Another success for Bolivia's Santiago Canedo: He won the second stop of the Chilean National tournament circuit against Chile's Sebastian Roessler 15-8, 15-12. 140 players competed in this tournament, and most important, also 30 boys and girls participated.

Great success for the Worlds 2006 Local Organisers: Nicaragua has confirmed it's first appearance ever at a World Championships in Racquetball. 4 men will travel to Santo Domingo to compete with the world's best in the sport. Over 30 countries are expected to compete this August.

The IRF-PARC Coaching Camp is underway in Colorado Springs, USA and obviously a great success overall. Participants from 13 Pan American countries are attending this course which is sanctioned by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).

The WPRO has released the tour's 2006-2007 event schedule. There are many new stops in the lineup, including Fayetteville, Long Island, Arlington, Seattle, Stockton, Rawlins, Toronto and New Orleans.

Alan Aburrow-Newman (picture) has been elected as new President of the Great Britain Racquetball Federation (GBRF). Vice President became Mr. David Brett-Williams. "We still have much more to do in developing racquetball clubs and planning our tournaments", said the new President. A website will be available soon at: www.racquetball.org.uk.

The Local Organizing Committee kindly asks all IRF members and participating countries to make their final hotel reservation through the official website. National teams shall also sign in through this website by filling out the entry form and sending pictures from players and delegates of this years World Championships.

Usher Barnoff (Calgary) has been recently re-elected as President of Racquetball Canada. Barnoff has been involved in racquetball for many years in the areas of officiating, ranking, and serving on the Racquetball Canada Executive Board for 15 of the last 16 years. Since 1999, Barnoff has been President and also holds the position of IRF Technical Director.

Continental Airlines joins as another official travel partner airline of the 13th IRF World Championships 2006 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. National teams and delegates are able to take advantage of this partnership through special World Championships discounts. Check out the official 2006 website for further information on

Already 11 Racquetball National Teams have confirmed their participation for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena, Colombia this July. The Racquetball competition will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, also site of the 2006 IRF Worlds.

Get certified with IPRO: IPRO's director Gary Mazaroff just published the IPRO Program tip of the month, the Sun City West Rotation Doubles, a program that allows playing with players from different skill levels as well as other benefits. Check it out and if you are certified already make sure that your membership has not expired yet.

Noel O`Callaghan (Kilkenny) and Elma Gibney (Moylagh) hold top spots in the Rankings at the end of the 2005/2006 season. O`Callaghan has retained his number 1 position while Gibney reached number 1 for the first time.

photo: geoff thomsen

The mens and womens open finals were nothing short of spectacular as two champions emerged at the 39th US  National Singles Championships. Rhonda Rajsich defeated Cheryl Gudinas 15-5, 15-6 to win her second national singles title in the womens open division. "I'm going to Disneyland and everyone is invited", said Rajsich. The mens open division saw Rocky Carson defeating Jack Huczek in a thrilling tie-breaker 15-10, 13-15, 11-3.

ERF President Erik Meyer (Belgium) recently visited Istanbul, Turkey and met with Ms. Ayten Kececi to check out the three clubs in Istanbul itself which are located in multi sports facilities in the Istanbul area. Ayten is also the National Squash Champion in Turkey.

The Irish Team selection process has been completed now: Geraldine Byrne (picture left) and Julie Skehan filled the last two spots on the ladies team for this years Worlds. Adam Neary, Joe Farrell, Stevie O'Loan and Tristan Hickey make up the Mens Team while Elma Gibney and Susan Neary already qualified earlier this year for the team.

Kane Waselenchuk and Christie van Hees are the top seeded players at the Canadian Nationals, beginning today. They are both playing at Nationals for the first time in several years. With over 240 players from all 10 provinces competing in skill and age divisions, this will also be the largest Canadian Nationals since 1997.

Over 500 players will compete for the title of national champion from May 24-May 29. The event will not only include the nation's best players. For six days racquetball players will engage in thrilling competition and earn the chance to be crowned National Champion.

The IRF and Mexico Racquetball mourns the death of Juan Manuel Silos, a long time friend of the sport in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. "Juan was a great father, good husband and an excellent friend", stated FMR General Secretary Miguel Perea. He participated in the IRF World Seniors several times. "He will be missed", wrote World Seniors Director Gary Mazaroff in a short message.

IRF and IPRO host a Level One Referee Licence Course in conjunction with the World Championships in Santo Domingo on August 1-2 this year. All members and participating countries are encouraged to send participants to this course. The 2-day event will be held by IPRO Director Gary Mazaroff.

