BRIDGE

WHILE the overall numbers were up to the usual level, one very weird statistic stood out in the IBU inter-club pairs final over the weekend.

Not a single pair entered from Northern Ireland. Neither the president Fearghal O’Boyle nor I could come up with a reason, so maybe someone up there can tell me.

Generally speaking, the standard was the usual mixed bag, but the winners were the excellent Polish pair, Marcin Rudzinski and Wojezech Gorczycza, from the Bray club.

And over in the B section we had a very famous name involved and she duly finished first with Mary Whooley.

Perhaps the name Carmel Murnin won’t register with most — but when I tell you she is Tom Hanlon’s sister you won’t be surprised, and after just three years’ playing.

One of the most popular open events is the Arklow Cup and this year it moves to a new venue in the Grand Hotel. I think it was played there many years ago. Prizes for all grades on Sunday next at 1.30pm. Entries to Cathal Louth (087-2543120). You see some lunatic results these days, many of them a refusal to defend with a good hand. Here is a good example. Bidding (NS vul)

Watch that vulnerability. Yes, 4S makes — but that foolish North goes for 1,100.