The CBAI’s Holmes Wilson Trophy (National Open Teams Championship) competition was held over the weekend of 8/9 February in the Mount Wolseley Hotel in Tullow. There was a capacity entry of 123 teams, which would appear to be a record, certainly in the recent past. Our thanks to all who participated, and to our sponsors of this event AL Homecare.
The prizewinners were:
- 1st Matthew O’Farrell, Tommy Garvey, Dan McIntosh, Peter Goodman
- 2nd Mark Moran, Tom Hanlon, Adam Mesbur, Nick FitzGibbon
- 3rd Karel De Raeymaeker, Anna Onishuk, Kelan O’Connor, Conor Boland
- 4th Mairead Haugh, Justin Corfield, Roisin De Jong, Claudiu Dima
- 5th John Carroll, Anne-Marie Horan-Carroll, Gilda Pender, Hilary McDonagh
- 6th Paul Porteous, Fred Barry, Miriam McConville, Cecilia Billiet
- 7th Tom McCarthy, Tim Gauld, Alex Gauld, Angus Simpson
- Leading Men’s Team Gay Keaveney, Enda Glynn, Ciarán Coyne, David Walsh
- Leading Women’s Team Louise Mitchell, Lucy Phelan, Ann O’Connell, Valarie Burke-Moran
- Leading Mixed Team Frances Ronan, Pat Cassidy, Pascale Wolfe, Billy Ronan
- Leading Senior Team Liam Maher, Ita Fahy, Mary Lindopp, John Kelly
- Leading National Masters Pat Breslin, Peggy Holden, Rosaleen Glasheen, Neil Breheny
- Leading Regional Masters Melissa Brady, Anna Shalvey, Josephine Brady, Frances Daly
- Leading Area Masters Linda Garland, Patricia Brennan, Rosaleen Mooney, Anna Murray
- Leading Intermediates Ciara O’Leary, Stephanie Browne, Claire Counihan, Liam Hanrahan
- Second National Masters Steve Bearpark, LizAnn Doyle, Breda Synnott, Kevin O’Dea
- Second Regional Masters Anne-Marie Heavey, John Reilly, Michael McInerney, Seamus Bradley
- Second Area Masters Pawel Turczynowicz, Maurice Brosnan, Trevor Murphy, Jason Doyle
- Second Intermediates Bernadette Dowling, Maria Rossi, Theresa O’Connell, Dolores Rossi
- First Session Prize Denis Mortell, Hugh MacDermott, Finian O’Donoghue, Jim MacAndrew
- Second Session Prize John Flavin, Edward Spain, Thomas MacCormac, Peter Pigot
- Third Session Prize Gordon Lessells, Dermot O’Brien, Anne Keating, Frances Kelly
The champions had a comfortable win, with victory assured with one round to play. This represents a first national title for junior international Matthew O’Farrell (who will represent us in the Junior Camrose in Wales this weekend), and a welcome return to the Irish bridge arena for Tommy Garvey, who has not appeared in our competitions in recent years. Full results with board records here. Masterpointed results
Holmes Wilson Winners 2025
Holmes Wilson Runners Up 2025
Holmes Wilson 3rd Place 2025
Many thanks to our TD crew of Fearghal O’Boyle, Mairead Basquille, Huey Daly, John Crimmins, John Phelan, John Royds, and Bernard Higgins who ensured the competition went off without a hitch. Thanks also to the hotel, which provides an excellent and very popular venue, and dealt very efficiently with the increased participant numbers.
We also took the opportunity at the weekend to present John Noonan with his Grand Master’s salver, in recognition of his recent elevation to the highest rank in Irish bridge. Many congratulations once again, John.
Grand Master John Noonan