Copa Airlines offers 10% discount on non promotional tickets to participants and one extra person of the IRF XIII World Championships in Santo Domingo. For reservations call a Sales Office in your country. Please make reference to the following Conventions Code: B00803. You should bring or send proof of participation.

Even losing the season's final pro stop could not stop her. Rhonda Rajsich (USA) lost against Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 11-8, 6-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5 but is the new No. 1 player of the WPRO, the professional Womens Tour. Her appearance in the finals of the 2006 Wilson/Piper Pub Pro Nationals in Boise, Idaho/USA guaranteed the Phoenix native the year-end #1 ranking for the first time in her career.

The city of Guadalajara will host the 2006 Mexican National Senior Championships on June 22-25. This event is supposed to be one of the best in Mexico: One payment, all inclusive (Hotel, food, transportation, 3 divisions etc.). Another special attraction: "Doubles 100 years", the age the teams must be more than 95 years in total.

While the Netherlands have been the first European team to enter the upcoming 13th World Championships in the Dominican Republic, Netherlands No. 2 player Pascal Matla was not on the list: "Pascal broke his achilles tendon while playing", says Coach Karel Matla, "no sport for him for 6 months".

Entries are now being accepted for the 18th IRF World Senior Racquetball Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Just download the entry form and be part of another exciting international racquetball competition. Over 300 players from around the world are expected to compete in this premier IRF event.

Fun, training and coaching for the members of the Brazil Racquetball Team. US instructor Arturo Burruel visited Brazil originally for work but in the end also for racquetball. Burrel is the No. 2 player in Texas. Another trip for June is already planned.

The Japan Open 2006 were held through April 22 to May 7, using 3 weekends and 2 venues in Tokyo and Yokohama. 136 men and 84 women participated in the biggest event in Japan. In Mens singles division Takaaki Hirose defeated Michimune Kohno in tieberaker and won his first Japan Open title. In the Ladies singles division Toshiko Sakamoto defeated Etuko Noda in the finals.

A successful "Ladies Only Tournament" was held last weekend in Heidelberg, Germany. Sallie Benedict (USA) finished first, while Germany's No. 1 Yvonne Kortes places second after losing the final 7-15, 12-15. "A very successful tournament", stated organizer Timothy Hardison.

Get certified with IPRO/AmPRO. A two- day Performance and Concept Course will be held by Mr. Gary Mazaroff (picture) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on May 26-27. The course takes place at the University of Nevada. Interpersonal skills, rules review and interpretation,  operation of a tournament, and many more issues will be on the agenda.

The official agreement between the IRF and the local organizing committee in Tempe, USA has been recently signed by the LOC's chairman Frank Taddonio. The IRF Junior Worlds will return to the USA after a 2-year-absence and will be held December 15-20 at the Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, USA.

A Friendship Cup will be held during the 2006 World Championships for those who come and watch the world's best players competing and want to play themselves. Competition will be offered in the following age divisions: 35+, 45+, 55+, 65+. Three matches guaranteed. Contact Luke St. Onge for registration.

A successful tournament took place last weekend with Mexican Gilberto Mejia being the winner of the Mens Singles division. Second place went to Korean local Kwon Dae Yong while Uchiyama Hideko (Japan) placed finished first in the Ladies Singles.

Italian Racquetball has recently been accepted as a full member of CSI, the Italian Amateur Sports Association. "This is very exciting and great news for the sport and for European Racquetball", stated Secretary General Luke St. Onge.

The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) has granted the 20th Pan American Racquetball Championships 2007 to Chile. The event will take place in Santiago de Chile. It is the first time since 1991 that Chile will host this annual Pan American Racquetball competition. More information will follow in the months ahead.

Fabian Balmori (Venezuela, left) is the winner of the 2006 Irish Open final against his team mate Jorge Hirsekorn. They both together teamed up to also win the Open Doubles title. Ireland's own Elma Gibney captured her first Irish Ladies Open singles title by defeating last years Champion Susan Neary.

Canada's Kane Waselenchuk won the Motorola IRT Pro Nationals 2006 in Chicogo, USA. He also takes the sason's final end number one ranking by defeating Jack Huczek (USA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8.

The Mexican Racquetball Federation (FMR) sent an official letter of apology to the Korean Racquetball Federation because of a disciplinary decision by the FMR which prevented Mexican team players to compete in a Korean tournament. FMR asked to publish this statement here as well.

