Heather Pamela McKay is an Australian retired 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 from 1962 to 1977, and capturing the inaugural women's World Open title in 1976, while remaining undefeated during that period. She was also a top-level player of other sports, including field hockey and racquetball.
The World Squash Championships are squash events for men and women organised by the Professional Squash Association. The men's event was first held in 1976 in London, England and the women's was inaugurated in 1976 in Brisbane, Australia.
Sue Cogswell is a retired squash player from England. She was runner-up at the 1979 Women's World Open Squash Championship, 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 to McKay in 1974, to Barbara Wall in 1979, and to Vicki Cardwell in 1980. Cogswell won the British National Squash Championship title five times in 1975 and 1977–79.
Cogswell was part of the winning British team during the 1979 Women's World Team Squash Championships and runner-up in the 1981 Women's World Team Squash Championships.
Sue Newman is an Australian former professional squash player. She won the British Open in 1978, beating her fellow Australian player Vicki Hoffman in the final 9–4, 9–7, 9–2. Newman was also runner-up at the British Open in 1976, when she lost in the final to Australia's Heather McKay.
Fran Marshall was a 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. She also won the Scottish Open in 1962 beating Heather McKay in straight games, making her the last woman to defeat Heather McKay in squash.
The 1979 McGuinness Men's World Open Squash Championship was the men's edition of the 1979 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in Toronto in Canada during September 1979. Geoff Hunt won his third consecutive World Open title, defeating Qamar Zaman in a repeat of the 1977 final.
The 1981 McGuinness Men's World Open Squash Championship is the men's edition of the 1981 World Open, which serves as the individual world championship for squash players. The event took place in Toronto in Canada from 19 November until 28 November 1981. Jahangir Khan won his first World Open title, defeating Geoff Hunt in the final.
The 1966 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the Lansdowne Club and Royal Aero Club in London from 13–18 February 1966.Heather McKay won her fifth consecutive title defeating Anna Craven-Smith in a repeat of the 1965 final.
The 1967 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the Lansdowne Club and Royal Aero Club in London from 10–16 February 1967.Heather McKay won her sixth consecutive title defeating Anna Craven-Smith for a third successive year in the final.
The 1968 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the Lansdowne Club and Royal Aero Club in London from 16–22 February 1968. Heather McKay won her seventh consecutive title by defeating Bev Johnson in the final.
The 1969 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the Lansdowne Club and Royal Aero Club in London from 11 to 16 January 1969.Heather McKay won her eighth consecutive title defeating Fran Marshall in the final.
The 1970 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the BP Club in Sydenham, London from 13–18 February 1970.Heather McKay won her ninth consecutive title defeating Marcia Roche in the final.
The 1971 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the BP Club in Sydenham, London from 19–25 February 1971.Heather McKay won her tenth consecutive title defeating Jenny Irving in the final. This equalled the previous record of ten wins set by Janet Morgan from 1950 through to 1959.
The 1972 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the BP Club in Lower Sydenham, London from 4–9 March 1972.Heather McKay won her eleventh consecutive title defeating Kathy Malan in the final. This surpassed the previous record of ten wins set by Janet Morgan from 1950 through to 1959.
The 1973 Women's Open Squash Championships was held at the BP Club in Lower Sydenham, London from 2–8 March 1973. Heather McKay won her twelfth consecutive title defeating Cecilie Fleming in the final. The final match lasted just sixteen minutes as McKay once again continued to easily outplay all opposition.
The 1974 Women's BP Open Squash Championships was held at the BP Club in Lower Sydenham, London from 1–7 March 1974. Heather McKay won her thirteenth consecutive title defeating Sue Cogswell in the final.
The 1975 Women's Langham Life Assurance British Open Squash Championships was held at Wembley in London from 28 February - 6 March 1975. Heather McKay won her fourteenth consecutive title defeating Marion Jackman in the final. The domination shown by Heather McKay was evident in the fact that she remained unbeaten in any competition since December 1962.
The 1976 Women's British Open Squash Championships was held at Wembley in London from 27 February - 4 March 1976. Heather McKay won her fifteenth consecutive title defeating Sue Newman in the final.
The 1977 Women's British Open Squash Championships was held at Wembley in London from 25 February - 3 March 1977. Heather McKay won her sixteenth consecutive title defeating Barbara Wall in the final. The 1977 final saw the first ever all professional final and the first unseeded player (Wall) in a final. Sue Cogswell became the first woman to take a game from Heather McKay since Marion Jackman in 1972 and the first in the British Open since 1964. .
The 1981 Women's W.I.S.R.F World Team Squash Championships were held in Canada and took place from October 25 until November 2, 1981.
Brisbane, Australia 
Champion
Runner-up
Semi-finalists
