Meanwhile out in the Green Isle Hotel we are nearing the end of the 2nd session of the Thomas MacCormac Non-Handicapped Pairs. Its a bumper field with many National champions of all ranks.
I am guessing its an event limited to Intermediate A players and upwards.
After session 1 the President himself backed up by the legend in his own mind John Murchan. Murchan is currently on the wane so MacCormac will have his work cut out to finish at the top of the pile. Meanwhile down in the middle regions lies the legendary BJ O'Brien on 51%.
Sean Joyce my neighbour leads up the Intermediate gang at the moment .. 2220 is the time on Saturday night in 18th place.
Newly former partnership William Ronan and Thomas Gilligan found the going tough in the early stages and floundered in the bottom half of the field. However they now have climbed into the top half but lacking the matchpoints skills of the stronger players they will hardly make the top 10 this year.

 1   1 Thomas MacCormac,John Murchan            1930.6 1304.1 (41) 3234.7 60.2  4.9 
  2  12 Aidan Cleary,Ena Cleary                  1790.5 1436.6 (17) 3227.1 60.0  4.8 
  3 141 Pat MacMahon,Pat Ryan                    1928.6 1287.7 (46) 3216.3 59.8  4.7 
  4 101 John Noonan,CarolAnn Cummins             1705.8 1504.8 ( 7) 3210.6 59.7  4.7 
  5 113 Brendan Sheridan,Helen Sheridan          1709.0 1492.4 ( 9) 3201.4 59.6  4.6 
  6  87 Gilda Pender,Hilary McDonagh             1760.1 1440.3 (16) 3200.4 59.5  4.6 
  7  43 Gordon Lessells,Kay Cussen               1774.1 1412.3 (21) 3186.4 59.3  4.5 
  8  72 Richard Elvin,Maria Whelan               1799.6 1366.4 (28) 3166.0 58.9  4.3  

  9 135 Miriam McConville,Paul Porteous          1633.7 1522.7 ( 5) 3156.4 58.7  4.2 
 10 137 Cathy Bearpark,Steve Bearpark            1648.1 1451.7 (14) 3099.9 57.7  3.7 
 11 145 Ann O'Connell,Ann O'Rourke          RM   1619.6 1435.7 (18) 3055.3 56.8  3.3 
 12 148 John Fitzgerald,Mary O'Sullivan     RM   1423.7 1626.0 ( 1) 3049.8 56.7  3.2 
 13 151 Seamus Dowling,John Godden               1573.2 1475.6 (10) 3048.8 56.7  3.2 
 14   4 Jackie Bolster,Sean Joyce           A1   1519.5 1520.8 ( 6) 3040.4 56.6  3.1 
 15  86 Peter Howard,Brian Carroll               1477.3 1559.0 ( 3) 3036.3 56.5  3.1 
 16 158 Helen Holman,Brian O'Farrell             1492.3 1541.0 ( 4) 3033.3 56.4  3.1 
 17 153 Carol Hawkins,Mary Kavanagh         AM   1795.3 1230.3 (60) 3025.6 56.3  3.0 
 18  29 Jimmy Byrne,James Killen            AM   1601.5 1419.1 (19) 3020.6 56.2  3.0 
 19 121 Gerry McKenna,Dermot O'Brien        RM   1491.3 1451.0 (15) 2942.4 54.7  2.3 
 20 142 Maurice Quinn,Mary Kelly-Rodgers         1443.6 1497.8 ( 8) 2941.4 54.7  2.3 
 21  61 Sean O'Lubaigh,Mary Finn                 1912.1 1027.1 (96) 2939.2 54.7  2.2 
 22  84 Fionuala Gill,Valerie Mathers       AM   1456.7 1474.2 (11) 2930.9 54.5  2.2  

107  42 Antoinette Harrison,Mary Campbell   A2   1247.1  978.4 (**) 2225.5 41.4 -4.1 
108  89 Daniel Varley,John Connolly         A1   1022.0 1168.7 (76) 2190.7 40.7 -4.4 
109  49 Margaret Fitzgerald,Bernie Hickey   A2   1136.4 1020.4 (99) 2156.8 40.1 -4.7 
110  24 Betty O'Connell-Jones,Mary Toth     AM   1165.8  949.2 (**) 2114.9 39.3 -5.1 
111 157 Eileen Counihan,Ruth O'Dea          RM   1103.9  992.4 (**) 2096.3 39.0 -5.3 
112  11 Aidan Hodgers,Maurice O'Leary       AM   1125.8  945.6 (**) 2071.4 38.5 -5.5 
113  88 John Davitt,Maureen Davitt          A2   1086.0  866.1 (**) 1952.1 36.3 -6.6 

Meanwhile Arran Bolger and Stephen Barr who are playing bridge all of 13 months have recovered from a rough start to be on 49.5% at the moment in a field containing many players of 30 years experience. 

