Bridge main pairs go to US

Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell, US, won the main pairs event when the first European open bridge championships ended in Menton…

Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell, US, won the main pairs event when the first European open bridge championships ended in Menton on Saturday.

The Americans, who were always near the top, went into the lead towards the end and held off the challenges of Birman and Levin, Israel, and Chemla and Cronier, France, who took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Ireland's Adam Mesbur partnering Melih Ozdil finished 28th of the 52 finalists; 331 pairs originally competed.

The women's title went to Maria Erhart and Jovi Smederevac who finished ahead of two French pairs, Cronier and Williard, who won the silver, and d'Ovidio and Allouche, who took bronze.

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Poland, represented by Omerick and Pochron, won the Seniors competition.

Leenhardt and Sussel, France, took the silver medals while another Polish pair, Jezziro and Russyan, took the bronze.

France won medals in all of the eight championships which were decided to win the Belladonna trophy for the best nation overall.

Irish interests faded towards the end of the championships, but Sean O'Lubaigh and Paul Delaney finished well to be 6th in the C pairs final.

Throughout the two-week competition, the only Irish players to take a place on the podium were Mary Finn, Cork, and Pat McCarthy, Killarney, who won the C final of the mixed pairs.

The championships ended after a fortnight of extreme heat in a venue which had no air-conditioning, which resulted in many competitors dropping out of the competitions.

Patsy Meehan, Bray, and Rose O'Farrell, Greystones, had a good finish in the women's pairs, B final, to take third place behind McCallum and Baker, US, and Piccioni and Pasquare, Italy.

It was Meehan's second success in a European championship, having won the consolation pairs in Tenerife in 2001.