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Ballina Bridge Congress 2016 Report President: Richard White, Vice-President: Huey Daly, Treasurer: Mary Gilvarry, |
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Hotel Ballina is a welcome sponsor of our Congress
Please support our sponsors
Hotel Ballina is a welcome sponsor of our Congress
Please support our sponsors |
| Hotel Ballina | Ballina Beverages (Coca Cola) | Cahill Trautt & Co Accountants | Connollys Audi Ballina | McGowan's Funeral Directors | Moloney's Supervalue |
| O'Hara's Bakery | Pat Kelly Autopoint | The Merry Monk Bar and Restaurant | Mayo County Council | Hollister ULC | Melvin Financial Services | Topline Archers |
A special word of thanks to Kane Bridge Club, Ballina, and the Yeats Country Congress Ctte. for sharing equipment for the congress.
Congress report 2016
Ballina Bridge Congress celebrated its ruby anniversary in 2016. This well attended 40th was held in Great National Hotel Ballina from July 10th - 12th and was celebrated with a wine reception before the opening speeches.
In his opening speech the Congress President, Richard White, welcomed everyone to the 40th Ballina Congress and mentioned how proud the Ballina Bridge Club is of this fantastic achievement. He welcomed Mr Pat Duff National President, Mr Colm Gallagher Regional President and Special Guests Aidan Cleary and Betty Gormley. Aidan was our first Congress President and Betty has served on every committee over the years, as well as serving as Congress President twice. Richard thanked all of the congress sponsors and expressed gratitude to the Sligo Bridge Clubs and the Kane Club for the use of their tables and equipment. There was a special mention for the late Mrs Margot McClure who celebrated her 99th birthday here with us last year. Richard paid tribute to the hard working Congress Committee for all of their time and effort in organising this 40th congress.
There were 23 tables in the Mixed Pairs on Friday night, 28 in the Congress pairs on Saturday and 29 in Intermediate Pairs on Saturday, and 28 in Congress Teams on Sunday as well as 14 tables for Intermediate Teams. The Gala Open Pairs attracted 28 tables on Friday night. There were 13 tables for Open Pairs on Saturday afternoon and 12 later on in the evening. There were not enough entries for a separate Novice competition on Saturday afternoon but the 2.5 tables that arrived were happy to play in the Open Pairs, with prizes for best Novice in the N/S and E/W sections. Sunday morning had 10 tables in Open Pairs and 4.5 tables for the afternoon.
The 2016 Congress was a great success and a very enjoyable occasion for all of the bridge players. This was made all the more so by the excellent venue and the service provided by the hotel management and staff. It was run very smoothly by Fearghal, Mairead, Huey, John and Breeda. On Saturday a free raffle was held for 2 Nights B&B for two people (presented by Great National Hotel Ballina), wine and a variety of cakes presented by O’Hara’s Bakery, Foxford. On the Sunday afternoon hand-made chocolates (made by Moy Chocolates) were distributed to all players and this was received very well by everyone. Thomas MacCormac's Bridge Workshop on Saturday morning was a huge success and will be a regular feature of our future congresses. Those who wish to avail of Thomas' skills for congresses or other events should call 086 3859953 or email: tmaccormac@gmail.com.
Sincere thanks to Fr. Joe Cahill for reading mass in the hotel on Sunday morning. It is a feature of congresses in Ireland for many years that this is done and is very much appreciated by Bridge players. Coffee, tea and biscuits (compliments of the hotel) as well as Coca Cola and River Rock (sponsored by Ballina Beverages Coca Cola )were enjoyed after mass in the hotel library area: treats most welcome.
In his closing speech, Mr. Pat Duff, President CBAI, complimented the Congress Committee on their high standards and for an extremely well-organized and well-run Congress. Tournament Directors Fearghal O'Boyle, Mairéad Basquille, Huey Daly and John and Breeda Mulkearns received special mention also. He complimented Róisín and her staff on the high standards in the hotel and wished Ballina Bridge Congress the best for future years.
