Update Archive
14th Castlebar Open
After a tempestous Mens Open Singles Final, Noel O`Callaghan(Kilkenny) emerged the winner with a 2-1 victory over Jimmy Gann(Arklow). The Womens Open Singles was won by Susan Neary(Arklow) while the Mens B/C was won by Vincent Fitzgerald(Arklow). Michael Kelly(Castlebar) and Niall Heaney(Ballinrobe) won the Mens D Singles and Mens Novice Singles respectively
06/04/04
5th Irish Junior Open
Over 100 junior racquetball athletes competed in the very succesful 5th Irish Junior Open held in Kingscourt Co Cavan. After many matches, coaching clinics and exhibition matches , the organisers expressed satisfaction with the event
2/04/04
Steve McMenimen Wins C Title
Steve McMenimen(Clones) won the Mens C Singles at the All Ireland Championships played last weekend in Arklow. The Mens D Singles was won by Keith Smith(Cavan) while Kevin McNamara(Castlebar) won the Mens Novice Singles title
15/03/04
First for Cavan Racquetball Club
At the All Ireland Juniors held in Castlebar & Ballinrobe on Saturday 6th March, Cavan Racquetball Club won their first ever National Junior "A" Championship gold medal when Patrick Brady won the Boys Under 16 Singles. Over 70 players took part in the Championships in Boys & Girls Under 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 Singles
7/03/04
Archive
All records in the Archive section of the site have been updated.Archive
2/03/04
All Ireland Overage Championships
Three competitions took place at the All Ireland Overage Championships in Arklow. The winners were Noel O`Callaghan(Kilkenny) Over 30 Singles, Vincent Fitzgerald(Arklow)Over 50 Singles and Noel O`Callaghan and Joe Farrell(Arklow) Over 30 Doubles.
1/03/04
14th Castlebar Open
Details of the 14th Castlebar Open on 2nd, 3rd & 4th April are now online.14th Castlebar Open
26/02/04
Double for Fitzgerald
Arklow`s Vincent Fitzgerald won both the Mens B/C Singles and Over 40 Singles at the Moylagh Open in Co Meath last weekend. Noel O`Callaghan(Kilkenny) got back on tracks winning the Mens Open Singles while Susan Neary(Arklow) won the Womens Open Singles. Other winners were Keith Smith(Cavan)D Singles, Kevin McNamara(Castlebar) Novice Singles and Michelle Hogan (Templederry) Novice Singles
16/02/04
Irish Junior Open
Details and entry forms for the Irish Junior Open to be held in Kingscourt on 27th & 28th March are now online Details & Entry Forms
6/02/04
Ektelon teams up with IRF
Ektelon, the leader in racquet innovations, signed a three-year agreement with the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) becoming the ‘Official Equipment Supplier’ and ‘Event Sponsor’ to many of IRF’s events for years to come. Details
6/02/04
Junior B Results
Over 80 junior players played in the All Ireland Junior B Championships held in Kingscourt, Co Cavan on Saturday 24th January.
Check out all the results in the Results Section
27/01/04
Wins for Gibney & Gannon
Elma Gibney (Moylagh) won her first ever Womens Open Singles last weekend when she defeated local favourite Geraldine Byrne at the Leinster Open held in Arklow. Veteran Irish International Jimmy Gannon from the local club had a major win in the Mens Open Singles when he defeated Irish number 1, Kilkenny`s Noel O`Callaghan by 2 games to 1.
20/01/04
Irish Junior Open
After four succesful Irish Junior Opens , Kingscourt Racquetball Club in County Cavan will host the 5th Irish Junior Open at their new four court facility on the 27th & 28th March. Junior players from every country are invited to participate to mark the 25th anniversary of the Racquetball Association of Ireland. There will competitions for boys and girls at Under 10, 12, 14 , 16, 18 & 21 singles as well as Under 12, 15 & 21 Doubles. Contact Elma Gibney
20/01/04
National Junior B Championships
The All Ireland Junior B Championships will take place in Kingscourt on Saturday 24th January. The competition for boys and girls at Under 10, 12, 14, 16 & 18 exclude players who hold gold or silver medals at National level.
