MOULTRIE — Three Moultrie racquetball players won titles in the 2011 Georgia Regional Doubles Championships held Jan. 28-30 at Recreation ATL in Lilbu

MOULTRIE — Three Moultrie racquetball players won titles in the 2011 Georgia Regional Doubles Championships held Jan. 28-30 at Recreation ATL in Lilburn.

Chase Flowers and Brad Bowen won the men’s doubles elite.

In the quarterfinals, they defeated Atlanta’s Andre Magruder and Tuscaloosa, Ala.’s Marcus Riggins 3, (11), 5.

In the semifinals, Flowers and Bowen eliminated Lawrenceville’s Ian Mullings and Lithonia’s Ron Fowler 7, (4), 8.

Playing in the finals, they defeated Alan Nichols and Jay Mathis, both of Atlanta, 9, 12.

Flowers and Bowen also were entered in the men’s open doubles, but lost in the first round.

Bowen and Shawn Luque teamed up to win the men’s 30-plus event.

They defeated Joe Parrino of Alpharetta and Shawn Wilson of Johns Creek, 1,12 to advance to the semifinals where they eliminated Josh Ledbetter and Rex Ledbetter of Cookeville, Tenn., 6,5.

In the finals, Bowen and Luque won the championship over Brian Phillips of Simpsonville, S.C., and Daryl Ritacco of Greer, S.C., -7, 8, 0.

Luque and Bryan Titus of Suwanee won the men’s open championship.

In the quarterfinals, they won over Tony Deeb and Danny Smith of Riverdale 10, 3.

Luque and Titus won in the semifinals over Matt Rahn of Marietta and David Lockridge of Knoxville, Tenn., 9, 3.

Racquetball added to Funplex’s spring roster

The City of Greeley’s Leisure Services Department has added another option to their Adult Sports repertoire — Racquetball. The new spring racquetball league will begin March 14. Registration deadline will be February 27, late registration is February 28-March 5 with a $25 late fee.

Players will play a six-week round robin schedule followed by a single elimination tournament with consultation. Players will play one game per week. Home team schedules the match and reserves the court. A managers' meeting will be held March 7 at 6pm at the Family FunPlex to discuss details.

Five racquetball leagues will be offered: two singles leagues — Mens & Womens & three doubles leagues — Coed, Mens & Womens. Fees are $32 per player for the singles league and $64 per player for doubles league. Players must be at least 16 years of age to register.

Green, Lambert claim racquetball titles

BROSSARD, Que. — Mike Green won Racquetball Canada’s national team selection event Sunday to move into second spot in the national rankings.

Green, of Burlington, Ont., defeated top seed Vincent Gagnon of Montreal 10-15, 15-7, 11-4. Green, a six-time national champion, had been No. 1 in the country as recently as 2009 and is now clawing his way back toward the top spot.

Tim Landeryou defeated Kris Odegard in an all-Saskatoon matchup in the third-place game, 8-15, 15-12, 13-11.

On the women’s side, Frederique Lambert of Montreal upset top seed and current Canadian champion Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg in two straight, 17-15, 15-10. Lambert was sharp, and Saunders couldn’t quite match the young Quebecer’s shooting accuracy.

Josee Grand’Maitre of Longueuil, Que., defeated Brandi Jacobson Prentice of Montreal, 15-1, 15-4, to take third place.

The results of the team selection event are combined with two other competitions to determine Canada’s roster for the 2011 Pan American championships in Nicaragua in April.

Following the bouncing ball to a national doubles title in racquetball for a Wilmington duo

Steve Dayvault and Charlie Hauser used to play racquetball together on a regular basis at the Wilmington Athletic Club. In fact Hauser formerly served as the general manager of the club, but Hauser moved to California last year. Dayvault still calls Wilmington home though. The duo reunited last week. What a reunion it was !!

Dayvault and Hauser captured the open racquetball 55 and over national championship in Arizona. Upon his return to Wilmington, Dayvault said: "In the past if one of us played 80% and the other 100% we wouldn't win, but to win a national championship we both had to be on. We were on and every team we played in the tournament holds multiple national titles."

Racquetball on the Pecos

The 3rd annual Racquetball on the Pecos Tournament will be held March 4-6 at the Riverwalk Rec Center. There is a $25 entry fee. All proceeds support the Higher Level Youth Group at the Word of Life Church. The tournament format includes four classes (A, B, C, D) and is double elimination. T-shirst will be available for $12. Call Albert Ornelas at 575-499-5100 to sign up.

