Congress 2009: July 10th to 12th

Venue: Ramada Hotel, Foxford Rd., Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Ballina Bridge Congress Committee would like to thank the management and staff of the

Ramada Hotel for treating our players so well, and for their most generous sponsorship.

The 33rd annual Ballina Bridge Congress took place in the Ramada Hotel, Ballina from July 10th to 12th 2009. Congress President, Mrs Mary Gilvarry, welcomed everybody to the Congress, and expressed the wish that all would have an enjoyable weekend. The Mayor of Ballina, Cllr. Mary Kelly, welcomed the large gathering of card-players to the town and wished them well in the tournaments. Mrs Mary Kelly Rogers, President of the CBAI, stated that she was honoured to be among so many friends before declaring Ballina Bridge Congress 2009 officially open.

FRIDAY COMPETITIONS

MIXED PAIRS

Fifty six pairs competed for the Kane Perpetual Trophy and prizes in the Mixed Pairs on Friday night, with three pairs finishing above 64%. Jim O'Sullivan and Mary McClenaghan (Donegal) were declared the winners with Helen and Brendan Sheridan taking 2nd place by a nose before Sandra and John McGinley (Donegal). Kathleen Kelly - Robert Murphy (Best Intermediate); Helena and Gerard Moran (Best North West Region) and Rita Lundun - Richie Conway (Best Mayo)

FRIDAY OPEN PAIRS

Forty-six pairs competed in the Open Pairs tournament on Friday night, with Ann McGuckin/Teresa Breslin finishing in 1st place N/S and Bridget Shearman/Bridie Hand 1st E/W. TDs: John and Breda Mulkearns

Friday Open Pairs -Top 8 Results

SATURDAY COMPETITIONS

CONGRESS PAIRS

Fifty-six pairs competed for the John Lowry Trophy in the Congress Pairs on Saturday afternoon and evening, over two sessions. The winners, from Galway, were: Mai O'Sullivan/Imelda Murphy, with B. J. O'Brien/Eamon Galligan (Dublin) in 2nd place ahead of Connell McLoone/Anna Carr (Donegal). TDs: Fearghal O'Boyle and Mairéad Basquille

Saturday Congress Pairs - Top 40 Results			TDs: Fearghal O'Boyle and Mairéad Basquille
Rank	Names	%	Congress Pairs winners 2009 Mary Gilvarry, President Ballina Bridge Congress 09, Mary Kelly Rogers, President CBAI, with Mai O'Sullivan and Imelda Murphy
1	Mai O'Sullivan - Imelda Murphy (AM)	59.10
2	B J O'Brien - Eamon Galligan	58.59
3	Connell McLoone - Anna Carr	58.04
4	Geoff Simpson - Milosz Brozek	57.87
5	Grainne Dunne - Gerry Kelly (Session 1)	56.91
6	Bernie Finan - Liam Hanratty (Best AM)	56.72
7	Tim Summerfield - Frances Walkin (Best Mayo)	56.26
8	Gerry Lawlor - Maura Lawlor (AM)	56.15
9	Seamus Dowling - John Godden	55.68
10	Patsy Gibney - Steve Bearpark (Session 2)	55.64
11	John McNally - Joe Coyne	55.27
12	Paul O'Reilly - Lizann Doyle	54.28
13	Aidan Cleary - Ena Cleary	54.08
14	Cathy Bearpark - Carmel Higgins	53.92	Mary Gilvarry, President Ballina Bridge Congress 09, Mary Kelly Rogers, President CBAI, and Eamon Galligan
15	J.C. Boyle - Paschal Buckley	53.75
16	Bob Pattinson - Maureen Pattinson	53.67
17	Thomas McCormac - Ronan McMaugh	53.51
18	Anne Fitzpatrick - Mary Madden	53.49
19	Helen Sheridan - Brendan Sheridan	53.31
20	Marguerite Kilfeather - Fr Tom Woods (Best Region)	52.64
21	John Fitzgerald - Mary O'Sullivan	52.58
22	John McClenaghan - Margaret Farren	52.19
23	Drew Lindsay - May Brennan	52.12
24	Stephen Cairns - Ann Cairns	51.94
25	Sandra McGinley - Cass O'Donnell	51.79
26	Marion Donlon - Anne Davey (AM)	50.71
27	Vincent Brennan - Mary Brennan	50.34
28	Danny McBrearty - Paddy Dynes	50.23
29	Anthony Kilcullen - Joan Madden	49.98
30	Robert Murphy - Kathleen Kelly (AM)	48.98	Mary Gilvarry, President Ballina Bridge Congress 09, Mary Kelly Rogers, President CBAI, with Anna Carr and Connell McLoone
31	Jim O'Sullivan - Mary McClenaghan	48.65
32	Martin Hayes - Ann Bradshaw	48.24
33	Hugh Burns - Ann Burns	48.16
34	Alan Hill - Heather Hill	48.13
35	Pat Bergin - Anne Bergin	47.82
36	John McGinley - Jimmy Gallagher	47.48
37	Jack McLaughlin - Tony McDermott	47.10
38	Mary Crowe - Mary Hall (AM)	46.89
39	John Macdonald - Graham Laird	46.87
40	Eileen Dodd - Anita Murphy	46.81
Mary Gilvarry, President Ballina Bridge Congress 09, Mary Kelly Rogers, President CBAI, with Bernie Finan and Liam Hanratty			Mary Gilvarry, President Ballina Bridge Congress 09, Mary Kelly Rogers, President CBAI, with Fr. Woods and Marguerite Kilfeather

