Racquetball Canada's Online Newsletter for October has just been published and is available for download at the RC website.

A few pictures from the La Loma Club in San Luis Potosi, Mexico that will serve as site for the 2004 World Juniors, have now being published. More pictures will hopefully follow. Thanks to Miguel Perea for sending those pictures.

The revised IRF Official Rules & Regulations 2004-2006 are now online and available for download. Please check the minor rules changes in the overview on page 8. The rules go into effect immediately.

The Chilean Racquetball Federation has elected a new President: Mr. Rubén Contreras chairs the executive board of Racquetball Chile now.

Tournament Director Joel Gellman (USA) has submitted a few pictures from the recent World Senior Racquetball Singles Championships in Albuquerque, USA.  250 players attended this major annual IRF event.

The 2005 Prohibited List (to come into effect on January 1, 2005) is now available on the WADA website www.wada-ama.org, together with a Summary of Modifications for 2005 and the 2005 Monitoring Program. The IRF voted this summer to be part of WADA.

The 19th Dutch Autumn Open 2004 will be the second event of the European Racquetball Tour (ERT). The event will be held in two clubs, one in Zoetermeer (De Leyens Club) and one in The Hague (Westvliet Club). Entry deadline is October 5th.

The Racquetball Association of Ireland (RAI) has relaunched it's website. Check out www.racquetball-ireland.com to find out more about our sport on the green island. Michael Haverty from Castlebar, who is also the PR officer of the RAI, is also in charge of the web content.

The deadline for the 2004 37th USA  National Doubles Championships in Tempe, AZ is Wednesday September 15th. You can fax in your entry to the number below, or contact the USRA to place a phone entry for $10. If you do not have an entry form please go to www.usaracquetball.com click on the "entry form" link to download the form. The event takes place on September 29th to October 4th.

Germany's No. 1 Martin Klippel (left, with Jörg Ludwig, GRF President) won the season's first ERT event in his home club in Hamburg. He defeated Joachim Loof, the European  Singles Champion 15-9, 15-7. Yvonne Kortes defended her title in the womens division.

It is confirmed that in El Salvador, Central America, three courts will be build by the end of the year at the Bally Club.  The Bally Club has 1500 active members and may possibly bring many new players to the racquetball world.

US Open director Doug Ganim (USA) was one of the many World Senior Champions who defended their title during the 16th IRF World Senior Championships. Over 200 players from around the world competed in this event. Ganim won the 35+ competiton for the third time in a row.

Racquetball Canada's Online Newsletter for September has just been published and is available for download at the RC website.

Today will be the starting day for the 20th edition of the annual World Senior Championships in Albuquerque, USA. Way over 200 players from around the world will be competing in this event. The tournament staff worked hard to make this event happen and successful over the years.

The first event of the European Racquetball Tour (ERT) this season will be the 2004 Hamburg Open in Germany which will be held in the club in Jenfeld that was the site of the 1988 World Championships as well.

The Colombian Racquetball Federation sent out the invitation for the Torneo Nacional de Racquetball which will be held at Club Deportivo Cañasgordas in Santiago de Cali. Download the entry form here.

USA Racquetball asks it's members for  support to maintain USOC funding and the position within the Olympic Committee. The constitution is being rewritten and it needs to be assured that Pan Am only (racquetball) sports are included in the new constitution. To do this USRA members are asked to send a letter to their constitutional representatives. See more on the website.

The IRF has adopted "Australian Racquetball" as a new IRF discipline. This version of the sport joins other disciplines such as One-Wall, Three-Wall-Outdoor and One-Wall-Outdoor Competitions. "Australian Racquetball" has been played for years already in many countries where the most popular 4 wall game has not been introduced enough or at all. "Australian Racquetball" is played on an International Squash Court using an extra slow Racquetball and a regulation Racquetball Racquet.

The AGM of the Racquetball Association of Ireland was held over the weekend. The new President is Pat Keane(29) from the Touraneena club in Co Waterford. Former President Gary Lynch from the Queens club in Belfast was elected as the new General Secretary while the new Treasurer is Eleanor Hickey also from the Touraneena club.

Already over 200 players from around the world have signed in for the 20th edition of the World Senior Championships in Albuquerque, USA which is an IRF World Event since 1989.

Sudsy Monchik (USA), a 5-time No. 1 in the world's professional tour, has made the decision to officially retire from professional racquetball, effective immediately. "I have always had a dream of starting my own business, and I am planning on pursuing that goal with the same enthusiasm and commitment that I made to my professional racquetball career", he said. Monchik is also a 3-time IRF World Junior Champion.

During the 12th IRF World Congress elections for the Executive Board took place. While almost all officers have been re-elected, Rafael Fernandez (VP Central America/Carribbian) and Lucy Zachrisson (VP Womens) joined the board for a 4-year-term.

The US National Team took all titles at the 2004 World Championships in Korea. After claiming all individual titles in the first part of the event, the US team also earned the Men and Women Team titles and the overall World Cup. Detailed results will follow soon!!

Team USA won all individual titles at the Worlds 2004 in Anyang, Korea by winning singles and doubles divisions in mens and womens competition. Both singles champions defended their titles: Jack Huczak defended his title against Mexican Alvaro Beltran while Cheryl Gudinas succeeded over Angela Grisar (Chile). The Worlds 2004 will continue with the team competition starting on August 4th.

Today has been the first day of the Worlds 2004 competition. Games in Mens and Womens Singles/Doubles Gold Divisions have been played in Anyang, Korea. Check out the latest updates for all information on Day 1 of this premier event. All draws will be updated on a daily base.

It's World Championship time: IRF Members and National Teams are asked to make reservations for practice time at the Anyang Club in Korea with the IRF's Technical Director Usher Barnoff. Practice times are available 2 days before the beginning of the Worlds.

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Association (LPRA) just released it's tentative schedule for 2004-2005 with events in the USA and Mexico being the major events of the tour.

A new version of IRF NEWS, the official newsletter of the IRF has just been published and can be downloaded at the website. This edition features final information on the upcoming World Championships as well as the World Senior Singles entry form and major updates from the racquetball community worldwide. Contributions for the next edition are always welcome.

The 2004 Lynmar Classic Pro Am Racquetball tournament in Colorado Springs, USA will be aired on the Tennis Channel as follows (times listed are EST)
7/18/2004 12:00 p.m.
7/21/2004 8:00 pm.
7/24/2004 12:00 p.m.
7/28/2004 12:00 p.m.
After viewing, show your support of the sport by emailing your appreciation to news.letter@thetennischannel.com.

Racquetball Canada's Online Newsletter for July has just been published and is available for download at the RC website.

The organizing committee of the World Senior Championships has now published the official entry form with all detailed information on this year's special event in Albuquerque, USA. The World Seniors take place Aug 31 - Sep 4, 2004.