16/01/04
IRF Magazine
The International Racquetball Federation started a quarterly newsletter which will be downloadable via the official website of the Federation. It will feature news from the racquetball world as well as information and updates from the IRF members. You can download a copy from the IRF Website
7/01/04
Mexico win Again
Mexico are once again the World Junior Champions after the World Junior Championships played in Orlando, Florida. The Mexican team took the title for the second times ahead of Team USA and Team Canada. Full Results
27/12/03
New York Tournament
Any playerrs going to New York in January maybe interested in the 6th Annual Pro Stop which will be held from January 14th - 18th 2004
13/12/03
Worlds 2004
Pictures of the site for the 2004 World Championships in Korea can now be viewed here
13/12/03
Hughes & Coffey record Under 21 wins
Liam Hughes(Fermoy) and Niamh Coffey(Touraneena), two highly ranked players in the Open Singles divisions were crowned Under 21 All Ireland Champions at the All Ireland Junior Championships in Fermoy at the weekend
8/12/03
Record for Katie
Katie Walsh(Ballinrobe) now holds the record for the most All Ireland Junior titles after the All Ireland Junior Championships finals played at the weekend in Fermoy, Co Cork. Katie achieved her 9th consecutive title in the Under 15 singles to beat Michelle Hogan(Templederry) record of 8 titles. Other victors at Championships were Barry Healy(Ballinrobe), Gemma Cliffe(Touraneena) Under 11 Champions, Martin Clarke(Castlebar), Majella Haverty(Castlebar) Under 13 Champions, Padraic White(Rossmore), Under 15 Champion, Mike Haverty(Castlebar), Niamh Coffey(Touraneena) Under 17 Champions
8/12/03
World Junior Championships
Although no Irish players compete in this years World Junior Championships(15th -22nd Dec, Orlando, Fl, USA) still over 200 elite junior players have entered the event.
Follow the event at
Entry Roster and Event Site.
In 2004 Mexico will host the Championships, the first time this event will be held outside the USA
6/12/06
Leinster Open Date Change
The dates for the Leinster Open have been changed to the 17th & 18th January 2004. Contact Susan Neary for details
6/12/03
All Ireland Junior Championships
The 2003 Ireland Junior Championships for boys and girls at Under 11, 13, 15 & 17 will be held in Fermoy Co Cork on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December. The top four players at the four provincial Championships in each age bracket will compete at the Championships, Further details from Elma Gibney
30/11/03
US Open New Champions
Canadian Kane Waselenchuk defeated Derek Robinson (USA) in the Mens Pro Singles at the US Open in Memphis while Rhonda Rajsich (USA) won the Womens Pro Final against 2001 champion Christie van Hees (CAN). All the results at US Open Website
24/11/03
Aran Islands First
Stiofan O hIarnan became the first non mainland player to qualify for a National Championships. Stiofan who took part in the Connacht Junior Championships qualified for the All Ireland Boys Under 17 Singles in Fermoy on the 6th & 7th December. The Aran Islands which are 30 miles off the West Coast have 1 racquetball court in Kilronan
24/11/03
2003 US Open
The 2003 US Open Racquetball Championships starts Tuesday 17th November. Mick Barnes of Arklow takes part in the Mens Over 65 Singles. 850 athletes taking part in the event. Follow the event at US Open Website
17/11/03
Double for Finnegan
Kingscourt`s Michael Finnegan had a very rewarding weekend when he won both the Mens D Singles and Mens Novice Singles at the Ulster Open held in Kingscourt`s magnificent new four court facility.
17/11/03
Junior Coaching
Coaching is available from the Racquetball Association of Ireland for all juvenile players in your club. If you are interested please contact the Association`s Youth Development Officer Elma Gibney
3/11/03
All Ireland Under 21 Championships
The All Ireland Under 21 Championships will be held in Fermoy on Sunday 7th December.
