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Yeats Country Congress - 2016

North-West Regional Pairs Results - 2015

Inter-Provincial results - 2015

Ballina Bridge Congress 2015

The 53rd Yeats Country Congress

Good results in Castlebar

Forthcoming Events

Regional Teams 2015

More.......

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A huge congratulations to everyone involved in the running of the Yeats Country Congress which took place in the Raddisson Blu Hotel over the weekend of the 10th 11th &12th of July. Huge numbers of bridge players turned up and were treated to a great weekend of bridge. The Congress was very smoothly run by Fearghal O'Boyle and his hard working team who all made the congress such a success. 

Well Done Sligo

The North-West Regional Pairs were held at the Sligo Park Hotel on Sunday, 29th November.

The leading places, under each of the three categories were as follows:-

Masters (18 Pairs)

1st   Donal Geraghty & Mary Walshe             59.96%

2nd  Larry Shine & Larry Curley                     59.80%

3rd  Mary & Vincent Brennan                         59.43%

4th  Josie Cawley & Vincent McMahon         58.32%

Intermediate 'A' (22 Pairs)

1st   Attracta McGettrick & Mary Naughton   63.23%

2nd  Fr. Gabriel Murphy & Martin Naughton  60.60%

3rd   Mary & John Bourke                                57.40%

4th   Helena Moran & Jo Moran                       56.23%

Intermediate 'B' (9 Pairs)

1st   Kathleen Corcoran & Ann Shine            66.37%

2nd  Ann Marie Tuohy & Pat Lyons               57.53%

3rd  Michael Dolan & Kevin Coyle                 55.81%

4th  Brendan Duggan & Tom Byrne              55.37%

Congratulations to all the winners and those who have qualified to play in the National Finals next March in Athlone.

A combination of North-Western and Western Regional players combined to fetch the Inter-Provincial title back home to Connacht for the first time in many years.

Played over the weekend of 31st Oct./1st Nov. in Athlone, our representatives were Vincent and Mary Brennan, Nan Murtagh, Hilary McDonagh and John Godden.

After a nail-biting finish, the final results were as follows:-

                   Connacht          305.47

                   Leinster            304.39

                   Munster            274.64

                   Ulster               195.50

The Intermediate Inter-Provincial title went to Ulster who beat Munster, Leinster and Connacht.  

The venue was perfect, the weather was just right........for bridge-playing, the atmosphere was congenial, the organisation was of the highest standard and two 'stars' were discovered at the 39th Ballina Bridge Congress. The Hotel Ballina was the perfect setting for this year's Congress and, in the absence of Fearghal who was otherwise commited to EBL duties, replacement tournament directing proved excellent.

The first 'star' to mention is that of the replacement chief tournament director, Diarmuid Reddan, who travelled up from Limerick to try and fulfill that role. And fulfill that role he did. Diarmuid had the unenviable task of stepping into Fearghal's shoes and ensure the smooth running of the main competitions at the Congress. Diarmuid was very well assisted by the second 'star', Huey Daly. Whilst Huey performed the hard-working role normally performed by Mairead for the first time, he showed a natural ability to do the job with a very pleasant manner, albeit without the ability to look pretty at the same time!

Now to get down to the business of the competitions.

The Congress began with the traditional Mixed Pairs Championship on the Friday evening. Fifty-four pairs competed and the winners were the Irish International, Hugh McGann, partnered by World and European Championship player, Fiona Brown. Just one point behind came Maria Whelan and Brian O'Farrell. In third place were Josie Cawley and Gerry Scanlon.

Congress Pairs and Intermediate Pairs Championships were held on the Saturday. Fifty-two pairs participated in The Congress Pairs where a second success within two days was achieved by Hugh McGann and Fiona Brown. Not too far behind in second place were Tom Gilligan and Billy Ronan. Ciara Burns and Mary Finn took third place followed by visiting partnership from England, Martin Garvey and Adrian Kenworthy.

The Intermediate Pairs Championship produced a very close finish. The narrow-margin winners were Kate Daultrey and Kazimierz Noga from Margaret and Patsy O'Kane. Third place went to Marion Coy and Deidre McCoy closely followed by Ray Nally and Jerome Tarpey. Forty-two pairs competed.

The Congress and Intermediate Teams Championships took centre-stage on Sunday.

Twenty-two teams competed in the Congress Pairs Championship which was won by Bernie and Jeroen Lodenwijks, Richard Elvin and Justin Corfield. Chasing them home were Martin Garvey, Adrian Kenworthy, Cass O'Donnell and Anne Brodie-Allan. The third team to cross the line were Patsy Gibney, Maura Hand, Brendan and Helen Sheridan.

Thirteen teams arrived for the Intermediate Teams Championship. John and Hilary McCrohan, together with Tom and Margaret Ginty took first place honours. Pairs winners, Kate Daultrey and Kazimierz Noga, were joined by Paul Kane and Michelle Moloney to be the runners-up. Jo and Helena Moran together with Margaret and Patsy O'Kane filled third place.

During the Congress Teams a special presentation was made to one of the participants. Margo McClure from Enniskillen, who will be celebrating her 99th birthday in two weeks time, received the gift to a standing applause and a very rousing version of 'Happy Birthday'. I am sure that we all wish her well and good health for the future. I, for one, am certainly looking forward to seeing her fulfill her invitation from the Congress Committee to attend the 40th Ballina Bridge Congress, same place, same time, next year. See you there.

