The 18th Pan American Championships 2005 have been successfully concluded in Caracas, Venezuela with a record-high number of participants and countries represented but also with exciting matches throughout the week with Team USA winning the Overall Trophy. Check out the event website for all finals and finishers.

Ready to watch? The TV broadcast crew has arrived in Caracas, Venezuela  to tape the top matches of the event for The Tennis Channel broadcast beginning in May 2005. Check back here on this website for the final airdates or check out www.thetennischannel.com as well.

The annual Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) meeting took place last night in Caracas, Venezuela. Important presentations were made by Guatemala on the next Pan American Championships and the Central American Games 2006.

The second half of the Pan American Championships will begin to day. All round robin draws have been updated so far, while the elimination draws for the second part of this event will be published throughout the day.

US citizen Timothy Hardison won the 27th Durch Open last weekend. He defeated Michiel van der Holst (NED) in the final, after kicking out 6-time European Champion Joachim Loof (GER) of the draw. Jose Marie Collet (FRA) won the Womens Singles.

The 18th Pan American Championships have started with the opening ceremony yesterday evening. Over 150 players will take part in this event. Check out the event website for the first results which are online NOW!!

The 15th Castlebar Open will be held on April 8-10 at the An Sportlann Club which also served as the site for the 2001 European Championships. Tournament Director Michael Haverty invites all players to this event.

Gilberto Mejia and Samantha Salas are the Mexican Singles Champions 2005. While Mejia defeated former IRF World Champion Alvaro Beltran, Salas was able to win an exciting match against Nancy Enriquez, another young talent from Mexico with 15-11, 11-15, 11-2. Mens Doubles Champions became Abraham Peña and Carlos Bacmeister, while Rosy Torres and Susanna Acosta succeeded in the womens draw.
 

The 2005 Independence Racquetball Cup ended in a complete success with Simon Perdomo (picture, receiving award from Mr. Antonio Acosta, Secretary General of the Dominican Olympic Committee taking the highest honor after winning the Open Division in a tight match against Yamil Isaias whot took second place. Perdomo also won the Doubles Open with his partner Frederick Frances.

Technical Director Usher Barnoff (Canada) has just published the current entries for the upcoming Pan American Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. As of today, 170 players will be participating in this Regional IRF Competition. For any mistakes with the entries please contact Usher Barnoff directly.

The remarkable success of Noel O`Callaghan continued at the All Ireland Championships played in Kingscourt last weekend when he notched up his 15th Open Singles title in a row. It was tears of joy for Elma Gibney (Moylagh) as she won her very first Open Singles title.

The 2005 Wilson 18th USA Racquetball  National High School Championships concluded on March 6th with Mike Keddie (Memorial – Manchester, N.H.) and Katie Ferguson (Catlin Gabel – Portland, Ore.) winning the Boy’s and Girl’s No.1 singles titles, respectively.  With their wins, Keddie and Ferguson each earned 1-year appointments to the U.S. Junior National Racquetball Team.  Almost 450 of the country's best high school racquetball players, representing 46 schools, competed in the event.

The first Central American Racquetball Championships took place in Costa Rica on February 24-26. Players from Guatemala, Honduras and of course the host country Costa Rica did participate in the inaugural event.

Another Newsletter: Racquetball Canada's latest Online Newsletter has just been published and is available for download at the Racquetball Canada website.

87 players competed in the Independance Cup in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in Open, A, B, C, D and Juniors U14 and U8, Double Open divisions. For the first time a tournament offered multi bounce competiton and the kids who attended in the tournament has been outstanding due to the multiple efforts being made to promote Racquetball.  The tournament went smoothly and there was great enthusiasm amongst the players and general public watching the games.

It was a case of experience over youth at the National Doubles Championships in Arklow last weekend when Noel O`Callaghan and Jimmy Gannon battled their way to the senior title with a 2-1 win over Triston Hickey and Liam Highes. In the Womens Doubles, there was a significant win for Elma Gibney and partner Niamh Coffey. 

The 18th Annual USA Racquetball National High School Championships will be played at the Vetta Sports - Concord in St. Louis, Missouri, March 3 - 6, 2005!  Champions in the Gold Divisions #1 of the Boy's and Girls Singles will be appointed to the U.S. Junior National Team for one year.  Last year, the team from Catlin Gabel High, in Portland, Oregon won the Overall Team title primarily on the strength of their Girls team.

