Damien makes sports history with trio of titles
SPORTING history was made recently by an Arklow club member at the All Ireland Senior Racquetball Championships in County Mayo.
Damien Kavanagh, from Robinstown, Palace, Clonroche, created history by becoming the first ever County Wexford man to win three All Ireland Racquetball titles on the same day.
In doing so he became the only athlete in Irish racquetball history to hold Irish Open, Leinster Senior Inter County, Munster Fermoy Open and three All Ireland Winners titles within the one year.
Damien, who trains out of Arklow Racquetball Club, was selected on the County Wicklow senior team for the recently held Leinster Senior Inter County Racquetball Championships where he and his fellow teammates Jimmy Gannon, Pat O Donnell, Brian Byrne and Chris Sillary defeated Kilkenny to become Leinster Champions for the very first time in County Wicklow’s history.
The All Ireland Championships were held in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, featuring almost 90 matches played over the weekend. Competitors came from all across Ireland and also some returned from the U.S.A. to take part in the prestigious National Championships.
Damien was ranked as number one seed in all of his competitions and as the tournament progressed he proved deserving of this and won almost all matches easily in two games.
In his first final of the day he defeated Martin Mulkeerins from Galway. Damien dominated this game with powerful passing shots from all over the court and incredible backhand shots, however it was his fitness levels that caused most of the damage and he won the final on a scoreline of 15-9, 15-6. He then took on a powerful and agile County Cork opponent who had returned from the world championships in the Dominican Republic in his next final. Damien let his opponent build up a gap most of the game and lost the first game 15-13. However his fitness helped him massively in game two where he ran out an easy winner 15-5. He maintained his form in the third game and hit powerful backhand shots at the right times to win the final on a scoreline of 1315, 15-4, 11-5. He also teamed up with Michael Malone from County Kilkenny to take down the doubles title where they defeated their County Derry and County Mayo opponents to win 2-0.
Damien has now amassed his eigth All Ireland medal within the last four years in both the 40x20 & 60x30 codes, an incredible achievement. He also holds various Leinster, Irish Open, Munster and Club winners medals.
Damien has now moved in to the top 15 in the Irish Senior Racquetball rankings and will look to add another title at the Ulster Open in County Cavan in a few weeks and will represent his country with pride at the Italian Open in Brembate, Italy in June.
Damien would like to express his sincere gratitude to his parents Eddie and Mary, family and friends who supported him and wished him luck in the lead up to the championships and also to his club Arklow Racquetball Club who supported and looked after him as he travelled and competed for them in the last few years.
In particular he would like to thank his Team Ireland coach Adam Neary as well as club president Maureen Gannon for all their continued support and hard work. In addition, he would like to thank all the staff at his former secondary school Good Counsel College for their support and the use of their facilities, as well as former Irish squash international and New Ross native Val Flanagan for his advice in the lead up to the finals.
Damien works as a REPS Ireland & European Health and Fitness Association professionally qualified and registered fitness trainer.
Anyone wishing to avail of the various services offered by his company, Elevate Fitness & Performance can contact him via the company’s newly formed Facebook page and website www. elevatefitnessandperformance.ie