| Neven Barbour - 2010 Neven Barbour has been one of the most important and enduring figures in New Zealand squash history. Robyn Blackwood (as she was before her marriage in 1986 to another squash great, Bruce Brownlee) was a New Zealand women’s squash pioneer. The first New Zealand squash player to win a major international title, Brownlee’s triumph in the 1976 British Amateur Championship launched a new era in the game in New Zealand. Bryden Clarke - 2014 Norm Coe - 2011 New Zealand men’s squash came of age during the 1970s, when a group of hardened players proved themselves as good as any amateurs in the world. Exceptionally tall for a leading player and possessing incredible racket skills, Davenport rose to a world ranking of number three, but was blocked by two exceptional players on the world scene - Pakistan’s Jahangir Khan and fellow New Zealander Ross Norman. One of New Zealand’s most accomplished women’s players, she won a national junior title and then, as Pam Buckingham and later Pam Guy won five national senior titles and a New Zealand Open crown. The first New Zealand squash administrator to make a significant impact on the world stage. Day, from the Hamilton club, was president of the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association from 1969-71, and co-ordinated the hosting of the 1971 world men’s championships in Hamilton, the first time New Zealand had hosted a world squash event. Arguably the greatest women’s player ever. Devoy dominated international squash for a decade, winning four world titles, eight British Open crowns, the New Zealand Open Championship eight times, the national championship 10 times and a host of other major international titles. Visited New Zealand in 1963 and 1965, then returned in 1967 as the country’s first full-time professional coach. An Egyptian who had been ranked amongst the world’s best as a player, Dardir had a profound effect on New Zealand squash. John Gillies was an Englishman who arrived in New Zealand in 1949 after a long and distinguished squash career in which he had played at international level for more than a decade and reached the British Amateur final in 1946. Don Green was a product of Timaru, but has spent most of his life in Dunedin. He received a solid grounding in the basics of the game from famed Timaru coach Wazzie Wilson, and he went on to become one of New Zealand’s leading players throughout the 1950s. For more than 20 years, Haddon was the driving force behind New Zealand squash, running the national association as its secretary in 1949, 1951 and from 1953-71, when it was based permanently in Palmerston North. |
Allen Johns - 2010 Trevor Johnston - 2013 Until her retirement after the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, Joyce had turned in a decade of outstanding results, including winning two British Open titles and twice being runner-up at the world championships. Bill Murphy - 2013 Nancy New was the first dominant New Zealand women’s player. She won the national title four times from 1951-55 and at her best was some distance ahead of her contemporaries. The world champion in 1986, when in the world open final at Toulouse, he ended legendary Pakistani player Jahangir Khan’s unbeaten run of more than 550 matches. Carol Owens became a squash star while representing Australia in the 1990s. At a time of immense strength in the women’s game, she was one of the world’s best and, in 1998, a Commonwealth Games medallist. Though she never played squash until she was in her 20s, Susie Simcock eventually gained a national top-10 ranking. Hailing from Whakatane, Steel was an only reasonable junior who blossomed once he reached the senior ranks. For 15 years Ann Stephens (nee Mackenzie) was the leading New Zealand women’s player. Playing an athletic, robust game she won five New Zealand titles in from 1956-63 and represented New Zealand from 1960-68. READ MORE... Charlie Waugh - 2010 Charlie Waugh was only 5ft 3in tall, but was a giant of the game in New Zealand through the 1960s. Joanne Williams - 2013 Jade Wilson - 2013 |