The Tralee international bridge congress will take place in the Brandon Conference Centre from January 1st to 3rd.
On Friday (7.30 p.m.) the mixed pairs will be played; on Saturday the two-session major pairs (2 p.m.), and the novice pairs (7.30 p.m.); and on Sunday (1.30 p.m.) the one-session teams. Open pairs throughout.
A special deal costing £102 per person sharing is available. It includes return rail travel from any Iarnrod Eireann station, and coach transfers to the venue. P. Fitzgibbon (066-7139292) will accept entries and supply further details.
The European Open and women's team championships will be held in Malta on June 12th to 27th. The Irish Bridge Union will run trials to select teams for both, with the preliminary rounds on January 22nd-24th and the semi-finals and finals the following weekend.
Each player in the open test must hold a minimum of 60 national points or have won 25 in the last three years. Each in the women's event must have 40, or have won 16 in the last three years.
Derogation from these rules may be granted to suitable players with a short bridge career. Such applicants should submit a resume of their achievements.
All entries, including a fee of £60 per player, should be sent without delay to M. Gleeson, A. Hill, or P. Porteous.
The two-session open team championship for the Wigoder Cup will be played in the Regent, 25 Waterloo Road, Dublin, on New Year's Day. Entries: S. Dowling (01-4933390).
The new venue for the Dublin North festival (January 15th-17th) is the Great Southern Hotel, Dublin Airport. Free parking. Programmes: M. Kelly Rogers (018450028).
The overall winners of the national intermediate A multivenue pairs championship (New Ireland Trophy) were L. Murphy, and M. Ryan (Cork).
Runners-up were M. Hayes, and K. O'Connor (Cork).
Third prize went to D. Naughton, and U. Hogarth (Mullingar.)
National novice multi-venue pairs (Waterford Crystal Trophy) - Overall: 1, W. and M. Murphy (Wexford); 2, D. Walsh, D. Murphy (Wexford); 3, M. Madden, S. Wanglin (Cork).
Top placings in the heats - Cork: 1, P. O'Mahony, N. Murphy; 2, C. Halligan, O. Eisinring. Dun Laoghaire: 1, J. Kirby, S. Dolan; 2, W. Feeney, M. Crosby. Ennis: 1, J. Clancy, M. McGuane; 2, E. Dempsey, P. Talty. Galway: 1, B. and J. O'Halloran; 2, J. Bradbury, M. O'Brien. Mullingar: 1, S. Gallen, T. McKenna; 2, R. Allen, M. Brennan. Wexford: 1, Walsh/ Murphy; 2, W. and M. Murphy.