When, after a lengthy absence, the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland opted some years ago to resume playing in the open home international championship for the Camrose Trophy, they innocently created a problem.
While the other four bodies - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - welcomed them back to the fold with open arms, the fact then was, with five teams competing, there was the unsatisfactory situation whereby the uneven number caused a continuous sit-out throughout the series.
Recently, Bridge Great Britain, which organises the championship, decided that the best way to get rid of that annoyance was by allowing each association in turn to enter two teams. As the Republic is the current holder, it has been chosen to field the second team the first time.
The CBAI has invited Tom Hanlon, Dr H McGann, Adam Mesbur, NK FitzGibbon, John Carroll and Tommy Garvey, who convincingly won the event last March in Newport, Wales, to form their first squad. Their second team will be chosen via trials which will take place at the Templeogue Centre, Dublin, with the preliminaries being held from September 1st to 3rd and, if the entries warrant it, from September 8th to 10th. The final trials dates are October 27th to 29th.
Each player must hold a minimum of 30 national points or have won 16 during the last three years. Derogation from those conditions may be given by the international sub-committee, provided that applicants for such submit details showing just cause for it being granted. The members of the sub-committee are Michael O'Connor, Clare Pippet and Seamus Dowling. Entries for the trials, accompanied by €120 per pair, close on August 5th with Paul Porteous, Templeogue House, Templeogue Road, Dublin 6W.
The 2007 Camrose championship will be played over two weekends: January 5th-7th, in Oxford, and March 2nd-4th, in Aberdeen.
The women's 2007 home international championship (Lady Milne Trophy) will take place in Wales from April 13th to 15th.
Between February 9th and 11th and 16th and 18th the CBAI will hold trials in Templeogue to select a team. The top three pairs will automatically gain their caps.
To compete in the trials each player must hold a minimum of 25 national points or have won 15 during the last three years. Derogation may be granted by the same method as that for the Camrose. Entries remain open till January.