Racquetball Association of Ireland

All the Latest News & Information on Irish Racquetball December 2017

RACQUETBALL NEWS
All the Latest News & Information on Irish Racquetball
December 2017

Great Display by Junior Team at IRF World Championships
Ireland came in in a credible 10th overall at the World Junior Championships in Minneapolis USA  from 5th – 11th November. Twelve juniors, four girls and five boys competed in age divisions from Under 10 to under 15.
The boys team were 10th while the Girls team ended up in 8th place. There was medals for Denis Riordan, Daniel Hanrahan and Sarah Ainsworth in the Red & White Divisions. In all the Irish party comprised of twenty four people including players and parents.

Full Results

Irish Junior Team 2017
We wish to thank Irish Junior Coach, Mick Cunningham and assistant coach Shay Russell for the commitment to training and looking after the team before and during the World Championships. Also thanks to the parents and individual coaches for their support.
Full Team
Girls: Sarah Ainsworth(Castlebar), Thea Coleman(Mitchelstown), Aoife Beckett(Araglen), Kelly Anne Ryan(Galmoy)
Boys, Denis Riordan(Arglen), Colman Maloney(Galmoy), Daniel Hanrahan(Galmoy), Keelan O`Gorman(Araglen) Ben Carey(Araglen) Jack Kearney(Araglen), Jack Hanrahan(Galmoy), Odhran Maloney(Galmoy)

Ballinrobe Open 2017
O`Callaghan & Hickey win at Ballinrobe.
Noel O`Callaghan(Fermoy) continued his winning ways at the Ballinrobe Open defeating Padraic Ryder(Newport) in the Open Singles Finals and Joe Devenney(Ballinrobe) in the Men’s 40+ Final.
Rossmore`s Aisling Hickey won the Women’s Singles defeating Castlebar`s Katie Kenny by 2 games to nil in the final.
Other Singles winners were Ray Keleghan(Moycullen – Novice Singles, Padraic Benson(Moycullen) C/D Singles, Michael O`Loan(Belfast), B Singles and Sarah Ainsworth(Castlebar), Women’s D Novice Singles.
Full Results: http://www.racquetball.ie/results
Photo: Noel O`Callaghan & Aisling Hickey

New Club
We welcome new club Castleconnor, Corbally, Co Sligo who recently joined Racquetball Ireland. The club has one 40×20 court with a membership of 24 players. Welcome Castleconnor Racquetbal Club! The club Secretary is Michael Jones can be contacted on 087 3066761

Top Ranked Player Award

At the end of the 2017- 2018 season, the players at the top of the rankings in Men`s Open Singles and Women’s Open Singles will be presented with an award. Both awards will be sponsored by Mayo Crystal

Mayo Crystal

Team Panel
 2018 World Championships
The IRF World Championships will be held in China in 2018. The Racquetball Association of Ireland is asking players who are interested in representing Ireland to apply for inclusion in a panel of players from which a team will be selected.
If a sufficient number of players apply then trials will be held in March 2018 to select a team. To be eligible to put your name forward, players must have played or intend to play in the Open Singles Division in three(3) Open Tournaments between 1st March 2017 and 28th February 2018.
The closing date for applications is Friday 22nd December.
Submit your application online here or by email to info@racquetball.ie including your full address & phone number

Next Tournaments
Tralee Open
The popular Tralee Open will be held on January 20th & 21st 2018. Watch out for the online entry form soon on www.racquetball.ieContact: Alan Farmer
Munster Close Championships
Sunday 7th January
Fermoy., Co Cork
Conact: Johnny O`KeeneyConnacht Close Championships
Sunday 7th January
Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
Contact: Padraic BensonKingscourt & Ulster Open
Saturdauy & Sunday 17th & 18th February
Kingscourt, Co Cavan
Contact: Sean Gargan

3rd Womens Open
Aisling Hickey Wins 3rd Womens Open
Aisling Hickey (Rossmore) won the Open Singles at the 3rd Women’s Open held in Newport Co Tipperary. She defeated clubmate Kate Ryan who makes a return to racquetball after a lenghty absence by 2 games to nil. Siobhan Downey(Youghal) def Kelly Anne Ryan(Galmoy) in the finals of D/Novice Singles. Thanks to Katie Kenny who was Tournament Director for the 3rd Womens Open. 