On February 28 to March 4 the "Independence Cup" will be held in Santo Domingo. In this tournament already 87 (male & females) players have signed in. Also 46 junior players will be participating, due to the effort been made to promote Racquetball with the different programs that have been established.

Dr. Damian John Jelso, 65, a resident of Albuquerque, USA, died Monday, February 14, 2005. Dr. Jelso was an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who served the Albuquerque community for 35 years. Among his many contributions, he served as President of the American Cancer Society's New Mexico Chapter. A racquetball enthusiast, he dedicated 20 years to developing and cultivating the World Senior Racquetball Championships as a board member and vice president.

On February 15-23 the 1st Womens National Ranking 2005 took place in Guatemala City at Club La Villa with the participation of nine women. The final was held between Jennifer Bendfelt and Lucy Zachrisson, while Bendfelt won with a very strong and consistent game winning 15-4 and 15-7. Elissa Beltranena took third place. This National Ranking made history since it had the best womens participation ever.

The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) once again asks all PARC member countries to submit their player and delegate information for the upcoming Pan American Championships. The information should include the number of players and divisions, as well as the number and names of possible delegates.

The 2005 13th ERF European Championships will be held in Hamburg, Germany. This late decision had been anounced recently, when the previous selected National Federation had to withdraw from holding this major event in European Racquetball. The 13th European Championships (Team and Individuel Comeptition) will be held together with the 10th European Masters and the 4th European Junior Championships. The date for all these competitons has been set for July 23-30, 2005.

Alexandra Rosenberg (Weilheim) and Oliver Bertels from Hamburg (picture left) have been selected as Germany's Racquetballers of the year 2004. While Alexandra Rosenberg was recognized for her personal involvemment and work for the sport in Southern Germany, Oliver Bertels was recognized for his achievements as active player who also became part of Germany's National Team in 2004. Congratulations to both winners!

President Keith Calkins has invited the IRF officers for an IRF Executive Committee Meeting on March 21 in Caracas, Venezuela to discuss various items that need to be finalized after the last meeting in Korea. The meeting will be held during the Pan American Racquetball Championships where almost all IRF Exco Members will be present anyway. The Pan Am Championships will be held on March 19-27 in Caracas.

The 2005 German Open will see the first Irish participation in a tournament in Hamburg since 1993. The German Open will be held on April 1-3 with players from the Netherlands, USA, Germany while some more countries are expected to be represented as well.

The IRF has announced the signing of a 4-year-agreement with PENN Racquet Sports, Inc. to be the "Official Ball" of all major IRF events through 2008. The IRF is most pleased to have the PENN Pro ball continue as the "Official Ball". PENN recognizes the great opportunity to grow the sport through international development. "The Penn Pro Ball has set the standard for the sport and we are most proud of our relationship with PENN", said Luke St. Onge, Secretary General of the IRF.

The IRF is finally able to publish the complete World Junior Championships 2004 rankings for the World Cup, Esprit Cup and Friendship Cup comeptitions which were lost before due to technical problems. We apologize for the belated submission of the final standings.

Racquetball is mourning the loss of a racquetball icon and IRF World Champion, Mary Low Acuff of Asheville. She passed away Friday, Feb. 4th after a brief illness. Mary Low had just finished competing in the sport she loved so much on Jan. 14-16 at the WMRA Senior Masters when she became ill. Condolences' may be sent to dconner11@cox.net.

The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) has released almost all information on the upcoming Pan American Championships 2005 in Caracas, Venezuela. Please check out the website information. Competition will be held in Men and Womens Open Singles and Doubles as well as the Friendship Cup, which will feature Juniors and Senior Divisions.

President Keith Calkins and Secretary General Luke St. Onge recently visited Mario Vasquez Rana President of the Pan American Sports Organization  (PASO) in Mexico City to discuss the participation of Racquetball in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. "It was a productive meeting", St. Onge said after the trip. Mr. Rana is also the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

Another Newsletter: Racquetball Canada's latest Online Newsletter has just been published and is available for download at the Racquetball Canada website.