The 2006 Motorola IRT Pro Nationals and USAR Adult Regional Racquetball Championships presented by Verizon Wireless are kicking off today in Chicago, IL, USA. The professional tour's biggest prize money purse of the season $40,000 will be up for the taking at the last stop of the season.

Newport Racquetball Club captured the Irish Junior Cup for the first time at the 7th Irish Junior Open 2006 held in Castlebar. Led by the three McManamon sisters the club defeated Touraneena into 2nd place after final match tie breaker.

New officers for the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC). President Osvaldo Maggi appointed Jorge Luis Cueva (Ecuador) as new Vice President for South America. Cueva follows Pablo Fajre (Chile) who resigned recently. Also new on the PARC board: Adolfo Baca (Mexico) as new Vice President at large.

Elma Gibney (Moylagh) is the winner of the Templederry Ladies Tournament held on Good Friday April 14th. She defeated local club member Helen Shanahan in the final by 2-0. Elma and Ireland's No.1 Susan Neary just made it into the National Team to compete in the 2006 World Championships.

After the successful Pan American Championships in Guatemala, the updated IRF World Rankings confirm current IRF World Champions Jack Huczek and Cheryl Gudinas (both USA) as No. 1 singles players in the world. Mexico's Alvaro Beltran remains No. 2 in the Mens Singles, while Angela Grisar (Chile) stays No. 2 in the Ladies Singles.

The 2nd Seoul Kyungjae Newspaper National Singles will be held April 28-30, 2006. Players from Japan, Korea and the Mexican National Team have confirmed their participation already. Especially the Mexican guests will experience the great Korean culture by not staying in a hotel (as usual): All Mexican players will be hosted by Korean players to get to know more about the life in Korea and about Koreans itself.

During his trip to Seoul, Korea for the 2006 Sportaccord, IRF Executive Vice President Erik Meyer also met Ms. Kim Young-Sun, the newly elected President of Korea Racquetball. "All meetings were very informative and productive", Mr. Meyer stated afterwards.

Entries are now accepted for the 2006 Antwerp Open, an event of the European Tour, on May 13-14 in Antwerp, Belgium. Local contact and tournament director will be Mr. Niklaas Deboutte.

The 19th Pan American Championships 2006 in Guatemala have been successfully conluded yesterday. After some great final matches in all divisions, Team USA defended the overall team title again. All finals, finishers and complete draws are available online. The 2006 edition was an official qualifier for the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Directly from the tournament desk:
Womens Singles:
Paola Longoria (Mexico) def. Kristen Walsh (USA) 15-4 15-6
Mens Singles:
Kris Odegard (Canada) def. Woody Clouse (USA) 9-15, 15-14, 11-9
Check back for complete draws and results by tomorrow.

An important meeting for racquetball in Guatemala and worldwide was held last Friday when top level representatives from Racquetball Guatemala, PARC and the IRF made a courtesy visit to Mr. Mario Rolando Castro de Leon, President of Confederación Deportiva Autonoma de Guatemala (CDAG) to discuss the construction of an 8-court-facility in Guatemala in 2007.

Elma Gibney (Moylagh) won her first Castlebar Open Singles title when she defeated Bernadette Comerford (Kilkenny) in the Womens Open Singles Final at the 16th Castlebar Open. Elma`s sister Ailish won the Womens C/D Singles title and later they both combined to win the Womens Doubles.

While the Pan American Championships 2006 are currently underway in Guatemala City, Guatemala the round robin draws (with results from the first day of action) for the first half of the event are now published and are available online.

While the Pan Am Championships will kick off this week, the host nation Guatemala has named it's players for the event. Jennifer Bendfeldt, Elissa and Patricia Beltranena and Christian Wer, Fernando Sierra, Manolo Bendfeldt and Gustavo Morales will represent Guatemala in the Men and Women competitions.

Oregon State pulled off one of the most astonishing upsets in US collegiate racquetball history by defeating the highly favored Alabama team by only 15 points, capturing the overall national team title for Division I schools. Baldwin Wallace from Ohio captured the Division II national title. Ben Croft and Adrienne Fisher defended their national championships and once again qualified for the US national team.

120 days before the beginning of the 13th IRF World Championships! The Local Organizing Committee has launched the official website for the Worlds 2006. All information needed, results, updates and online reservations for the host hotel will be availabale shortly.

Very successful German Open 2006 ended with German winners in both Open Singles divisions: Martin Klippel claimed his fifth singles title in a row by defeating Michiel van der Holst (NED) in the final 15-2, 15-3, while Yvonne Kortes defeated her team mate Renate Hartmann (GER) 15-1, 15-1.