TUCSON, AZ, WPH Press — The eleventh Race 4 Eight Tucson Memorial brought unforgettable emotion, fierce rivalries, and historic drama to the Tucson Racquet Club. For those looking to relive the magic—or see what they missed over three packed days of world-class handball—WPH videographer Che Lowenstein and ESPN sideline reporter Kara Mack have condensed the entire weekend into an action-packed, 13-minute tournament recap.
Watch the complete recap below: (Please Like, Follow and Share!)
Ladies First: Ni Churraoin Outlasts Heffernan in an All-Irish Classic
The recap kicks off with the Women’s Race 4 Eight (WR48), where Irish powerhouses took center stage. Reigning Memorial champion Niamh Heffernan stamped her ticket to the final by holding off a spirited second-game charge from Mollie Dagg (15-2, 15-13). On the other side of the draw, Ciana Ní Chúrraoin made a thunderous return to the American tour, bulldozing past Aoife Holden in straight games (15-4, 15-6).
That set up a marquee final between Galway sparring partners and frequent doubles teammates. With rallies averaging over 20 seconds, Ní Chúrraoin mounted an electric comeback from an 8-3 deficit to take game one 16-14. Heffernan answered back with trademark grit to take the second game 15-12 and push the final to an 11-point tiebreaker. In the deciding frame, Ní Chúrraoin sealed the match with a blistering tomahawk kill, taking the tiebreaker 15-10 to claim her second WR48 Memorial title and hoist Tucson’s coveted crystal cactus trophy.
Quarters and Semis: Upsets, Milestones, and Masterclasses
The Men’s Elite Eight delivered instant drama:
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Mulkerrins Holds Off Hernandez: Coming off his Portland title, world #1 Martin Mulkerrins neutralized an early killing spree from Dylan Hernandez to cruise in two games (15-8, 15-3).
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Canales Stuns Lucho: Leo Canales Jr. opened on a 13-1 blitz against former #1 Lucho Cordova, then fended off match point in game two with a clutch diving re-kill to advance 15-6, 16-14.
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Ure Battles McGrath: Defending champion Ray Ure dropped game one to Coleman McGrath’s backcourt lasers before regaining his rhythm to take the only men’s quarterfinal tiebreaker of the weekend.
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Doyle Breaks the Curse: Mark Doyle snapped an 0-5 career record against handball icon Sean Lenning, keeping relentless pressure on the legend to capture his first head-to-head victory and reach the semifinals.
In Saturday’s semifinals, Mulkerrins turned away Canales in a competitive two-game battle (15-2, 15-10), while Ure put on an absolute serving clinic against Doyle—blasting seven aces in 11 points during a breathless 9-minute, 50-second clinic (15-4, 15-3).
Championship Sunday: Ure Stuns Mulkerrins in 18-16 Thriller
Sunday’s final pitted #1 seed Mulkerrins against #2 seed and defending champion Ure, who entered court 1 riding an 18-match personal win streak at the Tucson Racquet Club.
Ure came out flying in game one, using lightning-fast transitions to claim a 15-7 victory. Game two turned into an all-time Race 4 Eight classic: Mulkerrins adjusted his tempo, digging in on the ceiling and forcing long, grueling exchanges to build a commanding second-game lead. But Ure refused to yield. Staying composed in the face of pressure, Ure reeled off a blistering late run, battling through ties at 14, 15, and 16 before driving home the final two points to capture the game 18-16.
The straight-game triumph marked Ure’s second consecutive Tucson Memorial crown and snapped Mulkerrins’ undefeated run to start the season.
Next Up on Tour: Denver
The Race 4 Eight heads to the Mile High City for Stop #5: the DAC Open at the historic Denver Athletic Club, December 11–13, 2026. Watch live coverage all season long on ESPN+ and support the players at patreon.com/wphlive.