A very happy Christmas from all at the CBAI, and best wishes for 2025. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for bridge. Our offices will be closed from 17:00 on Friday 20 December until 09:30 on Monday 6 January. We will also be closed the afternoon of Thursday 19 December for the staff Christmas lunch. In line with the general trend, we have decided not to send Christmas cards from the office this year; instead we will make a small donation on behalf of the Association to Focus Ireland, which does incredible work on combating homelessness throughout the country, and whose services are needed more now than they have ever been.
After some difficulties with suppliers post-pandemic, we have been able to source a variety of new bridge-themed gifts (mugs, coasters, ice-cube trays, tote bags, napkins, tea-towels, etc) and greeting cards, so our shop will have everything you need for prizes for your club’s Christmas Party or gifts for your bridge friends.
For our senior players (born in 1960 or earlier), a reminder that the closing date for entry for the Teltscher (Senior Camrose) trials is Friday 3 January. Given that the office will be closed, an email to info@cbai.ie will suffice.
Finally, please don’t forget the upcoming CBAI competitions – the Men’s and Women’s Pairs and Teams in Clane on 11/12 January, the second running of the new Confined Regional Masters events in Templeogue on 1/2 February, and the Holmes Wilson in Tullow on 8/9 February. All still open for entry online. Plus of course live congresses in Waterford (3/5 January), Ennis (18/19 January), and Cork (25/26 January), and the Regent Bridge Club will host its annual Wigoder Open Teams on New Year’s Day, and the Cairnduff Open Intermediate Pairs on Sunday 5 January (both over two sessions, with a 13:30 start – all welcome, with pre-entry required, for non-members by email). Plenty of bridge to kick off the new year.