The Championships will be alongside the Junior Under 11, 13, 15 & 17 Championships which take place on both 6th & 7th December. Contact Elma Gibney
3/11/03
Irish Hero Mick Barnes
Mick Barnes(Arklow) along with partner Ken Foster(USA) won the Mens Doubles at the Huntsman World Games in St George, Utah, USA. Well done to Mick & Ken who by all accounts upset the odds in the Championships
23/10/03
World Championships 2004
After consultations with the local organising committee the IRF can now confirm the dates for the XII. World Championships in Anyang, South Korea for July 31-August 7, 2004; Source; International Racquetball Federation
23/10/03
British Open
At the British Open in RAF Alconbury, Kevin Jennings(Castlebar) was runner up in the Mens Open Singles. He lost to Canadian born David Brett-Williams by 2 games to 1 in the final. Mike Haverty (Castlebar) won the Mens B Singles with 2-0 win over Bill Ebersole(USA) while Elma Gibney(Moylagh) was runner up in the Womens Open Singles losing to Wendy Hackett(GB) in the final.
13/10/03
O`Callaghan and Neary win Munster
Kilkenny`s Noel O`Callaghan won the Mens Open Singles at the Munster Open in Fermoy defeating Jimmy Gannon(Arklow) in the Final. Susan Neary(Arklow) defeated Bernadette Comerford(Kilkenny) in the Womens Open Singles final. Other winners were Pa Boyce(Fermoy) Mens D Singles, Triston Hickey(Touraneena) Boys Under 18 Singles and Niamh Coffey (Touraneena) Girls Under 18 Singles
6/10/03
2nd British Open
The 2nd British Open will be held Alconbury(nr Huntingdon) on 11th & 12th October. The venue is within easy reach of Luton and Stansted Airports which are serviced by Ryanair. Contact Angus Smith for details
23/09/03
New Format for World Juniors
The World Juniors Championships in Orlando, USA from 17th- 21st Dec will be held under a new format. Check the details at Racquetball Magazine
3/09/03
2003/2004 Calendar
The Irish Tournament Calendar for the coming season is available online
Irish Calendar
3/09/03
Hamburg Open
The first European Tournament of the new season, the Hamburg Open in Germany will be held from 19th - 21st September. Details of the tournament at the official website Hamburg Open
30/08/03
Individual Gold Medals for Irish Players
Irish players took individual gold in Singles and Doubles at the recent European Championships in the Netherlands. Congratulations to Joan Kennedy (Dolla) Womens Singles Champion, Michael Haverty(Castlebar) Boys Under 18 Singles Champion, Padraic Benson(Castlebar) Mens Over 40 Singles Champion, John Comerford(Kilkenny) Mens Over 50 Singles Champion, Susan Neary(Arklow) and Elma Gibney(Moylagh) Womens Doubles Champions and Michael Haverty(Castlebar) and Kevin McNamara(Castlebar) Boys Under 18 Doubles Champions
17/07/03
Ireland win Team Event in Holland
The Irish Mens Team of Anthony Butler, Jummy Gannon, Stevie O`Loan, Liam Hughes and Tristan Hickey won the Mens Team event at the 12th European Championsips in the Netherlands. Not to be outdone the Womens Team of Joan Kennedy, Elma Gibney, Susan Neary, Niamh Coffey and Helen Shanahan won the Womens Team competition
16/07/03
All Ireland Singles Championships
The All Ireland Singles were played in Arklow and the 2003 Champions are Noel O`Callaghan(Kilkenny) Mens Open, Bernadette Comerford(Kilkenny) Womens Open, Noel Beggan(Clones) Mens B, Francis Duffy(Aughamullen) Mens C, Carol Lynch(Queens, Belfast) Womens C, Laurence Donaghy(Queens, Belfast) Mens D Helen Shanahan(Templederry) Womens D, and Keith Smith (Cavan) Mens Novice.
16/06/03
Kilkenny Winners
Winners at the Kilkenny Open held over the June Bank Holiday weekend were, Noel O`Callaghan(O`Loughlins) Mens Open Singles, Joan Kennedy(Dolla) Womens Open Singles, Padraic Ryan(Griffiths, Dublin) Mens B/C Singles, Kieran Brannigan(Griffiths, Dublin) Mens D Singles, Kevin Lenihan(Silvermines) Mens Novice Singles and Vincent Fitzgerald(Arklow) Mens Over 40 Singles.
