Heather McKay
Encyclopedia
Heather Pamela McKay AM
MBE
(born on 31 July 1941) is a retired Australia
n squash
player, who is considered by many to be the greatest female player in the history of the game, and possibly also Australia's greatest-ever sportswoman. She dominated the women's squash game in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 16 consecutive British Open
titles between 1962 and 1977, and capturing the inaugural women's World Open title in 1979, whilst remaining undefeated during that period. She was also a top-level player of other sports, including field hockey
and racquetball
.
. As Heather McKay, she completely dominated the sport of women's squash in the 1960s and '70s. She lost only two matches in her entire career (in 1960 and 1962), and was unbeaten in competitive squash matches from 1962 through to 1981, when she retired from active open squash.
McKay won her first British Open (considered to be the effective world championship of the sport at the time) in 1962. She then won it again every year for the next 15 consecutive years, losing only two games at the championship during that time. She usually won her finals matches comfortably. In the 1968 championship, she won the final against her compatriot Bev Johnson without dropping a point.
In 1976, an unofficial world championship known as the Women's World Squash Championship was held in Brisbane
, which McKay won by defeating Marion Jackman
in the final 9–2, 9–2, 9–0. The first official women's World Open was held in 1979 in England
, and McKay captured the inaugural title with a 6–9, 9–3, 9–1, 9–4 win over Sue Cogswell
in the final.
McKay also won the Australian Amateur Championships for 14 consecutive times from 1960 to 1973.
When she retired in 1981 at the age of 40, McKay had gone nearly 20 years undefeated (with the only two defeats to her name occurring at the beginning of her career). Since retiring from the top-level game, she has remained active in international Masters level events, and has won two over-45 world championship titles and two over-50 world championship titles.
Heather also proved to be a talent in other sports, including field hockey, where she was a member of the Australian Women's Hockey Team in 1967 and 1971. In racquetball, she won the American Amateur Racquetball Championship once (1979), the American Professional Racquetball Championship three times (1980–81 and 1984), and the Canadian Racquetball Championship five times (1980 and 1982–85). She was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 1997.
She was a teaching professional at the Toronto Squash Club in the 80's. She worked with up and comer David Wright in an intensive Junior Program.
Note: Competed as Heather Blundell from 1962 to 1965.
(MBE) in 1969, and a Member of the Order of Australia
(AM) in 1979. She was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
McKay wrote a book, Heather McKay's Complete Book of Squash, which was released in 1979. Staying active in squash, she was named coach of the Australian Institute of Sport's Squash Division in 1985. In 1999 she was one of the founder members of the Women's International Squash Players Association
Hall of Fame, of which she herself was one of the first to be inducted.
McKay was featured on the front cover of the 2006 Sensis White Pages for the Canberra, Queanbeyan and Yass regions.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born on 31 July 1941) is a retired Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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 is considered by many to be the greatest female player in the history of the game, and possibly also Australia's greatest-ever sportswoman. She dominated the women's squash game in the 1960s and 1970s, winning 16 consecutive 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...
titles between 1962 and 1977, and capturing the inaugural women's World Open title in 1979, whilst remaining undefeated during that period. She was also a top-level player of other sports, including field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
.
Career
Heather Blundell was born in Queanbeyan, New South WalesQueanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
. As Heather McKay, she completely dominated the sport of women's squash in the 1960s and '70s. She lost only two matches in her entire career (in 1960 and 1962), and was unbeaten in competitive squash matches from 1962 through to 1981, when she retired from active open squash.
McKay won her first British Open (considered to be the effective world championship of the sport at the time) in 1962. She then won it again every year for the next 15 consecutive years, losing only two games at the championship during that time. She usually won her finals matches comfortably. In the 1968 championship, she won the final against her compatriot Bev Johnson without dropping a point.
In 1976, an unofficial world championship known as the Women's World Squash Championship was held in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, which McKay won by defeating Marion Jackman
Marion Jackman
Marion Jackman is a retired squash player from Australia.Jackman began playing squash in 1962 and, having retired temporarily several times, finally stopped playing in 2003....
in the final 9–2, 9–2, 9–0. The first official women's World Open was held in 1979 in 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...
, and McKay captured the inaugural title with a 6–9, 9–3, 9–1, 9–4 win over Sue Cogswell
Sue Cogswell
Sue Cogswell is a retired squash player from England. She was runner-up at the inaugural women's World Open championship in 1979, where she lost in the final to the Australian player Heather McKay 6–9, 9–3, 9–1, 9–4. Cogswell was also a three-time runner-up at the British Open, losing in the final...
in the final.
McKay also won the Australian Amateur Championships for 14 consecutive times from 1960 to 1973.
When she retired in 1981 at the age of 40, McKay had gone nearly 20 years undefeated (with the only two defeats to her name occurring at the beginning of her career). Since retiring from the top-level game, she has remained active in international Masters level events, and has won two over-45 world championship titles and two over-50 world championship titles.
