History of Squash

1830 Pupils at Harrow School discovered that a punctured racket ball, which ‘squashed’ on impact with the wall, produced a game with a wider range of shots that tested the players more.

1865 The first squash courts in the world are opened at Harrow School in North West London.

1883 The first purpose-built court was built by Vernon Harcourt in Oxford.

1922 First British Open was held for men and women at Queen’s Club in London.

1923 Standard court measurements agreed.

1926 The Tennis and Rackets Association issues official rules for squash.

1928 The Squash Rackets Association was founded to take over the administration in Britain from the Tennis and Rackets Association. It was the recognised World authority for squash .

1930 The first British Open is held (until 1947 on a challenge basis between two players).

1934 The Women’s Squash Rackets Association was created.

1950 Janet Shardlow won her first British Open title

1951 Hashim Khan won his first British Open title.

1962 Heather Blundell (McKay) won the first of her sixteen British Open titles.

1966 Jonah Barrington won his first of six British Open titles.

1967 The International Squash Rackets Federation (which later became the World Squash Federation) takes over the world governance of squash.

1979 Great Britain won the first Women’s World Team Championship, held in Birmingham.

1980 The responsibility for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales was devolved to autonomous national associations.

1989 The men’s and women’s associations amalgamated under the title of the Squash Rackets Association.

1998 England won 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals as squash is included for the first time at the Commonwealth Games.