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Out in Bali tonight Fiona Brown a regular visitor to Ireland attempts to win the Venice Cup in sessions 4 5 6 of the final. Bridge Base Online coverage starts at 3am Irish time. Good luck to Fiona as if there 

is no victory then there will be Grumpyfee and we don't want that. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN9vtNYZ6dA

Above find a link from the Full Tilt website which gives a flavour of Fiona and the Galway Full Tilt Bridge event organised by Thomas Hanlon and helpers.

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Next weekend we will broadcast the Camrose Trials final weekend featuring the Teams shown below

1st Rory Boland, John Carroll, Tommy Garvey, Tom Hanlon, Hugh McGann, Mark Moran 77.1%

2nd Pat Quinn, Dermot Cotter, Cian Holland, Pat Liston, Tom McCarthy, John Russell 67.7%

3rd Enda Glynn, Gay Keaveney, Padraig and , Micheal O'Briain, Derek O'Gorman, Terry Walsh 61.7%

4th John Phelan, Lucy Phelan, Louise Mitchell, Diarmuid Reddan 41.8%

5th Bob Pattinson, Maureen Pattinson, Fred Barry, Kevin Barry 38.0%

6th Martin Brady, Justin Corfield, Stefan Ekman, Norbert van Woerkom 13.7%

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There appears to be a clear message to the 4 man teams ... get two reserves 

Mind you it is probably a Health and Safety issue to play as a 4 man team. 

CBAI should not allow 4 man teams as trials bridge is a severe test and some 

players are getting on a little.

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The Accidental Holdup Mis-click play ..Camrose Trials

Folks
Yesterday due to a slip of the finger I seem to have pulled off a fine play to make 3NT.
Of course it can only happen online as I am not at the stage yet where I use a fingerpad for live play.

Contract was 3NT and I got a favourable Heart lead ..well it looks favourable.

I thought I might finesse the club Queen for an entry to work the diamonds but West slapped up the Jack McGann Style and I misclicked on the club 7. West went another club and I did my original finesse and was disappointed when it lost. A heart came back and I went King to the Ace.

Another Club and I won Ace and ran Diamond Jack losing to King. A spade came and I cashed out for 7 tricks when suddenly Diamond queen fell and I realized clubs were in East the whole time and I had accidently done some kind of holdup play. 

Thats what happens on Wbridge5 sometimes ..

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http://bridgez.net:3002/connexion.html   Play it here .. you got to register for FREE.

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Here we see with BJOBrien on the wane I have added a few stronger challengers.

thebeercard is Paul Gipson and mobrule is Dublins own Michael O'Briain. 

Also the reclusive spartacus has appeared and seems to be a capable player.

Sadly The Great Mulall has given up the ghost due to pressures of work. Jeannief is the leading female player in my group of men. The reclusive rashers ploughs ahead. Marykg seems to be only playing board 1 of each set for some reason. Could it be that she does not know how to find board 2.

The elusive murphyslaw legendary in the Acol Club and recently appearing in Malahide Regional Bridge Club with his partner Jumping Jesus. Even Elvis another recluse makes an appearance on Wbridge5 but prefers the golf. Theres a good blow out today so Elvis should make some long drives as long as he shoots into the breeze. Former partners billpat and patbill still attempt WB5 and the well known Malahide and Regent guiness drinker Maurice Quinn dips in some days. Possibly the Great Mulall is still dabbling but I don't track him these days. The legendary Brendan Conlon from Dundalk has been making regular appearances recently. Anyway thats the story.

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For trialists Paul Gipson is organising matches between Celtic trialists and also some Europeans.

somewhere on his blog .. google Beercard bridge might get it. Find the page and register.

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Meanwhile in CBAI land we had the prelim Camrose Trials. 7 Teams hit the floor and battled off for 4 Final places. Teams led by Pat Quinn John Phelan Martin Brady Fred Barry qualified for the Final stage.

Here they could find the going decidedly more difficult despite what it says on Facebook. 

A trialist mentions he will compete against 5 other strong teams. 

There is also the question of how come I am always watching All Ireland football and hurling finals in Templogue on Camrose Trials weekends. A thought off the top of my head.. The Trials could take place at a Congress venue or at a National or even at the Intermediate weekend. 

Its hotel double bubble on All Ireland weekends.. and Hotel Galligan no longer opens.

Maybe we could start a Box Room for Camrose Trialists plan on All Ireland weekends.

http://www.fob.ie/sites/default/files/7%20team%20schedule%20Camrose%20Trials%202013_2.pdf

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Meanwhile I am noticing fairly well known Irish players pairing up with juniors on BBO. 

I think somebody has started a mentoring program. Johnny Phelan partners madcookie.

I saw Gay Keaveney and Pat Quinn playing against each other with new teenage bridge players.

Seems Thomas McCormac Martin Brady and Karel deRaymaeker are driving this. John Murchan and Ruth Connolly might be involved from the North.

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Tomorrow I will publish how I made another fine contract this morning on Wbridge5. PLay is still live so I won't spoil it.