Bridge notes
Grand Slam Bridge Club
Last Wednesday many hands dealt were good examples of contracts that could only be made if the declarer guessed correctly which opponent had the all important missing high card. This strategy is usually only a 50-50 chance of pulling off a finesse successfully. Taking the chance should be delayed as long as possible to glean any possible inkling from the play which opponent holds the key missing card. Many experienced players pulled off their contracts by making the right choice of hand to finesse.
The deals this week were not as exciting as the previous week but still gave many players good challenges in bidding correctly and playing the hands well. There were no Grand Slam bids but a few small slams aiming to win 12 of the 13 tricks were bid. Some made and some went off.
The competition was a ‘Mitchell’ movement made up of eleven seated pairs and eleven moving pairs.
There was a tie for first place in the moving pairs, Mairead Fallon and Michael Ryan shared with Michael and Nell O’Gorman. In third place were Eithne Smith and Catherine King only a few pips ahead of the Eastern Regional President for this year, Edward Kilcoyne and Marie-Therese O’Sullivan.
Among the pairs who remained seated, the winning pair were Statia Hagan and Joan Madden. They showed a clean pair of heels to second placed Maura Kavanagh and Phil Lalor, who were just a single point ahead of Marian O’Sullivan and Anthea Goodbody. They were followed by Ann McCarthy and Billy Dunne.
On Sunday last, the club was represented by two pairs of its members at the President’s Prize competition in Greystones Bridge Centre. More next week.
Last week it was reported that the club had sent a financial contribution to the Kenyan family to assist their eldest son, Edwin, with his first year University fees for Computer Sciencedegree.
In an email, his father Kazungu, who accompanied Edwin on his nine-hour bus trip to Kericho for registration day on May 15, said the experience was ‘one of the best days in my life! Watching my son going through the registration process to study for a degree in Computer Science.’
Admitting that he ‘shed a tear’, Kazungu said ‘this whole process to me is a milestone and a great achievement.’
He sent heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with the bridge club who have helped make this dream come true.
‘All I can easily say and from the deepest part of my heart: “thank you and may God bless you.”’
002 Bridge Club
Friday, May 12, was the end of season prize-giving morning and saw Paddy O Brien take the coveted first place, Monica Brady was second, third went to Gertie Fee, fourth to Marian Davies and sharing fifth were Margaret Bolger and Noeleen Redmond. Gaye and Triona thanked all members for another great season of bridge and for the wonderful gifts that were presented to them from the members of both clubs. Club officials would like to wish all, hopefully, a sunny summer and see you all again on September 8 for another wonderful year of bridge.
Diamond Bridge Club
Monday, May 15, was prize giving night and Paddy O’Brien nearly made it a double but was just pipped at the post by overall winner Brid Clancy. Phil Power took third place, fourth went to Monica Brady and Teresa Leahy was fifth. Club officials would like take this opportunity to thank everyone, visitors and members alike, for their support of the benefit night on Monday, May 8. A total of €1,000 was raised and North/ South winners were Rowena Brady and Maria Magee, with Linda Saunders and Phil Fox in second and Dorothy Johnson and Brigid Timmons in third. The victors for East/West were Catherine McGillycuddy and Brid Clancy, followed by Ger Lenihan and Paddy O Brien in second and Judy Skates and Rory Egan in third.
Congratulations also to Paddy and Ger and Jackie Deveraux and Marie-Therese O Sullivan who bid and made a Grand Slam on the night. Gaye and Triona thanked all for a very successful bridge season and look forward to welcoming all back, hopefully after a sizzling summer, on the September 4 for the 2017/18 season.