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Dear  Members,

I would like to introduce my self. I am Marie Fitzgerald , the president of the Eastern Region for the coming 2 seasons. I am a member of two bridge clubs in the Eastern Region- Aces at The Wishing Well and The Well Bridge Club in Blackrock.

Why do we play bridge? People play because they enjoy the game- it is a fun activity which you can enjoy with friends and family- all you need is a pack of cards, and a table, and you can play in a club at a reasonable cost. You can play anywhere locally or internationally. Every game provides challenges and solutions- and as we all know a very humbling game!

The Eastern Region has the second largest numbers of membership in the country- there are approximately 62 affiliated clubs in the region- with over 4283 club members- an increase of c.10% on the previous year -the Eastern Region includes the eastern area of Dublin and County Wicklow. I hope to visit as many of these clubs as I can during my term and will be calling on all my bridge colleagues here to join me!

From what I hear and see, a lot of the clubs have recovered their numbers after Covid, but there still remain challenges for all our clubs.

• There are clubs worried about their falling numbers still, and face a challenge recruiting new members.
• There is a challenge for us all in how to recruit more younger players
• How do we get more people to enter competitions- in particular Novices and Intermediates.

Finally, I am very honoured to take up the post of President of the Eastern Region, and thanks to Maura and Seamus for sharing all of their experiences during their term as Presidents, and look forward to taking up the role.

Marie Fitzgerld

President Eastern Region

Eastern Region Promotion Day

A huge thank you from the Eastern Region committee to all the bridge players who supported our Promotion Day in Stillorgan Shopping Centre on Saturday, 31 August.

There was a terrific turnout of supporters who interacted with shoppers, played some hands of bridge and took part in Mini Bridge demonstrations.

We met several former bridge players who were encouraged to return to the game and dozens of people expressed interest in taking lessons. Information on local clubs and lessons was handed out and in general it was a very busy and successful event.

Special thanks to the teenagers and pre-teens who took part; Daisy, Holly, Eliana, Ben, Eric, Adam, Brian and Katie, ranging in age from 8 to 20. They are great ambassadors for our game and demonstrated that bridge is for all ages.

Pictured are Claire, Ann, Ben and Eliana enjoying a game of mini-bridge

Massey Bros League 2023 - 24

Well done to the winning teams in the Massey Bros League 2023/24

• Inter A – Blackrock College Bridge Club
• Inter B – The Well Bridge Club
• Seniors – Abbey Bridge Club

22 teams competed in the revised format of the league, which worked very well. The ER committee would like to thank the management of the four venues:

• Mount Merrion Community Centre,
• Greystones Bridge Centre,
• Dun Laoghaire Bridge Club and
• Dun Laoghaire Golf Club

We wound up the season with a lovely evening in Dun Laoghaire Golf Club. Two members of Massey Bros team attended and presented the trophies Thanks to all who helped with the organising and to Massey Bros for their continued generous sponsorship of the league

Finally, thanks to all the players who supported the league. We hope you enjoyed the experience

Full Results are available on the Massey Bros League 2023 - 24 page.

Britton Trophy 2024

 19th May

I would like to thank all the members who supported me in my President's Prize competition and during my year in office.

Congratulations to the prize winners:

1st BJ O'Brien & Alan O'Sullivan

2nd Gerry Ryan & James Killen

3rd Triona Irving & Frank O'Gallachoir

1st session Dolores Gilliland & Maria Whelan

2nd session Carol-Ann Cummins & John Noonan

Best Intermediate Maura Kavanagh & Eleanor O'Flaherty

A huge congratulations goes to:

Robert Wolfe & Kevin O'Connell, Brian Corkery & Con Bushe

who were second in the National Intermediate B Teams Championships.

For Fun Team 2024

Sunday 24th March

There was a terrific turnout for this year's For Fun Teams competition. Gary Dowling and Brendan Martin did a fabulous job in assembling 16 teams from across the region. It was a very well-run competition and a particular mention has to be made to the 16 Novices who took part.  We hope that everybody enjoyed the day and found it less scary than they had expected.

