat Cassidy, Dave Terry and Tom Gilligan in the team competition. Noreen Pender, Kathleen Vaughan, Aoife MacHale and Antoinette McGee led into the final round, but a heavy loss to Ronan dropped them into third place.

The O’Connors and Sheehan had finished second at the Tralee International Convention when Kay Cussen completed the team. David O’Brien, Deirdre O’Halloran, Phyllis O’Regan and Horst Rösler won. Third were Nicky Fitzgibbon, Trish Stack, Joe Higgins and Tom McCarthy.

Other Malahide Results: Territory Champions: 1st Willie and Róisín O’Gorman; 2. Helena and Paul Redmond; 3. Nora Kelly, Kathy Monks. Advanced: 1. Sandra Peden, Linda Walsh; 2. Noel Hughes, Anthony McMackin; 3. Evelyn Doyle, Helen Ahern. Advanced Teams: 1st Hughes, McMackin, Catherine Carabine, Deirdre Lonergan; 2. Liz Sherlock, Anna Frances Murphy, Donal O’Keeffe, Aindrias Ó Caoimh. Mixed: 1. Helen and Brendan Sheridan; 2. Mary Kelly-Rogers, Conor O’Hara; 3. Deirdre Tuckey, Seamus Costello. Gala: 1. Brigid Lavery, Bernadette Warnock; 2. Catherine Byrne, Des Mullock; 3. Margaret Cure, Irene Ellis. Intermediate B: (Friday) 1. Nicola O’Dowd, Ena Souhan; 2.Michael and Catherine Cavanagh; 3.Brian McMahon, Jim Caulfield. (Saturday): Rhona Sheil, Stella Carmody; 2. Paddy Moore, John Dunleavey; 3. Ann Dunne, Eamon Kelly. Rookies: 1. Sharon Hogan, Lee Kerrigan; 2. Elizabeth Reynolds, Alex Reid; 3.Virginia Pye, Mary Herlihy.

The Open and Intercounty Championships (Burke and O’Connor Trophies respectively) will be held at the Cavan Crystal Hotel next Saturday and Sunday. A couples competition for beginners and novices will be held at the Regent Bridge Club in Dublin on Friday evening. Entry details on cbai.ie.