A party of 14 from the NIBU were amongst an IBU delegation of 50 who were invited to meet President Mary McAleese at the Aras an Uachtarain on Thursday in honour of the World Senior Pairs Championship won by Pat McDeviitt, an Ulsterman from Donegal, last fall.  President McAleese had a few words with all present had was presented with a Belleek Plate by IBU President, Mary Kelly-Rogers.

The day was completed by a celebration banquet, attended by nearly 200, when Alan Hill, retiring after 16 years as Joint Hon Secretary of the IBU (and many more years on the committee) was presented with a gift by last year’s President, our own Liz Scott.  Next our Chairman, Sandie Millership and Paul Porteous (General Secretary of the CBAI) presented a tribute to all the surviving medallists from past years.  The evening finished off with a light hearted, but very competitive, quiz.

The next day saw the inaugural Pat McDevitt Senior Pairs which was competed for by 101 pairs and, fittingly, won by Pat McDevitt playing with Michael McDonough.  There were open pairs for those not of sufficient seniority and the evening session was won by Anne Fitzpatrick and Barbara Collins.

All together a great 2 days for us all.