Racquetball revolt hits Columbia

The issue of childhood obesity might be all the rage, but about 25 passionate racquetball and handball players came to the Columbia Association board meeting Thursday night to fight a plan to remove two of their courts to make room for more children's programs.

Bob Bellamy, director of sports and fitness, said the CA has been studying ways to make more room for children's activities for two years, and finally had a $380,000 plan to remove two courts at the Supreme Court Sports Club off Snowden River Parkway to do it. Bellamy said he had collected statistics showing that usage of the courts was declining along with the popularity of the sport.

But residents like John Marty came out in strength to debunk the idea.

"We're the proverbial polar bears with the shrinking glaciers," Marty, a former CA employee, told the board.

"I lost 65 to 70 pounds. I've gone from being morbidly obese to now," said Seth Vinisky, 33. He sometimes plays for four-hour stretches, he said, and has torn calf muscles and endured both rotator cuff and elbow surgery from sports injuries. "You just keep playing until you can't walk anymore," he said.


Jose Jimenez said he immigrated to the United States 15 years ago and began playing racquetball two years later. Now he's co-coordinator of a league. "I'm in that club every day of the week," he said, playfully tossing a blue racquetball toward the seated board members. "The ball is in your court," he said to laughter and cheers.

Before any of the 15 speakers began talking, CA President Phillip Nelson announced that he had received "a vast number of e-mails" about the court issue and is postponing any action until the staff schedules a series of meetings with players and their supporters. "No further planning will be done until we strike up a dialogue," he said. But that assurance didn't stop people from speaking.

Ken Marx and others said they'd drop their CA membership if they couldn't find a racquetball court to play on. Dan Ho said there were 25 courts in Columbia when he started playing 25 years ago, but now that's down to 10, and it's hard to find an open one in peak after-work and weekend hours. The statistics are wrong, he said, because many players don't make reservations.

"We're passionate players," he said. "This is a lifetime commitment, a lifestyle. I've played for 40 years."

Four walls of fury: the untold story of the Bryant racquet ball courts

From the dawn of time people have thrived on going "mano y mano" for the thrill of competition. Whether it be the Greco-Roman competitions of the early Olympiad in Athens or the Super Bowl Sunday battle for the Lombardi Trophy people love to prove their will over another human in any given sport.

Given the intensely competitive nature of the students on the Bryant campus it is apparent that there is a need to provide a platform to foster this competitive spirit, and I am writing this article to inform the good students of Bryant that there is such a platform.

While Basketball is certainly king of the hill when it comes to pick-up sports at the Chace Wellness Center there is another venue that goes largely un-used and greatly unappreciated. Despite looking much like the windowless cells of a state penitentiary,

the racquet ball courts behind the MAC are an outstanding source of fun and an even greater place to showcase athletic talent.

The game is simple, two rackets, one ball, and four walls. Players return volleys against the wall in a furious fashion until one cannot keep up.

Despite its simple nature the game is strangely addicting and even more aggravating upon losing a volley. It was no more than a few weeks ago that several of my friends and I (who will remain anonymous) participated in several rousing rounds of racquetball.

Being a stranger to the racquetball courts I was largely unaware of the ferocity that was about to hit all of the competitors in the square rooms that day.

After several warm-up rounds I was shocked at the profanity laden cut-throat nature of the sport, and in the same breath I absolutely loved every minute of it. There is little greater pleasure to derive out of athletics then putting away your good buddy in a set with a monster forehand. It is without equivocation that I can tell you that if you do choose to take advantage of these open courts and play you too will feel the all the thrills that racquet ball has to offer.

As much fun as racquet ball can be it is as shrouded in myth as it is entertaining. It has been rumored that our fearless leader, President Machtley, is quite the racquet ball player himself. In fact it is stitched into Bryant folk lore that should any student come across him in the racquet ball area, challenge him to a match, and come out victorious then said student will have his or her tuition paid for In full. If that is the case, and should you be reading this President Machtley, then my racquet is strung up and ready to go.

Racquetball player sues YMCA over broken wrist

A Cahokia man is suing the local YMCA after he was allegedly hurt on the racquetball court.

Robert Totra filed the lawsuit against the Young Men's Christian Association of Southwest Illinois Jan. 14 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Totra says in January 2009 he went to play racquetball with a friend at the Belleville YMCA. He says just prior to his playing on the court, it was used for a children's tumbling class.

