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Racquetball Association of Ireland
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News
23rd Kilkenny Open coming up Important Disiplinary Notice from the Racquetball Association of Ireland Touraneena retain Aishling Hynes Cup Castlebar Open Cancelled Farrell & McManamon are the the Fermoy Open Champions Masita to sponsor Teamwear for World Championships New National Champions 18th Title for Noel? Major Successes Ryder & Haverty at National Doubles Julie tops at Moylagh Open
News Managed by CzarNews
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The 23rd Kilkenny Open will be held in the marble city of Kilkenny on 24th & 25th May. This is the last Irish Tournament before the 14th World Championships in Kingscourt in August. The closing date for entries is May 16th and John Comerford is the Tournament Director
The Racquetball Association of Ireland has issued an important Disciplinary Notice following incidents at the All Ireland Doubles Championships in February last. Please click on the link below to read the document(pdf)
Touraneena Junior Racquetball Team captured the Aislig Hynes Cup for the second year in succession at the Irish Junior Open played in Fermoy. In the Singles their captain Eithne Skehan won the Under 21 while their other winners were Mike Kearns and Dean Cliffe. 
Joe Farrell(Arklow) caused a few suprises at the Fermoy Open when he won the Mens Open Singles. Farrell a previous winner at the Munster Open defeated some of the top seeded players to reach the final. In the final he defeated club mate Adam Neary. Ciara McManamon (Newport) followed up on her All Ireland success defeating Arklow`s Toni Neary in the Womens Open Singles Final.
Leading brand teamwear specialists Masita are to sponsor the the kit for the Irish Team for the forthcoming World Championships in Kingscourt from 1st-10th August 2008. Masita has been one of the the leading suppliers in the team sports market. Masita Ireland was established in 2001,with their Headquarters in Kells,Co.Meath. They provide the complete Masita teamwear range and a wide range of coaching and sports equipment. Masita provides all the essentials for teamsports.They also offer an online shop with a wide range of casual clothing and sportswear which is more focused on the individual sportsman. You can visit Masita by clicking the link below
Major changes at the top of Irish Racquetball following the All Ireland Singles Championships in Kingscourt last weekend. The reigning Champion for the last 17 years Noel O`Callaghan lost his title in the semi-final to Triston Hickey(Touraneena), but it was Fermoy`s Liam Hughes who became Champion for the first time with a 2-0 victory over Hickey. In the Womens Singles, big upsets as all the top seeded players fell along the way and it was the unseeded Ciara McManamom(Newport) who became the youngest Irish Womens Singles Champion. In the final she defeated Elma Gibney (Moylagh) 2 games to nil.
The All Ireland Singles Championships take place this weekend in Kingscourt and Irish Number 1, Noel O`Callaghan(Kilkenny) could be heading for his 18th National Title in a row. Stiff opposition however will come from the likes of Tristan Hickey(Touraneena), Pat Hanley and Liam Hughes(Fermoy), Adam Neary (Arklow) and Stephen O`Loan(Queens). In the Womens Singles, choosing a winner is not easy but Julie Skehan(Touraneena) has had a good season and her form suggests she could win her first title at senior level. With places on the Irish team for the World Championships in Kingscourt in August, competition will be hot and a few shocks along the way can be expected. As as well the Open event, there will competition in other grades as well for National Titles including boys and girls junior events. Over 120 players will compete in the 2008 All Ireland Singles 
For Donna Ryder(Newport) and Majella Haverty(Castlebar), the National Doubles Championships was very successful event. Not alone did they win the Women`s Intermediate Doubles, they also combined to take the title in the Womens Open Doubles. In the Mens Open Doubles, the Champions are Noel O`Callaghan(Kilkenny) and Christy Slattery(Templederry) while the Intermediate event was won by Michael Barnes Jnr and Pa O’Donnell(Arklow)
Touraneena`s Julie Skekan breezed through the Womens Open Singles at the Moylagh Open last weekend. Skehan defeated Newport`s Donna Ryder in the final by 2 games to nil. Number 1 seed Noel O`Callaghan (Kilkenny) recorded a similar victory over Fermoy`s Liam Hughes in the Mens Open Singles. The Mens Doubles was won by Pat Hanley and Liam Hughes while the Gibney sisters Ailish & Elma won the Womens Doubles for the host club. Other winners were Ricky Sheridan(Moylagh), Mens B/C, Noel Beggan(Clones) Mens 40+, and Ruaidhri O’Rourke (Kingscourt) and Majella Haverty(Castlebar) in the Under 18 competitions.