| Pia Andersson and Arne
Larsson are the new Mixed Pairs Champions of Europe! The Swedish
pair delivered a title winning session score of 63.01%. They finished well
clear of two pairs from 'La belle France'.
Catherine d'Ovidio-Saul and Paul Chemla are no strangers when
it comes to award ceremonies, and a smiling Catherine was delighted to
collect her first medal since her marriage!
Colette Lise and José Damiani took third place. It was
not the first time Anna Maria Torlontano had called the President of the
World Bridge Federation to the podium. However this time he was being awarded a
medal, not presenting one!
The Consolation was won by Italy's Rosa Corchia and
Guiseppe Matricardi who just edged out a couple of Weltmeisters,
Germany's Andrea Rauscheid and Roland Rohowsky.
France's Nathalie Courty and Hervé Schiatti were third.
There was more glory for France when Marie-France Renoux and
Philipe Rey took the prize for the leading Senior's pair.
Marie-France is one half of the reigning European Senior Pairs
Champions, having won the title last year with Nadine Cohen.
The Teams Competition attracted 98 teams
and after 4 days the champions were:
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They will be dancing in the streets of Paris tonight when the news of
yet another famous French victory arrives. Congratulations to Paul
Chemla, Catherine d'Ovidio Saul, Michel & Veronique
Bessis. The holders found their best form when it mattered and their
victory was already secure at half time when they led by a remarkable 85-0! No
doubt they will try for a hat trick in 2000!
Our commiseration's to their opponents, the Netherlands Martin
Wanner, Ine Gielkens, Han Begas and Ellen Bakker.
However, as the official representatives of their Country they can be proud of
their performance in reaching the final.
The first half of the final was on VuGraph, and Catherine and
Ellen were in opposition. They were both celebrating their birthdays,
but the presents were all going one way!
What a moment for Davor Ruso, Seka Ivancic, Zoran
Vukelic, Izvorka Petrovic and Bato Protega. The won the
bronze medals, the first for Croatia in International competition. What
a tremendous performance for a Country with only 400 players.
Their opponents were still able to smile at the end, evidence once again of
the tremendous spirit in which these championships have been played. Hard lines
for France's Jean-Louis Stoppa, Marianne Serf, Marie
Renoux and François Stretz.
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