Many congratulations to Carol-Ann Cummins and Pat Quinn, who recently joined the other thirty-two living players in achieving the highest ranking within Irish bridge, that of grand master.
Carol-Ann, from Bray Bridge Club, becomes only the sixth woman in this exclusive group following her recent win with John Noonan in the Moylan Cup. It’s nearly forty years since she started playing in Cabinteely Bridge Club, and her long-standing bridge partnership with John goes back exactly thirty years to 1992. Their first win in a national event came in the Lambert Cup in 1995. It was the first in a long roll call of victories in CBAI “majors”, many with John (including the 2008 and 2009 Davidsons) and others with female partners, notably Sandra Newell. She has won all the CBAI majors and has finished runner-up in the women’s pairs more than once. Team successes have included four inter-provincial titles and the Holmes-Wilson when John and herself teamed up with Pat McDaid and Connell McClune.
She has also represented us internationally on many occasions. She made her international debut in the Lady Milne Trophy in 2001, playing with Mamie MacCormac, and had the achievement of finishing 14th in the European women’s pairs in Budapest in 2016 in partnership with Sandra. She will be doing battle for us this weekend in the Lady Milne Trophy in Wales, with the same partner.
Away from the table, Carol-Ann is a key element in the lives of her four children and five grandchildren. Her guests say she’s a terrific cook and she herself says she’s happiest in a nice restaurant with her favourite people – and someone opening good wine.
Pat was born and bred in Clarecastle, just outside Ennis, where he still lives. He came from a strong card-playing family, and his earliest recollection of cards is being told by his parents to sit in as a fourth for a game of solo, “and don’t make any mistakes!” Clearly, the early advice stood him in good stead. He took up bridge in the mid-1970s, attending classes given by Paul Barrett.
From these beginnings, he has gone on to achieve great success in the game. His major titles include the Master Pairs, in partnership with long-standing partner Donal Garvey, the Holmes Wilson, the Kelburne, and the Burke Trophy. Pat’s other notable partnerships include those with Des Houlihan, Cian Holland, and Pat Liston, with whom he won his international cap in the Teltscher Trophy in 2013 in Wales.
Reflecting on a lifetime spent in bridge, Pat recalled the pleasure the game has given him, especially in the people he had met and the places he had visited. He also felt that bridge has taught him an important lesson that has been a significant influence on his life – to be able “to play the hand you were dealt”.
We are sure you will join us in congratulating both Carol-Ann and Pat on their achievement, and we look forward to presenting them with their grandmaster’s salver at the next major competition … probably next season, unfortunately, at this stage. Very well done to them both!