Some 300 players competed in the Zanussi national bridge team championship, decided via the Swiss movement, at the Stand House Hotel, The Curragh.
The event was won convincingly by four of Ireland's leading internationals, A Mesbur, N K FitzGibbon, P Walshe, and N Toibin, who scored 286 victory points. Runners-up were: R and A Milne, B J O'Brien, T Roche, and M MacDonagh with 261.
The third prize went to T Hanlon, Dr H McGann, Dr G M Keaveney, and R Timlin with 260, and the fourth to M McGloughlin, D A Scannell, A O'Sullivan, and N Kennedy with 258.
Further prizewinners - Women: M Trench, E Gannon, V Hand, A Johnson. Men: S Coggin, M Quinn, J Corcoran, P Kelly. Mixed: G Lessells, M Finn, M McConville, P Porteous.
Over 55s: Alex and Ann Montwill, J H and A O'Keeffe. Masters: J Kilduff, J Last, K Meade, M Flynn. Inter A: R O'Dea, A Keating, M Grehan, A Sexton. 3rd session: M Ó Briain, D Garvey, M Burke, P Quinn.
The all-Ireland inter-county team championship (Burke Trophy) will be played over three sessions in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone, next weekend. The holders are: M Burke, P Quinn, P Liston, and G Connolly (Limerick).
The Torc congress will be held in the Gleneagle, Killarney, next weekend.
Programme: Friday (7.45 p.m.), gala pairs; Saturday, two-session major pairs (2 p.m.), novice pairs (7.45 p.m.), entertainment (10.45 p.m.); Sunday (11 a.m.), teams.
Open pairs: Saturday, 2 p.m., 7.45 p.m.; Sunday, 12.30 p.m., 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Entries: Breda O'Sullivan (064-31084).
A seminar for club tournament directors, conducted by John Murray, will be held at the Malahide Centre, Co Dublin, next Saturday. The first session (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) is for those with little or no experience of running club competitions, and the second (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) for those slightly more advanced in the skills of directing.
One may attend either or both. Bookings close on Wednesday with Norma Madden (01-8386440).
Bridge holiday for 10 days from September 14th in Sorrento, Italy. Details: Bernie Lynch (01-2882435).
Dublin South Region's team championships - Major (Pigot Cup): 1, M McGloughlin, F Barry, T Rigney, H Lillis; 2, J Comyn, J Kulchycky, S Dowling, R Giddings. 2nd session: R Milne, J MacHale, A O'Sullivan, D Jackson.
Inter - A: 1, E O'Kelly, A Mealy, P Delaney, B Moran; 2, A Sexton, B Sinnott, A Keating, R O'Dea. B and novice: 1, B Higgins, M Delaney, P Garvey, A Fitzmaurice; 2, M O'Leary, D Whelan, M Stenning, T Breslin. Novice pairs (Kay Downes Trophy): 1, H Dawson, M Marrinan; 2, D Sharkey, P O'Sullivan. Western Region's team championships - Major: 1, Dr G M Keaveney, the Rev E Glynn, R Timlin, E Fitzgerald; 2, L Hanratty, B Kenny, C Mulhern, M O'Shaughnessy.
Inter - A: 1, C Burke, E Murphy, M O'Sullivan, A Roche; 2, R Wyer, M Moloney, B Winston, J Hynes; 3, B and M Hackett, B Mannion, J Finn. B: 1, M Wall, M Lennon, G Carroll, B Forde; 2, M Donlon, M Mitchell, M Hackett, F Laffey; 3, J Bradbury, K Kenny, M Lenihan, J Keane.
Newcastle West mini-congress pairs championship: 1, M Barry, M McNamara; 2, T and B McCarthy; 3, D and A Cleary. Sessional winners: P Boyce, M Barrett; J and B Quinn.