CONGRESS WINNERS 2016
| Mixed Pairs | Congress Pairs | Intermediate Pairs | Congress Teams | Intermediate Teams |
| Gala Pairs | Open Pairs Sat at 2 | Open Pairs Sat at 7.30 | Open Pairs Sun at 11 | Open Pairs Sun at 3 |
| Best Novice North/South Sat at 2 pm |
Kathleen Sweeney and Oonagh Redmond |
| Best Novice East/West Sat at 2 pm | Owen Clancy and Gerry Gannon |
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Winners Gala Open Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Pat Colleran and Anne Gavigan (Wnrs)
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Runners-Up Gala Open Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Pul Waldron and Mary Walshe (Wnrs) |
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3rd Gala Open Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Maureen Kearns and Barbara Ferguson |
5th Gala Open Pairs Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Mary Jo Kelly and Lil Keane |
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Winners Mixed Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Ronan McMaugh and Maria Whelan (Winners) |
Runners-Up Mixed Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Sadie Craig and Jimmy Gallagher (Winners) |
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Winners Novice Pairs 2016 N/S President Richard White, Kathleen Sweeney and Oonagh Redmond and Huey Daly TD |
Winners Novice Pairs 2016 E/W President Richard White, Owen Clancy, Gerry Gannon (Wnrs) and Huey Daly TD |
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Winners Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Cass O'Donnell and Martin Garvey |
Runners-Up Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Vincent and Mary Brennan |
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3rd Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Mary O'Gorman and Frank Davey |
4th Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Hugh McGann and Fiona Browne |
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Best Area Master Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Máirín Uí Ruanaí and Anna McKiernan |
1st Session Winners Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Anne Keating and Frances Kelly |
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2nd Session Winners Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Jim O'Sullivan and Anna Carr |
Best Region Congress Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Mary Gilvarry, and Gerry Scanlon (Wnr with Tim Summerfield) |
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Winners Intermediate Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Ann Leonard and Colm Gallagher
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Runners-Up Intermediate Pairs 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Ann and Lisa Part |
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Intermediate Pairs 2016 3rd with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Mairéad Haugh, Michelle Moloney (Wnrs) and Mary O'Dowd |
Intermediate Pairs 2016 4th with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Betty O'Loughlin and Paddy Doran |
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Intermediate Pairs 2016 1st Session Wnrs with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Frank Gillen and Jim Smith (Wnrs) and Gerry Scanlon |
Intermediate Pairs 2016 2nd Session Wnrs with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Liam and Úna Flynn |
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Intermediate Pairs 2016 Best Inter B with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Rick and Geraldine Crowe |
BALLINA BRIDGE CONGRESS 2017 7th - 9th July in Great National Hotel Ballina |
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Congress Teams Winners 2016 with National President Pat Duff Mary Gilvarry (Treasurer), Richard Elvin (Wnr.) President Richard White, Justin Corfield, Norbert Van Woerkom and BJ O'Brien (Wnrs.) |
Congress Teams Runners-Up 2016 with National President Pat Duff Mary Gilvarry (Treasurer), President Richard White, Marcin Rudzinski and Wojciech Gorczyca. Absent: Thomas MacCormac and Ronan McMaugh |
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Congress Teams 3rd 2016 President Richard White, Fearghal O'Boyle TD, Frank Davey, Tom Lawlor, Mary O'Gorman and Pat Duff (Wnrs.) |
Tournament Directors Fearghal O'Boyle, Mairéad Basquille and Huey Daly |
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Intermediate Teams Winners 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Fergus Raferty, Kate Daultrey, Mairéad Haugh and Michelle Moloney |
Intermediate Teams Runners-Up 2016 with National President Pat Duff President Richard White, Pat Colleran, Helena Moran, Anne Gavigan and Jo Moran |
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Intermediate Teams 3rd 2016 with National President Pat Duff John Cameron, President Richard White, Paddy Doran, Michael McIlroy and Betty O'Loughlin |
CONGRESS SPONSORS Ballina Beverages/Coca-Cola http://coca-cola.ie Cahill Trautt & Co. Accountants 096-22104 http://www.cahilltrautt.com/ ConnollysAudi Ballina 096-79000 http://www.connollys.ie/ Hollister ULC, Ballina https://www.hollister.com/ HOTEL BALLINA 096-23600 http://hotelballina.ie/ Mayo County Council 094-9024444 http://www.mayococo.ie/en/ Moloney's Supervalue 096-24644 http://www.storelocate.ie/supervalu/ballina.html McGowan’s Funeral Directors 096-70669 http://www.ballinafuneralhome.ie/ Melvin Financial Services 096-70244 http://www.melvinfinancialservices.com/ O'Hara's Bakery 094-9256114 http://www.oharasoffoxford.com/ Pat Kelly Autopoint 096-22033 http://ballina.patkellyautopoint.com/ The Merry Monk Bar and Restaurant 096-73990 http://tinyurl.com/gv6yocr Topline Archers 096-72777 http://www.toplinearchers.ie/ |
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Photo taken moments before the launch of Ballina Bridge Congress 2016 President Richard White, National President Pat Duff, Congress founding members Aidan Cleary and Betty Gormley, Regional President Colm Gallagher, Congress Secretary Vincent McMahon and Congress Treasurer/Master Points Secretary Mary Gilvarry |