Totra claims YMCA employees failed to properly clean the court. During the game he says he slipped and fell on a piece of clothing that was left behind. Totra says the fall fractured his left wrist.

Totra is asking for more than $75,000 in damages to compensate for medical expenses and court costs.

Attorney Paul W. Johnson of Belleville is representing Totra.

11th Annual Great Balls of Fire ProAM

Contact the tourney director:greatballsmiami@aol.com
305 606 1756

TOURNAMENT LOCATION(S)
University Of Miami Wellness Center
1241 Dickinson Drive
Coral Gables, Florida 33146



Event Description:
12th Annual Great Balls of Fire ProAM

Entry Deadlines:
Please enter Online.
Mail entries must be postmarked no later than Friday 2/18/2011. Please mail entries to PO Box 527465, Miami, FL 33152-7465.Make check payable to: Great Balls of Fire. Online entries open until Friday 2/18/2011 at 11:50 PM. (Central Time)
Late online entries will be accepted up until Sunday 2/20/2011 by 11:50 PM (Central Time) for an additional fee of: $10 .

Starting Times:
Please check start times online. Start times for first round match(s) will be available after 5:00 PM Wednesday 2/23/2011. Call 305 606 1756 if you don't have internet access. Play starts at 11:00 AM on Friday 2/25/2011.
Time Zone: Eastern Time (EST)



Event Director(s):
Lynne Olvey & Vivian Gomez reserve(s) the right to combine or cancel any division due to insufficient entries.



Ball: Ektelon Fireball and Ektelon Black

Sanctioning:
USAR/FRA sanctioned, USAR membership is required. USAR rules apply.

Age Requirement
For age division competition, participants must meet the proper age requirement as of the first day of the event.

News from Kim Roy

IRT Florida Spring Break ProAm
---TAMPA---
Tier 1 IRT Event
March 10-13
ALL the the IRT pros will be back in Florida...
for the BIGGEST tournament in FLORIDA!!!!


Tournament HOTEL: Westin Harbour Island (1 block away)
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1011080187&key=B8A14


Online registration: http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=7244


Tournament Clubs:
Harbour Island Athletic Club & Spa
Bob Sierra Northdale YMCA
University of South Florida Rec Center
(and satellite locations)
FREE shuttle service to/from facilities
---TAMPA---
FREE shuttle service to/from facilities


NO Amateur matches scheduled during pro quarters, semis and finals!! So you are guaranteed to see all the action!!

Tournament Director Kim Roy 603-491-1494
email kimberly_roy@hotmail.com.


FREE* Clinic
with Jim Winterton


March 12
Saturday 3pm
Harbour Island Athletic Club - Tampa, FL
*with tournament entry or guest ticket into the IRT Florida Spring Break Pro Am

USAR-IP Clinic
March 9-10
Harbour Island Athletic Club Tampa, FL

Instructor: Jim Winterton
Note that the IRT Florida Spring Break Pro Am (Tier 1 IRT Pro Stop) is scheduled at the same city for March 10-13. Great opportunity to participate in both events!!!!!!!!!


Online Registration: http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=7762

Junior Regionals

May 20-22

Harbour Island Athletic Club & Spa - Tampa, FL

Online registration:

Lots of round robin and pool play in each division!!!!!!!!!!



http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=7249

Salt Lake City ProAm
IRT Tier 1 Event
Salt Lake City, Utah
March 17-19
www.SaltLakeCityProAm.com


To register, call Kim Roy at 603-491-1494 or email kimberly_roy@hotmail.com.
FREE Clinic
with Jason Mannino


March 9
Wednesday 7pm
Bob Sierra YMCA
Tampa, FL
Jason Mannino will be conducting a FREE clinic in TAMPA at the Bob Sierra YMCA to start off the exciting IRT Florida Spring Break Pro Am weekend in Tampa, Florida!!! Great opportunity for tips from the former World Champion!! Amazing opportunity!!

FREE* Junior Clinic
March 12
Saturday 10am
Harbour Island Athletic Club
Tampa, FL
*with tournament entry or guest ticket into the IRT Florida Spring Break Pro Am
Support Professional Racquetball in Florida
Thank you for your generosity in bringing the IRT Professionals to Florida each year! This upcoming season, the IRT is planning to be back to Florida March 10-13, 2011. With your support, we can make this happen again this year. Thank you very much!