Congratulations to the prize winners:

1st:Beryl Dunne & Clodagh McCloskey, Ray Breen & Gerry McCarthy

2nd:Mary O'Toole & Eilish Dempsey, Michael Myburgh & Margaret McMahon

3rd:Mairead Clifford & Mary Malone, Rhona Preston & Ciara Marmion

4th:Marie Callanan & Margaret Smith, Kathryn Ryan & Caroline Leonard

The Eastern Region teams (Masters, A & B Teams) were held in Clarinda Park, Dun Laoghaire, on Sunday 28 Jan at 1 pm. The winning teams were:

Inter B Teams

1. Robert Wolfe & Kevin O'Connell, Brian Corkery & Con Bushe

2. Liz Murphy & Bernice McCarthy, Nell McDowell & Dorothy Collins

Inter A Teams

1. Simon Burrell & Martina Lee, Cora Ryan & Jean Hennebry
2. Philip O'Dwyer & Ciaran O'Huiginn, Sarann Doyle & George Kavanagh
3. Raymond Lally & Mia Delaney, Eleanor Callanan & Ann Cafferky

Masters Teams

1. Mairead Haugh & Roisin de Jong, Maria Whelan & Eileen O'Donovan
2. Catherine McCann & Brendan Martin, Sean Maguire & Jason Doyle
3. Dolores Gilliland & Rory Egan, Brian & Heber O'Farrell

O’Kennedy Cup was on Sun 21st January in Dun Laoghaire BC at 1.00 pm. The winners were:

1. BJ O'Brien & Alan O'Sullivan, Michelle Moloney & Marcin Rudzinski

2. Valerie Hand & David Ryan, Miriam McConville & Elva Gannon

3. Willy Clingan & Brigid Sheehy, Mary Murray & Maura Byrne

Eileen O'Doherty & Patricia Rossiter Herman 

Thursday 16th November 2023

There was a fantastic turnout for the 2 competitions for the region's newest members.

Eileen O'Doherty Trophy

24 Intermediate B's competed for the Eileen O'Doherty trophy which was won this year by Mary McDaid and Clodagh Sweeney.

Congratulations to the ladies and all the prizewinners:

1. McDaid & Clodagh Sweeney
2. Liz Murphy & Adrienne Lord
3. Mick Stuart & Yvonne Corrigan

The full results are posted here.

Patricia Rossiter Herman Trophy

This year 24 of the region's novices competed for the Herman Rossiter trophy. This year the trophy was won by Denisa Newton and Mary Coyle.

4 Intermediate B's competed for the Eileen O'Doherty trophy which was won this year by Mary McDaid and Clodagh Sweeney.

Congratulations to all who took the step into regional competition and particularly to the prizewinners:

1. Denisa Newton & Mary Coyle
2. Anne Maher & Maria O'Regan
3. Susan & Terry Parsons

See the full results of the competition here.

Eastern Region Competitions 2023 - 24

As well as the Massey Bros League (see below) we will be running the following competitions:

Entries can be made by using the CBAI Online Entry system using the link  http://competitions.cbai.ie/.

Massey Bros League

In the 2023/24 season we are trying a new format and it is proposed to hold four rounds in four different venues throughout the region. The proposed dates and venues are:

1. 05/11/23            St Therese’s Community Centre, Mount Merrion

2. 04/02/24            Greystones Bridge Centre

3. 03/03/24            Dun Laoghaire Bridge Club

4. 26/05/24            Dun Laoghaire Golf Club

If you would like to play in the league, please discuss it with your club president/secretary to get an appropriate team from your club

An entry form is available at this link  or from the league organiser, Fedelma Martin, phone 086 162 9019 or email fedelma@martinco.ie

Completed entry forms should be returned to her before Friday 13^th October.

THANKS AGAIN TO MASSEY BROS FOR THEIR KIND SPONSORSHIP OF THE LEAGUE

Our former Competitions Secretary, Joan Kilduff, sadly passed away on Thursday July 27th. Joan was a long serving member of the Eastern Region general committee and took on the post of Honorary Competitions Secretary in the mid-nineties. She was an extremely efficient and diligent secretary and meticulously kept track of all competition winners and trophies for more than ten years. She was an enthusiastic member in several Eastern Region clubs including Dun Laoghaire, The Victor and Monkstown Bridge Clubs for many years. She will be missed by her many friends. Funeral arrangements are on the link below. Rest in peace.

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