Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 11/1/26-
Enter the 2026 Tucson Memorial HERE
The eleventh annual Tucson Memorial marks the 106th event in the history of the Race 4 Eight tour, with the tour spanning 18 states and two countries in the Race 4 Eight’s first fifteen seasons. The 2026 Tucson Memorial will feature the top R48 Men’s pros, Women Race 4 Eight, and Senior Race 4 Eight (40+) pros vying for one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes.
The Tucson Memorial was created in 2015 to honor handball friends and family who were sadly lost, a tradition that has evoked wonderful memories of handball players and fans who spent their lifetimes playing and supporting in the sport.
R48 #2 Ray Ure will seek to defend his R48 Memorial title in his second start of the season (Ure won September’s R48 Red HERE), just weeks after completing the Chicago marathon in 2:30:45 (HERE). While Ure has won his last two Race 4 Eight starts (May’s Aces Player’s Championship and September’s R48 Red), the marathoner is still chasing R48 #1 Martin Mulkerrins, who won his eighteenth Race event and second of the season at October’s R48 Portland Classic (HERE).
Mulkerrins and Ure will face each member of the Elite 8 in their quest for the 2026 Memorial title, in addition to a pack of challengers aiming for Elite 8 spots.
WR48 #1 Niamh Heffernan will be aiming to defend her WR48 Memorial title, while extending her WR48 winning streak to six events. Heffernan will face a strong field that includes former WR48 #1 Mikaila Esser, former WR48 champions Danielle Daskalakis and Ciana Ni Churraoin, and WR48 newcomers Mollie Dagg, Leah Mongue
SR48 #1 Sean Lenning will be seeking his first SR48 Memorial title against a strong field that includes Jeff Streibig and Boxer Rosales.
2026 Race 4 Eight Tucson Memorial
- Date: November 6-8, 2026
- Site: Tucson Racquet Club, 4001 N. Country Club Dr., Tucson, AZ 85716
- Tournament director: WPH
- Tournament sponsor: JR WPH
- Pro Events: R48 Men’s pro singles, WR48 singles, SR48 singles
- List of R48 Tucson R48 Men’s pro champions: Moreno (2011), Lenning (2012, 2015, 2018), Brady (2014), Mulkerrins (2019, 2024), Carroll (2017, 2021), L. Cordova (2022), D. Cordova (2023), Ure (2025)
- List of Tucson WR48 pro champions: McMahon (2017), Casey (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023), Ni Churraoin (2024), Heffernan (2025)
- List of SR48 Tucson Men’s pro champions: Chavez (2014), Fink (2018), Fink (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Defending Tucson Memorial R48 champion: Ray Ure (2025)
- Defending Tucson Memorial WR48 champion: Niamh Heffernan(2025)
- Defending Tucson Memorial SR48 champion: David Fink (2025)
- Number of ranked R48 pros entered: 18
- Number of ranked WR48 pros entered: 7
- Number of ranked SR48 pros entered: 5
- Current or former R48 #1’s entered: 2 (Lucho, Lenning, Mulkerrins)
- Current or former WR48 #1’s entered: 2 (Heffernan, Esser)
- Current or former SR48 #1’s entered: 1 (Lenning)
Important Links
2026 Tucson Memorial Press Release HERE
Follow the draws and results from the 2026 Race 4 Eight Tucson Memorial HERE
Current Race 4 Eight rankings HERE
Race 4 Eight Fun Facts HERE
Race 4 Eight History of Champions and Finalists HERE
Race 4 Eight Pro Player Bios HERE
WPH Destination Series Tucson HERE
Handball Terminology + Instruction and R48 Rules HERE
WPH Coaching Center Instructional Videos HERE
Support the sport and become a WPH Patreon HERE
2026/27 Race 4 Eight Schedule and Entries HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer