A new edition of IRF NEWS, the official newsletter of the IRF has just been published and is available for download. Check out all results from the Central American Games, news on IPRO and other activities from around the world.

Over 270 players from 47 universities and colleges invaded Arizona State University to compete for both individual and team championships. Colorado State University in Pueblo is favored to win the men's title while Alabama will try to repeat as the overall team champion.

Japan Racquetball will host the 2006 Japan Open, the country's biggest tournament, on May 03-06. The event will be held in Tokyo and Yokohama with open competitions for men and women. Skill divisions are scheduled for another date.

The Beto Garza International Racquetball Tournament will be held in Guadalupe, Zacatecas at the Club Social y Deportivo on April 28-30. This event is a memorial event, a tribute tournament in loving memory of racquetball enthusiast Beto Garza.

Most of us have never met or heard of Bill Groscup from Vista, California /USA. Bill attended an IPRO Certification Course in Los Angeles, CA this month and had an interesting story to tell about his life and his love for racquetball. Visit the IPRO information about future certification possibilites.

New President for the KRF: Ms. Kim Young Sun got elected as new President of Racquetball in Korea. Earlier this month, Ms. Kim has been appointed as IRF Chief of Protocol. Ms. Kim is also in her third term as congresswoman in Korea. IRF President Keith Calkins congratulated Ms. Kim on her election to the KRF board and wished her all success needed.

Bolivia's No. 1 player Santiago Canedo  won the season's first event of the Metropolitan Circuit in Santiago, Chile. Canedo defeated Chilean Sebastian Roessler in the Mens Singles final 15-2, 8-15, 11-2. Angela Grisar placed third. 140 players participated in the first Metropolitan event that takes place every month in a different club in Santiago de Chile.

The 2006 Italian Open have been held in Brembate this weekend with great success: Jason Meredith (USA) won the Mens Singles against Diego Gabela (Ecuador). A great accomplishment by Italy's Marco Vecchi who only lost to the winner in the semi finals and placed 4th.

The IRF and the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) will have a Level II and III Coaching Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado / USA on June 19-23 this year. The event is presented by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and will be held at the Lynmar Club and the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Racquetball Chile scheduled it's first national tournament for the end of April. Five National Tournaments will be held in different clubs to determine the National Men and Women Team members who will compete in international events.

The Netherlands Racquetball Federation (NRA) scheduled it's qualifying tournament for the 2006 World Championships next weekend in The Hague. "We will have a qualfying competition for men and women", says team coach Karel Matla (picture left), "a busy weekend.

Hillside City Club - Etiler in Istanbul, Turkey, who has been a pioneer in the organization of squash and racquetball tournaments, will host a racquetball competition togther with a squash tournament with JVC as the sponsor for the third consecutive year. Contact Ayten Keçeci for further information.

Very successful Central American Games 2006 for Costa Rica: The team won all competitions at this years' Games in Guatemala which were originally scheduled for November 2005 but were re-scheduled to 2006 because of the damages that were caused by hurricane "Stan". The racquetball competition was held in Costa Rica as well.

After a hectic weekend of racquetball in Kingscourt, Noel O`Callaghan for the 16th time in a row is Irish National Racquetball Champion. He defeated Triston Hickey in the Mens Singles Final. Susan Neary won her second title in the Womens Singles, defeating last years Champion Elma Gibney in the final.

Chris Coy extended his run of junior victories by winning the Boys #1 division in the WILSON Junior High School nationals. Kara Mazur also requalified for Junior Team USA by winning the Girls #1 divison.

The first national tournament in Colombia took place in Cali. Players from Peru were specially invited to this event and enjoyed a well organized tournament. In Mens Singles, Francisco Gomez from Bogota won against local hero Juan Rivas 15-14, 15-13.

Mr. Pedro Santos has been elected as new President of Racquetball Brazil. Former President Ivo Katz was not available for re-elections. Vice President became Lauro Szmuszkowicz, while Luiz Homem stayed on the board as Technical Director.

Ecuador's Veronica Sotomayor won the VII International Olympic Festival which was held on February 8-12 in Salinas, Ecuador already. She defeated Viviana Reverón (VEN) in the final match 15-8, 15-8. Sotomayor's doubles partner Maria Paz Muñoz finished third. In Mens Singles, Fernando Rios(ECU) placed first, followed by Jorge Hirsekorn (VEN).

Get certified with IPRO/AmPro, the official certification arm of the International Racquetball Federation. As of March 1, the certification programs directed by Mr. Gary Mazaroff (USA) transitioned into the IRF's website framework to better serve the needs of racquetball's international growth and needs for certification and coaching programs around the globe.

Peoples Choice Vacations, a part of Coastal Vacations, has signed on as a Vacation Partner of the IRF. Peoples Choice Vacations located in Colorado Springs, CO, USA offers primer vacation packages at greatly reduced rates for the general public.

The IRF announces a new partner in Underglove as the official underglove of the IRF. Underglove is a thin cotton glove that fits under the regular leather racquetball glove that reduces perspiration that causes racquet slippage and reduces the life of the racquetball glove.

The IRF has selected Tempe, Arizona / USA as the site for the 2006 World Junior Championships. The 2006 edition will be held December 15-20 on 14 championships courts at the Arizona State University. Over 350 juniors ranging from age 6 to 18 will compete in 25 divisions

Over 300 high school athletes from across the country will invade Salem Oregon on March 2 to battle for the title of national champion. Athletes will compete for both singles and doubles individual titles as well as team titles for boys , girls and overall champion.

He had no chance to disappear: Jorg Ludwig, GRF President since 1996 already, has been re-elected by the general assemply of German Racquetball to serve another term in office. New Vice President became Torsten Krieger, while General Secretary Mike Mesecke and Treasurer Alexandra Rosenberg have also been elected again for another term.

New courts have been opened at the Cascadas Club in Guatemala City. With the attendance of PARC President Osvaldo Maggi the official inauguration was also the beginning of the final preparations for the 2006 Pan American Championships this April at this venue.

Germany's Martin Klippel already entered for the 2006 edition of the German Open on March 31- April 2 in Hamburg to go for his fifth open singles title in a row. His team mates and players from all over Europe and the US will definetly try to avoid another straight success for Klippel at Germany's most prestigious international racquetball competition.

The Korean  National Singles Championships 2006, sponsored by Tylenol will bring over 300 participants to the An San World Sportion, Kyung Gi Do and SeoCho YMCA in Seoul on February 24/25 and March 3-5. Mens and Womens Open winners will qualify to represent Korea at the upcoming World Championships.

The 2006 Nationals Championships will be on March 16-18 and it will be held at La Loma Club in San Luis Potosí. Visit the FMR website for more information and contact Miguel Perea for any questions. The event is a Mexican Team qualifier for the Central American Games and World Championships 2006.

The 2006 Italian Racquetball Open will be held at the Centro sportivo comunale in Brembate. The event takes place on March 18-19. Visit www.racquetball.it for more information and contact tournament director Matteo Urbani for any questions.

Tristan Hickey won his first major title in the Open grade when he defeated Adam Neary in the final of the Mens Open Singles at the Moylagh Open 2006. Susan Neary continued her good run in the womens singles when she defeated Bernadette Comerford in the Womens Final.

The No. 1 players finished on top at the Racquetball Canada national team selection tournament. Jennifer Saunders and Mike Green both won to take home the lion's share of the $4,400 purse. The results of this competition will be combined with those from last year's National Championships to determine who will represent Canada in the 2006 Pan American Championships in Guatemala in April.

Entries for the 2006 edition of the Irish Open in Arklow are flying in at moment and the entry forms have not been sent out yet. Way over 70 entries have been received already for this European Racquetball Tour major event. Only limited spots are left, so enter soon and contact Vanessa Barnes at bessybarnes@hotmail.com.

Investment in the future: Japan's National Team members Tsuyoshi Ono and Sadao Funatani conducted a junior clinic at the Tatuno City Youth Sports Center for local juniors. In and off court sessions were on the kids' schedule.

Joachim Krenz, former General Secretary of German Racquetball has been induced into the German Hall of Fame this year. With his induction he also became an honorable member of the German Federation. Krenz was a member of the local organising committee of the 1988 IRF World Championships in Hamburg.

Shannon Feaster, long-time participant and promoter of the Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO), has been elected to serve as its new Commissioner. For more than 20 years, the marketing executive has been committed to enhancing the growth and potential of women’s racquetball. With the support of the WPRO Board of Directors and players, Feaster will make forming strategic partnerships and building a robust tour schedule her top priorities.

