History making Marguerite Gore returns home to rousing reception
Written by AOB
She may not have been paraded around the streets of Wexford in an open top bus but newly crowned World Handball champion Marguerite Gore still received a warm welcome back in her native town early this week when she arrived home from the World Handball Championship in Minnesota, USA. Proudly wearing her gold medal from the Women’s C Singles as well as the silver she picked up after being narrowly pipped in the 35 and Over singles decider, the St. Mary’s player was welcomed by family, friends and neighbors at her home and later when she returned to work at Whitford House Hotel where she is a chef, her work colleagues were on hand to congratulate her on her magnificent achievement.
The St. Mary’s player became the first Wexford woman to win a world title at the games since women’s grades were introduced back in Kelowna, Canada in 1986, when she defeated Aishling Mullen, Galway 21-20, 21-20 in a nail biting Women’s C singles final and this after she had, a few hours earlier, just lost the 35 and Over singles final to Jean Kastner, USA on a scoreline of 21-20, 11-21, 11-5. That unlucky defeat only served to spur her on in the C final however and although feeling the strain of repetitive action over a number of days she rose to the challenge to record a historic victory.