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For me, Sligo is always a special Congress. This year it was particularly so, because it was the 'final curtain' on Fearghal O'Boyle's Presidency of the CBAI. As an Ambassador for the North-West Region, Fearghal never failed to show his support and commitment to our Region throughout his term in office. As an Ambassador for bridge in Ireland, Fearghal tirelessly travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to carry out his duties as President with both dignity and humour on every occasion. The North-West Region is proud to have been represented by Fearghal in the highest office within the CBAI. I know that it is not over yet, but when it is, Fearghal will be back to Tournament Directing, both here and at International level, starting with Tromso (in the polar regions of Norway) in July.

Back to Sligo Congress which, as usual, had an excellent turn-out. Leading results were as follows:-

Gala Pairs (78 pairs competed)         1st   John McGinley and Jimmy Gallagher 

                                                              2nd  Paschal Buckley and Graham Laird

                                                              3rd   Anna McKiernan and Mairin Ui Ruanai

Mixed Pairs (43 pairs)                         1st   Helen and Brendan Sheridan

                                                              2nd  Flor Higgins and Martin Naughton

                                                              3rd   Anne Keating and Dermot O'Brien

Intermediate Pairs (60 pairs)              1st   Anne Kelly and Colm Gallagher

                                                              2nd  Ann Nolan and Tony Lonergan

                                                              3rd   Margaret Nally and Jim O'Malley

Congress Pairs (52 pairs)                   1st   Connell McLoone and Charlie Whyte

                                                              2nd  Karel de Raeymaeker and David Walsh

                                                              3rd   Paul Porteous and Diarmuid Reddan

Congress Teams (34 teams)              1st   Gay Keaveney, Karel de Raeymaeker, Enda Glynn and Joan Kenny

                                                              2nd  Danny Liddy, Danny Dillon, George Hayes and Deirdre Walsh

                                                              3rd   Gilda Pender, Hilary McDonagh, Mary Finn and Ciara Burns

and last, but definitely not least......................

Novice Pairs                                        1st    Pat and Renee O'Sullivan

                                                              2nd  Yvonne Barrett and Margaret Clarke

                                                              3rd   Phil Carty and Maureen McNally

And so the curtain falls on another successful Bridge Congress in Sligo. We can now rest awhile and prepare to meet again for the 54th Sligo Congress in May 2016.

On Saturday, 18th April, 70 pairs, of which we had a good entry from the North-West region, competed for the Lambert Cup. Huey Daly and Frances Walkin continued to show their potential  for winning these National events by lifting the Cup. Many other players from the region also showed that the standard of play in the North-West is continuing to grow and that we can expect more positive results in the future.

The following day, Larry Shine, Larry Curley, Tresina Smyth and Tommy Murphy, finished second of thirty-two teams in the Cooper Cup. To come second to a very strong team from Cork was certainly an excellent result.

Congratulations to the many players from our Region that participated in these confined Masters events over the weekend. I look forward to reporting your successes in the future.

♥   If bridge be the food of love.........play on!  ♥ 

It's 'party time' again in the North-West Region.

The CBAI Annual Congress confined to Intermediate and Novice players will, this year, return to Sligo. What a fantastic opportunity for our Regional players to participate in the on-going celebration of our own Fearghal O'Boyle being President of the CBAI for 2014/2015 season. Fearghal has chosen to hold this popular National event at the beautiful location of the Radisson Hotel, Sligo, on the weekend of 20th/22nd February.

The players in this region, together with players from our neighbouring regions, have already shown spirited support for Fearghal in smashing all records for pairs playing in the President's Prize last September. This was also held in Sligo. I sincerely hope for, and expect, another record turnout in February.

This Congress is only a few weeks away now (at the time of writing this), but you can ensure that your regular partner knows that you intend to be there and that you will also organise yourselves for the team event. If you are living some distance from the venue then why not take the opportunity right now to get booked in to the Radisson, 071-9140008 or www.radissonblu.ie/hotel-sligo The indefatigable Mairead will be willing to help you with alternative accommodation, if you need it, at 087-9274448.

I also want to mention another important event hitting our streets in March, that being the Regional President's Prize. This event is scheduled for Sunday, 8th March, at 5.00pm.

Our Regional President, Mrs. Gillian Ballantyne, has chosen the well-appointed Sligo Park Hotel as the venue. This sociable one-session event is always extremely well supported by our Regional players. Could this be your year?

Both the Congress and the Regional President's Prize are listed on our Calendar of forth-coming events.

The Regional Teams Championships attracted an entry of 16 teams under the various categories.

Results are as follows:-

Masters:    1st   Tommie Murphy, Tresina Smyth, Larry Curley and Larry Shine.

                   2nd  Vincent and Mary Brennan, John Godden and Nan Murtagh.

                   3rd  Tommy Banks, Frances Kelly, Eileen O'Connor and George Brennan.

Intermediate 'A':  1st  Jim O'Malley, Margaret Nally, Cathy Kilcoyne and Mary Kilfeather. (featured receiving the trophy in the photograph above).

                              2nd Martin Naughton, Fr. Gabriel Murphy, Flor Higgins, Frances Burke.

                              3rd Chris McGrath, Eileen Kelly, Celia Ansboro and Kitty Dowd.

Intermediate 'B':  1st  Pat Lyons, Phelim O'Doherty, Anne-Marie Kearney, Dave Flanagan.

                              2nd Tom Byrne, Brendan Duggan, Denise Cassidy and John Scanlon.

                              3rd Pat and Valerie Finneran, Michael Dolan and Kevin Coyle.

We look forward to the first two teams in each of the Intermediate categories, and the winning team in the Masters, representing the North-West Region in the National Finals on the weekend of the 25th/26th April in Athlone.