The annual meeting of the German Racquetball Federation (GRF) has been held last weekend. Current President Jorg Ludwig (picture left) has been re-elected for another term in office. Mike Mesecke remains General Secretary and Mrs. Alexandra Rosenberg got re-elected as Treasurer of the Federation.  Also on the board for another term: Hermann Bachmaier (Vice President) and Björn Jensen (National Team Coach).

Rocky Carson (USA) won the International Racquetball Torunament in Chihuahua, Mexico. He defeated local hero Javier Moreno with 3 games to one. The Womens, 17-year-old Nancy Enriquez defeated Suzy Acosta (both Mexico) in two straight games.

The Tennis Channel broadcasts of the 2004 Choice Hotels US OPEN will begin on February 6th, at Noon EST with the Men's Quarterfinal #1 with repeats on Wednesday Feb. 9th, 7PM EST and Saturday Feb. 12th, Noon EST.
The schedule will repeat (Sun, Wed, Sat) over the next eight weeks as follows:
- Men's Quarter #2 (02/13)
- Men's Quarter #3 (02/20)
- Men's Quarter #4 (02/27)
- Men's Semi #1 (03/06)
- Men's Semi #2 (03/13)
- Men's Finals (03/20)
- Women's Finals (03/27)
- Legends Finals (04/03)

Martin Klippel is the winner of the 24th German National Championships 2005. The event took place in his home club in Hamburg. He defeated 6-time European Singles Champion Joachim Loof 15-7, 15-9. Loof teamed up with Trevor Meyer to win the doubles competition against Klippel and Oliver Bertels 15-7, 10-15, 11-7.

The 27th Dutch Open will be held on March 19th and 20th 2005 in Zoetermeer again. Some of the matches may be played in a club in The Hague that recently re-opened one court for the public.

Pascal Matla from the Netherlands won last weekends French Open which were once again held in Paris.
By defeating Timothy "Spiderman" Hardison (USA) in the Mens Open Final Matla claimed his first French Open title.

Picture: Lori-Jane Powell (left) & Julie Neubauer

Some National Champions won, and some fell of the Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event for doubles in Calgary. Mike Green, current National Champion in singles and doubles, and his partner Brain Valin won the men's competition by beating Corey Osborne and Eric Desrochers 16-14, 15-8. In women's competition, however, there was an upset as the National Champions Josée Grand'Maître and Jennifer Saunders lost to Lori-Jane Powell and Julie Neubauer, 15-6, 15-8.

A new version of IRF NEWS, the official newsletter of the IRF has just been published and is available for download.  This edition features  results from the 2004 World Junior Championships and many information on Racquetball worldwide. Do not miss the brief recab on the 25th anniversary of the IRF in 2004. Contributions for the next edition in April are always welcome and can be e-mailed to the IRF by February.

The Racquetball Association of Ireland has decided that all the entry fees from the All Ireland Doubles Championships on the 26th & 27th February will go to help victims of the Tsumami in South East Asia. All Irish players are asked to come and play in this event to support this effort.

IRF Vice President Young-Sang Hong (picture left) recently resigned as President of the Korea Racquetball Federation. "My job was to guide the Federation to the World Championships 2004, this job is done now", he said. Kong Ku-Huyn took the position temporarily. Hong remains President of the Asia Racquetball Federation (ARF) which will held it's Asia Open soon.

New year, new Newsletter: Racquetball Canada's latest Online Newsletter has just been published and is available for download at the Racquetball Canada website.

The final results, draws and a overall finishers list is now online and available for download. Thanks to Evan Pritchard and Luke St. Onge for submitting pictures from this great event which are also available on this site.

The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) invites it's members and teams to the 18th Pan American Championships which will be held in Caracas, Venezuela on March 19 to 27. Competition will be held in Men and Womens Open Singles and Doubles as well as the Friendship Cup, which will feature Juniors and Senior Divisions. More details will be forthcoming shortly.

The Leinster Open 2005 will take place in Arklow, Ireland on January 15-16, 2005. Arklow is an hour away from Dublin. Please check all details and the dowloadable entry form on the Irish website. All entries must be in by January 11.

Zoetermeer's Pascal Matla resigned as General Secretary of the Netherlands Racquetball Federation (NRA) to concentrate more on his duties for the European Federation and the European tournament scene in general. National Team Member Michel Veeken (picture left) has been elected as new  General Secretary for his first term, beginning January 1st 2005.