Tuesday, July 23, 2013

O'Callaghan and Hickey are the champions of Europe

Ireland swept the 2013 European Championships in Bergamo, Italy last week. Noel O'Callaghan defeated German Trevor Meyer, 15-4, 15-10, to take the Mens Open title, while Aisling Hickey beat Andrea Gordon of Germany, 15-2, 15-6, to take the Ladies Open title.

O'Callaghan is the first Irishman to win the European title, so it's the first time that Ireland has swept the titles since the first European Championship in 1981. Hickey is the fifth Irish woman to win the Ladies title and first since Joan Kennedy in 2003.

Hickey also won the Ladies Open doubles with Kate Ryan, as they beat fellow Irish women Donna Ryder and Katie Kenny, 9-15, 15-4, 11-6. O'Callaghan wasn't so fortunate, as he and Ray Breen lost in the Mens Open doubles final to Mark Murphy and Stephen Quinn of Ireland, 15-5, 15-11.

The Irish team swept the team competitions as well, which they also did in 2007, when the European Championships were last in Italy.

2013 European Racquetball Championships
Bergamo, Italy

Mens Open Final


Noel O'Callaghan (Ireland) d. Trevor Meyer (Germany), 15-4, 15-10

Ladies Open Final

Aisling Hickey (Ireland) d. Andrea Gordon (Germany), 15-2, 15-6

Mens Open Doubles - Final

Mark Murphy & Stephen Quinn (Ireland) d. Noel O'Callaghan & Ray Breen, 15-5, 15-11

Ladies Doubles Open - Final

Aisling Hickey & Kate Ryan (Ireland) d. Donna Ryder & Katie Kenny (Ireland), 9-15, 15-4, 11-6

Team Competitions

Mens


1. Ireland
2. Germany
3. Catalonia (Spain)
4. Italy
5. France

Ladies

1. Ireland
2. Germany
3. Catalonia (Spain)
4. Italy

Follow the bouncing ball....

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