Heather also proved to be a talent in other sports, including field hockey, where she was a member of the Australian Women's Hockey Team in 1967 and 1971. In racquetball, she won the American Amateur Racquetball Championship once (1979), the American Professional Racquetball Championship three times (1980–81 and 1984), and the Canadian Racquetball Championship five times (1980 and 1982–85). She was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 1997.
She was a teaching professional at the Toronto Squash Club in the 80's. She worked with up and comer David Wright in an intensive Junior Program.
Finals: 2 (2 titles, 0 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1976 | Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
 Marion JackmanMarion Jackman Marion Jackman is a retired squash player from Australia.Jackman began playing squash in 1962 and, having retired temporarily several times, finally stopped playing in 2003.... |
9–2, 9–2, 9–0 |
| Winner | 1979 | Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... , 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... |
 Sue CogswellSue Cogswell Sue Cogswell is a retired squash player from England. She was runner-up at the inaugural women's World Open championship in 1979, where she lost in the final to the Australian player Heather McKay 6–9, 9–3, 9–1, 9–4. Cogswell was also a three-time runner-up at the British Open, losing in the final... |
6–9, 9–3, 9–1, 9–4 |
Finals: 16 (16 titles, 0 runner-up)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| Winner | 1962 | unknown | Fran Marshall Fran Marshall Fran Marshall is a retired squash player from England. She won the British Open in 1961, defeating Ruth Turner in the final in straight sets 9–3, 9–5, 9–1. She was also the runner-up at the championship in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1969.... |
9–6, 9–5, 9–4 |
| Winner | 1963 | unknown | Fran Marshall Fran Marshall Fran Marshall is a retired squash player from England. She won the British Open in 1961, defeating Ruth Turner in the final in straight sets 9–3, 9–5, 9–1. She was also the runner-up at the championship in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1969.... |
9–4, 9–2, 9–6 |
| Winner | 1964 | unknown | Fran Marshall Fran Marshall Fran Marshall is a retired squash player from England. She won the British Open in 1961, defeating Ruth Turner in the final in straight sets 9–3, 9–5, 9–1. She was also the runner-up at the championship in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1969.... |
9–2, 9–2, 9–1 |
| Winner | 1965 | unknown | Anna Craven-Smith |
9–0, 9–1, 9–2 |
| Winner | 1966 | unknown | Anna Craven-Smith |
9–0, 9–0, 10–8 |
| Winner | 1967 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , 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... |
Anna Craven-Smith |
9–1, 10–8, 9–6 |
| Winner | 1968 | London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... , 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... |
Bev Johnson |
9–0, 9–0, 9–0 |
| Winner | 1969 | Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... , 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... |
Fran Marshall Fran Marshall Fran Marshall is a retired squash player from England. She won the British Open in 1961, defeating Ruth Turner in the final in straight sets 9–3, 9–5, 9–1. She was also the runner-up at the championship in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1969.... |
9–2, 9–0, 9–0 |
| Winner | 1970 | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , 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... |
 Marcia Roche |
9–1, 9–1, 9–0 |
| Winner | 1971 | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , 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... |
Jenny Irving |
9–0, 9–3, 9–1 |
| Winner | 1972 | Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... , 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... |
Kathy Malan |
9–1, 9–1, 9–2 |
| Winner | 1973 | Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... , 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... |
 C. Fleming |
9–1, 9–0, 9–1 |
| Winner | 1974 | Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... , 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... |
Sue Cogswell Sue Cogswell Sue Cogswell is a retired squash player from England. She was runner-up at the inaugural women's World Open championship in 1979, where she lost in the final to the Australian player Heather McKay 6–9, 9–3, 9–1, 9–4. Cogswell was also a three-time runner-up at the British Open, losing in the final... |
9–2, 9–1, 9–2 |
| Winner | 1975 | Wembley Wembley Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena... , 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... |
Marion Jackman Marion Jackman Marion Jackman is a retired squash player from Australia.Jackman began playing squash in 1962 and, having retired temporarily several times, finally stopped playing in 2003.... |
9–3, 9–1, 9–5 |
| Winner | 1976 | Wembley Wembley Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena... , 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... |
Sue Newmann |
9–2, 9–4, 9–2 |
| Winner | 1977 | Wembley Wembley Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena... , 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... |
Barbara Wall Barbara Wall Barbara Wall is a former squash player from Australia.Wall turned professional in 1973, the first Australian woman to do so. She travelled overseas in 1976 and the following year, though unseeded, managed to make the final of the British Open, where she lost to Heather McKay... |
9–3, 9–1, 9–2 |
Note: Competed as Heather Blundell from 1962 to 1965.
After retirement
McKay was made a Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) in 1969, and a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) in 1979. She was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
McKay wrote a book, Heather McKay's Complete Book of Squash, which was released in 1979. Staying active in squash, she was named coach of the Australian Institute of Sport's Squash Division in 1985. In 1999 she was one of the founder members of the Women's International Squash Players Association
Women's International Squash Players Association
The Women's International Squash Players Association is an organization for female squash professionals. It is responsible for running the women's professional tour and the women's world rankings...
Hall of Fame, of which she herself was one of the first to be inducted.
McKay was featured on the front cover of the 2006 Sensis White Pages for the Canberra, Queanbeyan and Yass regions.