European bridge team championships: Ireland is expected to challenge strongly at the 48th European bridge team championships, which begin in Warsaw tomorrow. Thirty-five nations will compete.
The six-man team of Tom Hanlon (Rochfortbridge), Hugh McGann (Fermoy), Nick FitzGibbon, Adam Mesbur, John Carroll and Tommy Garvey, with non-playing captain David Jack- son, all Dublin, go into the competition as home international champions and holders of the Camrose Trophy for the past two years.
The same team has reached the quarter-finals of three major competitions: the European open championships in Menton in 2003, Tenerife in 2005 and the World Olympiad in Istanbul in 2004.
No previous Irish team has been so consistently close to major honours. Warsaw has been their goal since the six came together as a team more than three years ago. To get there they had to withstand challenges from other leading Irish players, North and South, in trials.
The top six in Warsaw will qualify for the world championships in Shanghai next year.
Italy is chasing a seventh successive European title. The Italians are also world champions, so it may seem futile to look elsewhere for the winner.
However, Poland, one of the world's leading bridge nations for more than two decades, has been in the minor places three times during Italy's period of dominance. Only gold will satisfy them on home ground. Norway won four minor medals and will play a big role too. Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Russia and England could also be serious contenders.
Italy, Poland and Norway have two players on the European side to play North America in the inaugural match for the Warren Buffet Cup in Templeogue, Dublin, in September. Hanlon and McGann also have been selected for Europe.
The championships continue until Saturday August 26th. The Irish Times will carry daily reports. Women's and seniors' events will begin on Thursday.