The Drogheda bridge congress, with a prize fund of over £6,000, will be held in the Westcourt Hotel, and the Arts Centre from October 3rd to 5th.
The mixed and novice pairs will be played on Friday (7.30 p.m.); three two-session pairs - major, intermediate A, and B - on Saturday (2.00 p.m.); likewise the teams on Sunday (12.30 p.m.). There will be open pairs throughout, with the first tournaments starting at 8.00 p.m. on Friday, and the final ones at 5.45 p.m. on Sunday.
Among the prizes, £2,200 will go to the main pairs events, £1,850 to the teams, and £900 to the open pairs. Various grand prix awards will be made. There will be a gala social on Saturday night. Roger O'Shea (041-28608) will accept entries, and supply details about hotel and guesthouse accommodation. The Scottish Bridge Union beat the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland by 382 victory points to 333 in the friendly international match for An Cupa Cairdeas at the Hyland Central Hotel, Donegal.
The Irish teams were - Open: Tomas Hanlon, Dr H McGann, Dr G.M. Keaveney, R Timlin. Women: Pat MacMahon, Pat Ryan, Grace Finegan, Bernie Lynch. County: Paddy Byrne, Paddy Carr, Conal McLoone, Terence O'Callaghan.
Junior: Jamie Martin, Edward Fox, Edwin Ryan, James Byrne. Club: Sandra and John McGinley, Cass O'Donnell, Jimmy Gallagher.
Officials: Una Walsh, Paschal Buckley, Michael O'Connor, Paul Porteous. Non-playing captain: Marie Cummins.
The Cork congress will be held in the Metropole Hotel from September 26th to 28th. Entries: Mary Daly (021-812036).
The two-session tournament for the Harry Devine Trophy, in which all the players on a team must be members of the same club, will be staged in the Blackrock College RFC, Stradbrook Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin, on September 28th (2.00 p.m.). Entries: Kathleen Meade (01-2881614).
The Dun Laoghaire congress will be played in the Rochestown Lodge Hotel from October 10th to 17th. Brochures: Barry Hogsett (01-2857853).
The Ballyshannon open championship for the Paddy O'Neill Cup will be run on October 5th. Entries: Graham Laird (07251729).
The Ashbourne, Co Meath, twosession open pairs championship will take place on October 19th (2.00 p.m.) in the Ashbourne House Hotel. Special prizes will be awarded to the best intermediate A and B partnerships. Entries: Liam Dockrell (01-8401110).