Cassie Campion
Encyclopedia
Cassie Jackman is a former English
squash
player who won the World Open in 1999. She has been England's leading player throughout much of the 1990s and early 21st century. She retired due to a recurring back injury in December 2004.
, Norfolk
, England
, Cassie was such a talented youngster that her coaches would match her against boys. She won the world Junior Women's crown in 1991, and a year later the legendary Susan Devoy
claimed she was good enough to replace her at the top of women's squash, but Cassie found it hard going, losing the 1994 World Open final to Michelle Martin
9–1, 9–0, 9–6.
She had no luck in he 1996 World Open final either, losing to Sarah Fitz-Gerald
9–4, 9–2, 4–9, 9–6 who would go on to win another four World Opens. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games
she won a gold medal in the doubles with Sue Wright
, and a bronze in the singles.
1999 saw Cassie gain her only World Open title, beating her great rival Michelle Martin
9–6, 9–7, 9–7 in Seattle. However, she was disappointed not to land the British Open
when she lost to Leilani Joyce
in the final in Aberdeen.
In 2000 she held the number one ranking player position throughout much of the year. Later that year saw the occurrence of a back problem that required surgery
. Much of 2001 was spent recovering from that. 2003 saw Cassie reach the final again, but she lost out to Carol Owens
3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
player who won the World Open in 1999. She has been England's leading player throughout much of the 1990s and early 21st century. She retired due to a recurring back injury in December 2004.
Career
Born in North WalshamNorth Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England in the North Norfolk district.-Demographics:The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 11,998. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Cassie was such a talented youngster that her coaches would match her against boys. She won the world Junior Women's crown in 1991, and a year later the legendary Susan Devoy
Susan Devoy
Dame Susan Elizabeth Anne Devoy, DNZM, CBE is a New Zealand squash player who dominated the sport in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She won the World Open on four occasions.-Playing career:...
claimed she was good enough to replace her at the top of women's squash, but Cassie found it hard going, losing the 1994 World Open final to Michelle Martin
Michelle Martin
Michelle Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia who was one of the game's leading players in the 1990s. During her career, she won three World Open titles and six British Open titles...
9–1, 9–0, 9–6.
She had no luck in he 1996 World Open final either, losing to Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Fitz-Gerald
Sarah Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald AM is an Australian women's squash player who is perhaps the greatest of the 1990s, collecting five World Open titles – 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. She ranks alongside Susan Devoy, Michelle Martin and Heather McKay as the sport's greatest...
9–4, 9–2, 4–9, 9–6 who would go on to win another four World Opens. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games
1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
she won a gold medal in the doubles with Sue Wright
Sue Wright
Sue Wright is a former professional squash player from England. She was runner-up at the British Open in 1991 and 2000, and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 3 in 1998. She won the British National Championship title four times in 1992, 1997, 1998 and 2001. As a junior player, Wright...
, and a bronze in the singles.
1999 saw Cassie gain her only World Open title, beating her great rival Michelle Martin
Michelle Martin
Michelle Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia who was one of the game's leading players in the 1990s. During her career, she won three World Open titles and six British Open titles...
9–6, 9–7, 9–7 in Seattle. However, she was disappointed not to land the British Open
British Open Squash Championships
The British Open Squash Championships is the oldest and most established tournament in the game of squash. It is widely considered to be one of the two most prestigious tournaments in the game, alongside the World Open The British...
when she lost to Leilani Joyce
Leilani Joyce
Leilani Joyce is a former World No. 1 professional squash player from New Zealand. During her career, she won the British Open in 1999 and 2000, and finished runner-up at the World Open in 2000 and 2001....
in the final in Aberdeen.
In 2000 she held the number one ranking player position throughout much of the year. Later that year saw the occurrence of a back problem that required surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
. Much of 2001 was spent recovering from that. 2003 saw Cassie reach the final again, but she lost out to Carol Owens
Carol Owens
Carol Owens is a New Zealand-based squash player who won the World Open in 2000 and 2003.Owens was born in Melbourne, Australia, but she changed her nationality when she moved to Auckland, New Zealand. A right-hander, she made her competitive debut in 1990 in the Swiss Open where she finished 17th...
3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3.
Finals: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1994 | Guernsey Guernsey Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet... |
 Michelle MartinMichelle Martin Michelle Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia who was one of the game's leading players in the 1990s. During her career, she won three World Open titles and six British Open titles... |
9–1, 9–0, 9–6 |
| Runner-up | 1996 | Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million... , Malaysia |
Sarah Fitz-Gerald Sarah Fitz-Gerald Sarah Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald AM is an Australian women's squash player who is perhaps the greatest of the 1990s, collecting five World Open titles – 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. She ranks alongside Susan Devoy, Michelle Martin and Heather McKay as the sport's greatest... |
9–0, 9–3, 9–4 |
| Winner | 1999 | Seattle, United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Michelle Martin Michelle Martin Michelle Martin is a former professional squash player from Australia who was one of the game's leading players in the 1990s. During her career, she won three World Open titles and six British Open titles... |
9–6, 9–7, 9–7 |
| Runner-up | 2003 | Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... |
 Carol OwensCarol Owens Carol Owens is a New Zealand-based squash player who won the World Open in 2000 and 2003.Owens was born in Melbourne, Australia, but she changed her nationality when she moved to Auckland, New Zealand. A right-hander, she made her competitive debut in 1990 in the Swiss Open where she finished 17th... |
3–9, 9–2, 9–7, 9–3 |