News Items - May 17th 2012
A lot of news to catch up on. The headlines are as follows:
Result of the President's Prize competition
The President's Dinner and AGM
Dates for return to bridge
Withdrawal symptoms and remedies (including Sligo, Citywest and Longford Golf Club)
Result of the President's Prize competition
A super entry of 68 members took part in this years President's Prize competition.
A great turnout to give support to our very popular out-going President, John Nugent.
The competition was efficiently run and scored, as always, by Peter Connolly.
A beautiful antique clock, engraved for the winner, was presented by John to Joe Donohoe who had held on to his first session lead to scoop first place overall.
This was a fine performance by Joe who made an eloquent speech in acceptance of this coveted prize.
Top 30 places were as follows:
| Rank |
Player |
Score |
| 1. |
Joe Donohoe |
63.1% |
| 2. |
Eileen Watts |
60.7% |
| 3. |
Finbar Murphy |
57.7% |
| 4. |
John Godden |
56.3% |
| 5. |
Patricia Dervan |
55.7% |
| 6. |
Geraldine Murphy |
55.5% |
| 7. |
Mary McGreal |
55.1% |
| 8. |
Tim Grier |
54.9% |
| =9. |
Vincent Brennan |
54.6% |
| =9. |
Mary Redmond |
54.6% |
| =9. |
Margaret Gillen |
54.6% |
| 12. |
Rita Farrell (Session 2 winner) |
54.3% |
| =13. |
Michael Lennon |
54.0% |
| =13. |
Mary Brennan |
54.0% |
| =15. |
John Kiernan |
53.4% |
| =15. |
Gerry Murtagh |
53.4% |
| 17. |
Frank Kenny |
53.1% |
| =18. |
Pat Finnerty (Session 1 winner) |
53.0% |
| =18. |
Phyllis Meally |
53.0% |
| 20. |
Pauline Egan |
52.8% |
| 21. |
Kathleen Branigan |
52.7% |
| 22. |
Essie Nugent |
52.2% |
| 23. |
Joan Browne |
51.9% |
| 24. |
Liam Farrell |
51.8% |
| =25. |
Eileen O'Reilly |
51.0% |
| =25. |
Angela Dockery |
51.0% |
| 27. |
Joe Hunt |
50.9% |
| =28. |
Frank Mealy |
50.6% |
| =28. |
Joan Donnellan |
50.6% |
| 30. |
Phyllis Wilson |
50.4% |
Prizes went down to 11th place and then two sessional prizes.
Our thanks go to those players who sat in on each of the two sessions to ensure that we had the required 'prime' number of tables.
Anybody not included above, including SIX MASTER PLAYERS, who wish to know their finishing places may do so by contacting me by email or anonymously by telephone!
Moving on..........
The President's Dinner and AGM
A brilliant night starting with an excellent meal prepared by the staff at Slashers GAA Club.
The meal was followed by the presentation of prizes for all club 'major' competitions throughout the 2011/2012 season.
This was efficiently carried out by John Nugent, Joe Hunt and Matt O'Brien.
Many photographs were taken of the event which I would hope to have on our Gallery page in the not too distant future.
We then moved on to the AGM.
At the last minute, I was asked to give a summary report of how the Club had progressed in the past year.
I summarised by telling of our growth in membership and strength in competing in National and Congress events.
How the Tournament Director's Course in January had 'thrown up' otherwise undiscovered talent, notably John Nugent.
Nine others attended the course which was held over a 2 hour period, just sufficiently long enough to give a general synopsis.
How Tomasz Grzybowski had put so much of his personal time in to ensuring that tables were in place and bidding boxes distributed and opened at each table before play commenced each Wednesday, whether he was playing that night OR NOT!
Finally I was glad to give the origins of The Anna McDonagh Cup to be awarded each year to the Longford County Team Champions which was fittingly won this year by her long-time friend, Kathleen Mimnagh together with Pat Farrell and Peter & Martha Duignan.
The AGM 'proper' then followed with last year's minutes and the Honorary Secretary's report delivered by Joe Hunt.
Obviously I have been missing for several weeks this year, but was stunned to hear from Matt O'Brien, whilst delivering his Treasurer's Report, that one item of expenditure listed was detailed as a lap-dancer for the sum of €500.00.
That must have been quite some occasion that many of us, including myself, obviously missed.
Was this a spot-prize or something?.
John Nugent delivered a very personal insight of his year as President which, as ever, was sprinkled with a lot of light-hearted humour before introducing the incoming President, Mary Redmond.
Mary also introduced her new Vice-President, Beatrice McDermott.
Thankfully, Joe Hunt stays on as Secretary for another year, but Matt O'Brien has stood down after five years as Treasurer.
Kathleen Mimnagh has now taken over control of the purse-strings and I suspect we shall not be getting a lap-dancer this year!
Mary Shannon will be providing support as Assistant Treasurer.
For my sins, I will continue to try and fulfill the role of P.R.O. and Tournament Director, although I will hopefully delegate the later to the capable hands of Margaret Larkin and John Nugent as often as possible.
Mary Shannon will be providing support as Assistant Treasurer.
In her absence on the night, Angela Dockery was again nominated to the position of Competitions Secretary which she has occupied so efiiciently for the past couple of years.
Little change to last year's committee members which included Margaret Larkin, John Kiernan, Tomasz Grzybowski, Ray Masterson and Beatrice McDermott (automatically elected as Vice-President).
Two new committee members are Frank Kenny and Geraldine Murphy.
I confidently look forward to working with this team.
Dates for return to bridge
Take out your diaries.
Other than Christmas, Easter, your birthday and wedding anniversary (if applicable), the most important date to note in your diary is that of returning to bridge on Wednesday, 5th September.
Withdrawal symptoms and remedies
After a short time away from playing bridge, I tend to get severe withdrawal symptoms.
I start counting cards in order to get to sleep at night.
It used to be sheep before I learnt to play bridge!
Fortunately, nowadays bridge can be played somewhere all year round, so here are a few suggestions.
Sligo Congress.
Being played on Friday to Sunday, 25th-27th May, at the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Great bridge for all categories of players.
Much more detail on request.
Just phone me at 043-6671660.
Co. Longford Golf Club will be staging bridge every Monday throughout the summer from 11th June.
Just turn up with your partner and take it from there.
Again all categories of player catered for.
High-level competitive bridge.
The European Team Championships are being staged in Dublin this year.
An opportunity to witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience is being offered to all Templemichael players by way of a one-day coach trip to see the action as it happens.
A special programme has been put together for all those wishing to travel.
For more detail - and there is plenty, do contact me as soon as possible.