COMPETITION FOR BEGINNERS

This competition, which was run on a trial basis, attracted pairs from Claremorris, Castlebar, Enniscrone and Ballina. Entry was restricted to Beginners in the North Western Region of CBAI, and these were registered for the competition through their mentors. Before the competition started, the group was addressed by Mary Kelly Rogers, President CBAI, and she expressed her delight at the initiative for those starting out to learn Bridge. Her words were most encouraging and she wished everybody many years of enjoyable Bridge.  Ballina Bridge Congress would like to acknowledge the support of Paul Waldron (Claremorris), Kay Stewart (Castlebar), Anne Freeman (Enniscrone) and Vincent McMahon (Ballina) for this competition. Players wishing to enter this competition in future years should contact these or other Bridge Teachers in the Region. Sligo players: Anne Freeman or Fearghal O'Boyle; Leitrim players: Delia Meehan; Roscommon players: Larry Shine. TDs: John and Breda Mulkearns

Saturday Afternoon Beginners Pairs -Top 8 Results

INTERMEDIATE PAIRS

This competition attracted 46 pairs and was won by Michael Mullooly/Eva Mullooly. John O'Keefe/Margaret Mulcahy finished in 2nd place with Hugh McTigue/Pat Keary in 3rd. TDs: Fearghal O'Boyle and Mairéad Basquille

SATURDAY AFTERNOON OPEN PAIRS

Twenty-eight pairs competed in the Open Pairs tournament on Saturday afternoon, with Eileen Scott/Mary Browne finishing in 1st place; Mary Daly/Mairéad Maughan in 2nd and Ann McGuckin/Teresa Breslin in 3rd. TDs: John and Breda Mulkearns

Saturday Afternoon Open Pairs -Top 15 Results

SATURDAY EVENING OPEN PAIRS

Thirty-seven pairs competed in the Open Pairs tournament on Saturday evening, with Eileen Scott/Mary Browne finishing in 1st place; Mary Daly/Mairéad Maughan in 2nd and Ann McGuckin/Teresa Breslin in 3rd. TDs: John and Breda Mulkearns

Saturday Evening Open Pairs -Top 8 Results

???? SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING ????

Entertainment was provided on Saturday night in the main ballroom where some long-lost talent burst forth from many who believe there's more to life than a game of cards!

On Sunday morning, a reception was held following 10.00 a.m. Mass in the hotel, read by Fr. Seamus Heverin

SUNDAY COMPETITIONS

CONGRESS AND INTERMEDIATE TEAMS

Twenty-eight teams competed for the Ballina Beverages/Coca Cola sponsored Team of Four competition. The usual list of big names showed on the screen, with the cream gradually rising to the top, and the winners this year came to Ballina with the President, CBAI, Mary Kelly Rogers. They left with the top prize, and were very popular winners in a Swiss tournament that ran very smoothly under TDs: Fearghal O'Boyle and Mairéad Basquille.

SUNDAY MORNING OPEN PAIRS

Thirty pairs played in the Open Pairs on Sunday morning and Gerry and Maura Hegarty romped home on 67%  ahead of Anne Walshe and Maura Kilcoyne on just under 60%. Ann McGuckin/Teresa Breslin and Kathleen O'Reilly/Angela Riville tied for 3rd place.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON OPEN PAIRS

Twenty-eight pairs competed in the Open Pairs tournament on Sunday afternoon. North/South winners: Mary Timoney/Mary Brady finin 1st place; Catherine Leavey/Helen Collins in 2nd and Kathleen O'Reilly/Angela Riville in 3rd. East/West: Bridie Manion/Joe Finn in 1st place; Kathleen McCay/Joan Madden in 2nd place and Rose Higgins/Nancy McKnight in 3rd TDs: John and Breda Mulkearns.

THE VENUE

The venue for the Congress was the newly built Ramada Hotel and it proved to be an ideal location and venue for Bridge. The staff spared no effort to ensure a great weekend was had by their guests.

BEHIND THE SCENES

No Bridge Congress can be a success without the assistance of those working quietly behind the scenes, especially in the area of getting sponsorship and taking entries. One could say that taking entries is straightforward, but it is not as simple as it sounds because pairing sometimes has to take place, and if it doesn't work out, there's nowhere to hide. "Where's the hand you held during the auction, Partner?" has been quoted by a stunned Declarer (playing with a strange partner) on seeing Dummy for the first time, or the one-word, "Amazing!" stated with a cutting tone, eyes out on stalks, in a like situation. Full credit to Ann Freeman, Congress Secretary and Josie Cawley, Entries Secretary for the manner in which they discharge their duties. Betty Gormley is an able Treasurer and manages the finances to the last cent. What can we say about Anthony Kilcullen? Anthony's organisational skills are phenomenal and his enthusiasm is matched by very few, if at all, in any other organisation. Preparing a hall for a Bridge Congress is a major task but the job gets done, without any fuss, thanks to Anthony. Gerard Moran, John Mulkearns and Vincent McMahon worked under Anthony's stewardship this year and it would be fair to say that they all worked very well together. Fearghal O'Boyle and Mairéad Basquille work like a dream partnership at tournament directing, while John and Breda Mulkearns direct the Open Pairs without a glimmer of dissent from anybody. It's probably that all four have such disarming smiles as well as having the skills and knowledge for the task.

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