OK Bridge, an international tournament on the Internet, has been running for the past three months in eight zones worldwide. Four Irish players - Gay Keaveney, Rory Timlin (both Galway), John Carroll (Dublin) and Tom Hanlon (Mullingar) - are doing exceptionally well in the Western Europe section.
In the first round they beat a Dutch team by 105 imps to 15; in the second a Belgian squad 144/20; in the third they overcame a highly-rated German side 62/36; and in the semi-final they registered a 93/48 win against a Dutch foursome; thus reaching the zone final, where they chalked up yet another victory, 123/36, against the Spanish national team; and so now go forward to the quarter-final proper of the world championship, against opponents not yet known.
The annual friendly match for the Sonya Britton Trophy between the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Bridge Union will take place in the Malahide Regional Centre, Co Dublin, on August 12th/13th.
CBAI teams - Open: T. Hanlon, Dr H. McGann, R. Boland, N. Toibin. Women: P. MacMahon, P. Ryan, H. Carroll, J. Kulchycky. Master: M. Burke, P. Quinn, P. Liston, M. O'Hehir. Intermediate A: D. Dunne, J. Robinson, N. Dolan, D. Walsh. Inter B: T. Hardiman, N. and P. Fitzgibbon, J. Mulvihill. Officials: M. O'Connor, U. Walsh, K. Downes, J.J. Kiely.
The Bray (Co Wicklow) open Swiss teams will be decided in the Royal Hotel on September 3rd. Entries: Celia McStravick (01-2863645).
Bridge weekend at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, November 11th to 13th. Details: 01-8460611. Bridge holiday, Caribbean cruise, January 13th-28th. Details: Barry Hogsett (012857853).
George Ryan will be on holiday in August.