Martin Klippel and Yvonne Kortes from Hamburg both defended their German National Singles titles at the 25th German National Championships in Hamburg. Kortes won her 7th National Singles title in a row.

Busy weekend for German Racquetball's President Jorg Ludwig (left) coming up. While the 25th German National Championships will kick off on Friday at 7pm in Hamburg, on Saturday the members of the German Racquetball Federation meet for the annual assemply and to elect a new executive board.

Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica and Guatemala have confirmed the participation in the racquetball competition of the VII Central American Games this year in Guatemala. The competition for racquetball will be held in Costa Rica. The Central American Games were scheduled for December last year but had to be postponed to March 2006 because of hurricane Stan.

The Spanish version of the 19th Pan American Championships 2006 event website is now available. The Pan American Championships will be held in Guatemala City, Guatemala this year on April 7-15.

Irish No. 1`s, Noel O`Callaghan and Susan Neary started the new year with success at the 2006 Leinster Open held in Kilkenny City, Ireland. O`Callaghan defeated Tristan Hickey in the Mens Open Singles Final while Neary had victory over clubmate Geraldine Byrne in the Womens Final.

Entries are already accepted for one of Europes most traditional and prestigious tournaments: The 22nd Irish Open 2006 will be held in Arklow on April 29 - May 2. The Irish Open are an ERT major event, points for the ERF rankings will be granted. 

Check out some nice pictures from the new four courts in Guatemala City at the Club Cascadas, the site for the 2006 Pan American Championships in April.

The executive committee of the European Racquetball Federation (ERF) met in Paris during the French Open. Various issues like constitutional changes, junior development and other important issues were on the agenda.

Basic information on the 19th Pan American Racquetball Championships 2006 in Guatemala is now online. The event will take place 7th-15th April at the Cascadas Club in Guatemala City. The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) expects players from more than 15 countries to compete in this major IRF regional competition.

The 2006 French Open in Paris ended with tie breaker in both singles finals. In Men's Singles, Tim Hardison (USA) defeated Michiel van der Holst (NED) with 11-7, while European champion Marie-Jose Colet (FRA) beat Yvonne Kortes (GER) 11-6 in Ladies Open.

A women and girls ONLY tournament will be held on February 11, 2006 at the Rosarito Beach Hotel in Mexico. The event will be organised by IRF Vice President Rosy Torres. The Rosarito Beach Hotel is offering a special rate for all participants.

While Bolivian Sebastian Oña (left) just celebrated a great success at the recent 2005 Junior Worlds in Juarez, Mexico, finishing 2nd in the boys 10- division, the first major Bolivian event is just around the corner: The Bolivian National Championships will be held in Santa Cruz on January 26-29. This tournament is a qualifier for the Pan American Championships in Guatemala.

The Mexican National Championships are scheduled for March 9-12, 2006 at the La Loma Club in San Luis Potosi, one of the world's best places to play racquetball. Check out the IRF calendar for more Mexican tournaments

Reigning Canadian doubles champions Josee Grand'Maitre and Jennifer Saunders prevailed to win the Racquetball Canada national team selection event. They defeated Lori-Jane Powell and Julie Neubauer from Calgary, 15-6, 15-11. In men's action, Brian Istace and Mike Green finished first by beating  Vincent Gagnon and Francois Viens, 7-15, 15-12, 11-8.

The executive committee of the European Racquetball Federation (ERF) will meet on January 14th in Paris to discuss some constitutional changes and other important issues for the sport in Europe.

A new edition of IRF NEWS, the official newsletter of the International Racquetball Federation has just been published and is available for download. Check out all results from the Asia Championships, the World Junior Championships, updated world rankings and much more information from the racquetball activities around the world. Contributions for the next edition are always welcome.

The 17th Annual WSMRA Racquetball Championships will be held January 27-29 at the Maverick Athletic Club in Arlington, TX, USA. More than 150 female players between 35 and 85 are expected at this event. For more information please visit the WSMRA website.

The publication of the January 2006 IRF World Rankings confirms current IRF World Champions Jack Huczek and Cheryl Gudinas (both USA) as No. 1 singles players in the world. Mexico's Alvaro Beltran remained No. 2 in the Mens Singles, while Chile's Angela Grisar stays No. 2 in the Ladies Singles.