I found Hugh McGann on a podcast today.

Today while nosing around the google I found our very own Hugh McGann.

Some NZbridge podcast

In this week's episode Bruce and Jane catch up with Brett Glass, one half of the winning Babich NZ Wide pairs partnership. Hugh McGann, Irish International player and newest Hamilton Bridge Club member also joins the show and Ed Roggeveen from Blenheim talks about plans for tournaments in Top of the South.

THE BRIDGE ZONE takes you to the broadcast.

I fully understand Irish bridge players are lazy and unlikely to even listen to this. 

However a small amount of effort will get you to a 10 minute piece of radio where McGann talks.

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Meanwhile the inaugural Irish Mixed Bridge Team is winding down their attempt at qualifying for the World Mixed Teams championships. They are not making it and are currently taking a good hiding from the low table Greek bridge team. the score is 0-34 after 9 boards. However Ireland have plus scores on boards 10 and 11 but so have many other NS pairs so no more than a small gain is possible. 

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Meanwhile I have branched out in the challenges on Bridgebase. I have offered to thrash Kilkenny youngsters under the tutelage of the famous Margaret Murphy school of bridge. 

Currently its Eamon 1 Kilkenny 0 

I hope to make 10 in a row of 8 board challenges  

The legendary Donal MacAongusa rolls back the years and storms Lederer

World champions English champions European champions were scattered all over the RAC club in London as Donal MacAonghusa rolled back the years and tackled the world reknowned Lederer bridge event. Donal and his 3 Irish team mates placed a very credible 2nd place in the high class Lederer trophy held this weekend in the RAC club.

I noted last week that the dress code for the venue was quite nice

 Very posh. A 2004 low slung automobile might not be allowed in the parking garage.

Any yes Team Ireland placed 2nd ...Donal Mark Moran John Carroll and Thomas Hanlon the bridge player. I think 2 of them went to the same secondary school. 

I think only about 8 Irish players have won the Lederer Trophy and its much tougher these days.

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Meanwhile the Irish Mixed team is tacking its was through some heavy storms out in Portugal. 

Happily some opponents bid a 7NT and we got it down and on same board holding 33 high card points our other half managed to put the brakes on in 4NT. No slam made and the Irish gained 13 imps. I need to learn that system. They even owned every first and 2nd round control in the deck. 

Cavendish 2019 and some videos

Today the Cavendish Pairs 2019 the best known pairs bridge event outside of the World and European championships started. Nearly all pairs are well known professional bridge players.
Our own John Carroll and Thomas Hanlon are taking part. Currently lying in 47th place of 65 pairs.
One wonders why the organizers did not come up with an even number of pairs. Probably no big deal in a large event like this to have a sitout. After all we have sitouts every night in our clubs.

Meanwhile this morning I played my latest challenge against Blanchman.
This man fancies himself as a bridge player but he has a little to learn yet to reach A1 level

Galligan v Blanchman

Having finished off Blanchman one wandered around BBO and spotted a short 5 board challenge from Malswan. Now Malswan is a very decent opponent and plays for the Irish junior team so it
will be hard to win. However the plan was to play these 5 boards and then record a little screen of the
live Cavendish in running scores in case someone might want to find the website and watch.

Galligan loses to Malswan and Cavendish

Meanwhile this week we have the CBAI Simultaneous Pairs.
Same deals played on same night in various clubs across Ireland.

www.simpairs.com

The link above should get you to the results pages.
Even if you did not play you can find the hands and booklet here.

Finally don't forget Mark Knopfler is a fine guitarist and Emmylou Harris can sing

Knopfler and Harris