3/06/03
Clubs
The list of clubs affilliated to the RAI has been updated
Click here
16/05/03
Ireland lose to Venezuela
Venezuela were too strong for the Irish team of Jimmy Gannon (Arklow), Pat
Hanley (Dublin), Stevie O'Loan (Belfast), Anthony Butler (Clones), Tristan
Hickey (Touraneena) and Gary Lynch (Belfast) and ran out winners 9-0 based
on 6 singles and 3 doubles matches. See Full Report
14/05/03
Ireland v Venezuela
The Irish team will play the Venezuelan Racquetball team in an International Friendly on Sunday 11th May in the Aura Sports & Leisure Centre in Arklow. The first game gets underway at 1 pm. The Venezuelan Team will take on a local Arklow selection on Monday 12th May at 5pm.
Irlanda v Venezuela;
El equipo irlandés jugará a equipo de Venezuelan Racquetball en un amistoso internacional el domingo en el 11 de mayo deportes de Aura y centro del ocio en Arklow. El primer juego consigue en curso en 1 P.M.. El equipo de Venezuelian jugará una selección local de Arklow el lunes el 12 de mayo en los 5pm.
9/05/03
Close Final at Irish Open
The Mens Open Singles Final at the Irish Open in Arklow was a very close match between Americans Brian Fredenburg and Shane Wood. However it was Fredenburg who won his second Irish Open title with 12-10 win in the final game of the five game match. Sallie Benedict (USA) won the Women`s Open Singles defeating local girl Susan Neary(Arklow)in the final.
5/05/03
Irish Team Selected
The Irish team for the European Championships, July 5th-12th 2003 was selected following trials in Moylagh, Co Meath on Saturday 12th April.
Mens Team; Jimmy Gannon(Arklow), Liam Hughes(Fermoy), Anthony Butler(Clones), Stephen O`Loan(Belfast), Reserve; Tristan Hickey(Touraneena).
Womens Team; Joan Kennedy(Dolla), Susan Neary(Arklow), Elma Gibney(Moylagh), Niamh Coffey(Touraneena), Reserve; Helen Shanahan(Templederry).
The RAI would like to thank all those players who took part in the trials.
16/04/03
Irish Open
The Irish Open will be held over the May Bank Holiday weekend May 2nd - 5th in Arklow Sports & Leisure Centre, Arklow, Co Wicklow. Tournament Director, Mick Barnes states that the tournament will be limited to the first 70 players to enter. Contact Mick by email Here
8/04/03
2nd English Open
The 2nd English Open will be held in Rendlesham, near Ipswich over the Easter Weekend, Friday 18th to Sunday 20th April. Contact by email Angus Smith for details or visit the English Racquetball website. For Irish players travelling to this event, the tournament site is close to Stansted Airport.
7/04/04
O`Callaghan wins Castlebar
Noel O`Callaghan won his 10th Open Singles title at the 13th Castlebar Open held on the 29th & 30th March. He defeated Carlos Murillo of Mexico in a keenly contested final. Joan Kennedy was the winner of the Womens Open Singles. Adam Neary(Arklow) won the Mens BC Singles, Joe Glynn(Athenry) the Mens D Singles and 16-year-old Mike Haverty(Castlebar) won the Mens Novice Singles
31/03/03
Titles on the Double for Gannon & Fitzgerald
Jimmy Gannon (Arklow) completed a double when he won both the Over 30 Singles and Over 35 Singles at the All Ireland Overage Championships in Moylagh, Co Meath last Saturday. Vincent Fitzgerald also from Arklow matched Gannon`s achievements when he won the Over 45 Singles and 50 Singles titles.
11/03/03
All Ireland Overage Championships
The All Ireland Singles at Over 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 & 55 will be held in Moylagh Co Meath on Saturday and Sunday 8th,& 9th March 2003. Contact Jimmy Gannon for details.