National Junior Championships 2017
Galmoy Racquetball Club was the most successful club at the 2017 Irish Junior Nationals held in Fermoy & Mitchelstown Saturday 2nd December. Galmoy won five titles, four in the boys divisions & one in the girls divisions. Fermoy won two titles while Araglen & Mitchelsown won one each.
Fifty seven players competed with just over seventy matches played throughout the day. Full thanks to Mick Cunningham & Shay Russell for their tremendous work.

Full results http://www.racquetball.ie/results

Special Award
Joe Devenney & Ailbhe Gill
Ballinrobe Racquetball Club presented Ballinrobe players Alibhe Gill & Joe Devenney with commemorative crystal at the to mark their recent achievements in the European Racquetball Championships held in the Hague. Both were members of the winning Irish Team at the 2017 European Championships in the Hague.

Follow Us On Facebook

Website 
Our new website has come online. For all the up to date news, tournament information, entry forms, results and much more go to www.racquetball.ie
The old website is still online and although most of the data has been transferred to the new website, pages can still accessed on the old website.

We asked Olivia Downey, member of the Irish Team at the 2017 European Championships to tell us about her experience.

My experience at the European Racquetball Championships which was held in the Hague, Holland in September was one of the best experiences I ever had from start to finish. When I heard I had made the team I was so overjoyed as I never thought I would have ever get the opportunity. I have to admit I was a little nervous and anxious with it being my first time at one of these events and was afraid the lack of experience would be a downfall to the team as they had been to these events for years.
But I have to say the team quickly quashed those thoughts and made me feel so welcome from the very start .
Throughout the competition they encouraged and supported me and I was truly blessed to have this great bunch of people on the team. The days were long, we were always first at the courts and last to leave but what I loved and appreciated was that the whole team went to the courts together supported each others matches throughout the day and left the courts together which would finish with a meal where we relaxed and talked about the day and planned for the next day. It really was a team effort. I was also delighted my sister Rosie who came over to support me and all the team it was a nice boost to us all and it was much appreciated.  
It was fantastic to watch different people play from different countries which I learnt a lot from the whole experience and everyone was so friendly . It was great to have a night out at the end of the competition with all the competitors and organisers to unwind after it all.
Coming home with a team gold medal, Silver in the doubles with my partner Ailbhe Gill which I have to say a huge thank you to for being a fantastic partner and encouraging me and keeping me grounded if the pressure started to get to me,it was a pleasure. With a bronze medal in the singles, to say I was over the moon is an understatement if that’s possible! I didn’t expect it I was so delighted .The support that I got from my family, friends and Moycullen Raquetball Club was fantastic, thank you all so much.
It was fantastic that we got the 6 gold’s out of 6 it was unreal we really could’nt have done more, huge congratulations and thank you to my seven team mates Joe Devenney, Johnny O’Keeney, Padraic Ryder, Darragh O Donoghue, Katie Kenny, Ailbhe Gill and Donna Ryder.Representing my country in the sport I love has truly been an honour, this experience has been the best and I will cherish and be forever grateful for the opportunity.
Olivia Downey 

Coaching News
Racquetball Ireland will support clubs who want to run a coaching clinics for adults and juniors at their clubs. Funds will be made available to clubs on application to the RAI. All courses must be undertaken by a qualified coach i.e  a person who has done the RAI Foundation course.
Please apply by emailing info@racquetball.ie. If your club does not have a qualified coach then the RAI will supply a coach for the session.

World Racquetball

World Championships 2018
The IRF World Championships 2018 will be held in China. The IRF World Championships have been held every two years since 1981 and Ireland have competed in all expect two. 

Venue
Kuantang, Haining City, Zheziang Province, China

New Clubs
Racquetball Ireland always welcome new clubs to affiliate to the Association. If you wish to form a club or even join the Association as an individual member please email us on info@racquetball-ireland.com

Insurance
Racquetball Ireland reccommend that all clubs have Public Liability Insurance. Insurance brokers O`Driscoll O`Neill specialize in sports insurance – visit their website www.odon.ie