Checks should be made out to: International Racquetball Tour
And mail check to: Kim Roy -PO Box 24434 - Tampa, FL 33623


**Advertise here**


Contact Kim Roy via cell 603-491-1494 or email kimberly_roy@hotmail.com for advertising rates.

**Advertisement**
Looking for a vacation get-away?
Condo for rent in Naples
Beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathrom condo on the water available for a vacation get-away from a fellow racquetball player!! Please call Larry at 239-877-4009 or email fuzz1548@yahoo.com.

European Championships 2011

The European Racquetball Federation (ERF) has set the date for the 16th ERF European Championships 2011 in Bad Tölz, Germany. The event will take place from August 1st to August 6th. Depending on the number of entries, the opening ceremony might be held on July 31st already. Players from 10 countries are expected to compete in this bi-annual European competiton. The European Championships consist of a team and an individual competiton for both, men and women. In addition, senior and junior championships will also be held at the same time. Bad Tölz is a town in Bavaria, Germany. The city resides on the Isar River, 670 metres above sea level. Bad Tölz is known for its spas, historic medieval town, and spectacular views of the alps. It is appr. 50 km south of Munich. The nearest airport is Munich International Airport.

Upcoming Events in Ireland

All Ireland Intervarsities Championships
Date - 3rd & 4th March 2011
Venue- O`Loughlin Gael GAA Club, Kilkenny City
Enter Online

National Club Championships
Date - 12th & 13th March 2011
Venue- Castlebar, Co Mayo
Contact - Michael Haverty 087 9234514
Enter Online

Irish Junior Open
Date - 26th & 27th March 2011
Venue- Fermoy, Co Cork
Contact - Christy Slattery 087 2250791

Ireland-1st Fethard Open - First Open win for Johnny

Johnny O`Keeney(Cork Institute of Technology) won his his Mens Open Singles event when he defeated Conor Skehan(Touraneena) also playing in his first Open Singles Final at the 1st Fethard Open held in Fethard Co Tipperary on the 12th & 13th February.
Donna Ryder (Newport) won the Women`s Open Singles defeating Rossmore`s Aisling Hickey in the final.
The Mens Open Doubles was won by Noel O`Callaghan(Fermoy) and Mark Murphy(Kilkenny).

San Diego Open

The 2011 San Diego Open Racquetball Championships will be held February 23rd – 27th at Sorrento Valley Racquetball & Fitness Center. This is an IRT Tier 1 Pro Stop which will feature the top professionals in the game today. The total prize money for Professional and Amateur athletes is $27,950. There will be prize money and prizes for every division.

Scheduled to compete, KANE WASELENCHUK, ROCKY CARSON, BEN CROFT, JACK HUCZEK, CHRIS CROWTERS, SHANE VANDERSON, ANDY HAWTHORNE, JOSE ROJAS, ANTHONY HERRERA, JOHN SCOTT and many other top ranked professionals.

If you cannot attend this event, go to, www.irtnetwork.com and watch online beginning Friday 2-24-11 at 12 noon.

ON SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THIS EVENT
1. Championship Racquetball, a book by Fran Davis and Jason Mannino.
2. Famous sport artist, Leroy Neiman's autographed lithographs of, Marty Hogan and Charlie Brumfield.

Russ Mannino
www.RacquetballGalaxy.com
www.VictoryGyms.com
(858)663-2934

IRT Florida Spring Break Pro Am (March 10-13)

Definitely wanted to remind you to mark your calendar for the IRT Florida Spring Break Pro Am (March 10-13)... HUGE pro stop in Tampa, Florida with over 250+ participants from many countries and all over the USA. And ALL the pros will be there since it's a Tier 1 IRT pro stop!!! Would love to have you attend. Entry information attached. Will you forward the entry information to your racquetball friends?! Also, it's important to note that here will not be any amateur matches during the pro quarters, semis and finals ---so you are guaranteed to see all the action. Also there will be a free shuttle service to/from the facilities!!! Online tournament registration: http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=7244.


Online hotel reservations: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1011080187&key=B8A14. The Westin Harbour Island is 1 block from main club. Also free parking for hotel patrons. Spaces limited on the discounted hotel rates, so reserved your spot soon! :)


Look forward to seeing you next month!! Feel free to call/email if you have questions!!! Happy to help you register, just give me a call 603-491-1494!!! :) :)


See you soon! :)


Kim Roy
cell #603-491-1494