27/02/03
Junior Nationals
Triston Hickey from Touraneena Racquetball Club who has had such a good run in recent Tournaments which seen him promoted up the ranks continued his winning ways by taking the All Ireland Under 18 Singles title at the All Ireland Junior Championships in Fermoy last weekend.
In the Boys Under 16, Mike Haverty (Castlebar) won his second Under 16 title when he defeated Martin O`Connor (Kilnamartyra) 15-5, 15-7. Stephen Healy(Ballinrobe) won a competitive Under 14 competition while Garvan Dunford (Touraneena) in the Boys Under 12 All Ireland Champion.
Niamh Coffey, (Touraneena) who bids for a place on the Irish Team at the European Championships in Holland in July took the Girl Under 18 title. The Girls Under 16 title went to Co Meath as Ailish Gibney (Moylagh) won out by 2 games to 1 against Julie Shekan (Touraneena). Katie Walsh
(Ballinrobe) continued her dominance in the Girls Under 14 bracket while
Majella Haverty
(Castlebar) had it all too easy in the Girls Under 12 Singles.
24/02/03
Moylagh Open, O`Callaghan wins
Noel O`Callaghan made it two in a row when he won the Open Singles at the recent Moylagh Open. In a close match, he defeated Pat Hanley(Griffiths,Dublin) in the final. Joan Kennedy (Dolla) strenghtened her position as Irish number 1, when she won the Womens Open Singles defeating Susan Neary (Arklow) in the final.
19/02/03
New Guestbook installed
Due to problems with the old guestbook a new guestbook is now installed. Click on the link above to sign. The old guestbook can be accessed here
09/02/03
8th Moylagh Open
Closing date for entries for the Moylagh Open 15th & 16th Februray is Friday 7th February.
Click on the link opposite for details and entry form.
31/01/03
Next on the list
The Moylagh Open, Co Meath on the 15th & 16th February and the All Ireland Junior Championships at Under 12, 14, 16 & 18 in Fermoy, Co Cork are the next tournaments on the calendar. For details of the Moylagh Open contact Paddy Traynor . Provincial qualifiers for the All Ireland Junior Championships should be held on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of February. Contact Jimmy Gannon
28/01/03
O`Callaghan wins Leinster Open
Noel O`Callaghan(O`Loughlins, Kilkenny) won the Mens Open Singles at the Leinster Open held in Arklow Sports & Leisure Centre. He defeated Jimmy Gannon in the final. Susan Neary(Arklow) was the winner of the Womens Open Singles. Full results later.
28/01/03
All Ireland Junior B Championships
Forty five players (girls and boys) have entered the All Ireland Junior B Chmapionships which will be held in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo on Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th January 2003
16/01/03
Leinster Open
The closing date for entries for the Leinster Open in Arklow on the 25th & 26th January is Monday 20th January 2003
07/01/03
French Open will be held
The French Open 2003 will be played at the City Forum Club in Paris. Dates are January 18th/19th. Please contact
Alex Dufresnes
04/01/03
2003 French Open Cancelled
The French Open tournament Director, after many weeks trying to get an agreement with the Forest-Hill City Form managers, has to cancel this year event. Efforts are being made to save the tournament. Source ERF
28/12/02
Leinster Open
The Leinster Open will be held in Arklow, Co Wicklow on 25th & 26th January 2003. There will be competitions in Singles & Doubles for both men & women with Open Singles, B/C Singles, D Singles, Novice Singles, Over 40 Singles as well as Open Doubles and C/D/Novice Doubles. Contact Jimmy Gannon for more details.
27/12/2002
14th IRF world Junior Championships , Orlando, Florida, USA.
Majella Haverty(Castlebar),won a silver medal in the White Division, Girls 10 & Under Singles, while Katie Walsh(Ballinrobe)won a bronze medal in the Red Division of the Girls 12 & Under Singles. Mike Haverty(Castlebar), was placed joint 28th out of an entry of 49 in the Boys 14 & Under Singles.
World Junior Results & Reports