Italy, Britain and France have all retained their European team titles at the Generali Bridge Championships which ended in Malta on Saturday. The Italian Open Team of Bocchi, Duboin, Defalco, Mosca, Ferraro and Attanasio won Italy's third gold medal in a row and 15th European open team title.
In a sensational last round, France lost 8-22 to Monaco and dropped out of the medals. Sweden and Norway took silver and gold respectively.
Ireland's Letter Post team of Hugh McGann, Tom Hanlon, Niall Toibin, Pat Walshe, Gay Keaveney and Rory Timlin with non-playing captain, Adam Mesbur, finished 17th of the 37 participating countries after losing to Romania.
Britain took the women's title, scoring maximum 25s in the last two rounds to win by half a point from Austria, with France only another point behind. The Netherlands were three points further back in fourth. The British team was: Sandra Landy, Abbey Walker, Heather Dhondy, Liz McGowan, Pat Davies and Nicola Smith.
France kept the senior title with the same team - Adad, Aujaleau, Delmouly and Roudinesco, who won two years ago in Montecatini. Ireland's first ever team in this event, Paul Hanratty, Sean O Lubaigh, Seamus Dowling, Cait Flavin and John Godden were unplaced.
From 2001 England, Scotland and Wales will have separate representation. In future years, if entries reach 40 teams, then the European Bridge League is considering a two-tier competition. In that event Ireland's 17th place could put us in the top division.
Final results: Generali Open Team Championship - 1, Italy 702; 2, Sweden 667; 3, Norway 665; 4, Bulgaria 661; 5, France 659; 6, Poland 646; 7, Spain 639; 8, Israel 635; joint 9,10, Russia and Netherlands 631; 11, Belgium 619; 12, Britain 617; 17, Ireland 573. 37 teams competed.
Women's teams 1, Britain 384; 2, Austria 383.5; 3, France 382.5; 4, Netherlands 379.5; 5, Germany 365; 6, Denmark 353; 7, Poland 336; 8, Norway 327; 9, Finland 324; 10, Israel 323. 21 teams competed. Ireland did not compete.
Senior teams - 1, France A 574; 2, France C 543; 3, France B 527; 4, Poland A 526; 5, Sweden A 517; 6, Italy A 492; 7, Czech Republic 486; 8, Poland B 482; 9, Israel 476; 10, Poland C 472. Ireland unplaced. 29 teams competed.