IRELAND had mixed fortune in the Generali European Bridge Championships at Montecatini yesterday, winning one and losing one match in the open team championship.
In round 27 Tom Hanlon, Hugh McGann, Donal Garvey and Micheal O Briain decisively beat Yugoslavia 19-11. This left the team 13th of the 35 competing.
In round 28, however, the Irish went down 8-22 to the Czech Republic, who are lying four from the bottom. Our next three matches are against Romania, Portugal and championship leaders, Italy.
In the women's championship, Ireland did well to draw with medal contenders, Israel, in round 18. All three pairs Aileen and Rebecca O'Keeffe, Anne Montwill and Valerie Hand, and Petra O'Neil and Patsy Meehan played in this match, which Ireland were unlucky not to win.
A claim by Patsy Meehan was disputed by the Israelis, and the appeals committee ruled against the Irish player. So, instead of a well deserved win against one of the top teams, Ireland had to be satisfied with a draw. In round 19 the Irish lost 13-17 to Hungary.
Italy, despite losing to Norway, still lead. Poland, champions in 1993, have gone second and have opened a gap over the others. With seven rounds to be played, six other teams are in contention for the three remaining places in the world final in Tunisia.
The British women's team has begun to assert its superiority, and after beating Turkey and Israel, has a cushion of 13 points over nearest rivals, France.
Open teams - 1, Italy 541; 2, Poland 527; 3, Norway 515; 4, France 514; 5, Spain, 513; 6, Netherlands 505; 7, Iceland 499; 8, Denmark 493; 9, Sweden 466; 10, Great Britain 461; 16, Ireland 421.
Women's teams - 1, Great Britain 365; 2, France 352; 3, Israel 350; 4, Austria 334; 5, Germany 333; 6, Spain 325; 7, Poland 324; 8, Italy 321; 9, Sweden 318; 10, Netherlands 317; 19, Ireland 235.
Senior (over 55) teams - 1, Netherlands; 2, France; 3, Poland; 4 Italy.