Valiant Competitor forced to Call it Quits
Dec 18, 2004, by Martin Bronstein; SquashTalk Independent News Service © 2004;

Cassie Jackman Bows Out At The Top

Cassie Jackman, one of the finest player to come out of England, has announced her retirement, two days before her 32nd birthday.

A natural hitter of the ball from an early age, Cassie, from Norfolk on England’s east coast, thumped her way to the world junior title in 1991 and went on to win 19 tour titles including the World Open in 1999. The only title to elude her was the British Open; she reached the final twice losing to Leleini Rorani in 1999, when she was the hot favourite to win, and Rachel Grinham in 2003. Her trophy case also includes a Commonwealth Games gold medal for doubles and a bronze for singles.

“I am completely shattered by the situation,” Jackman told Colin McQuillan on the Squashnow! website. “I always thought I would retire at a time of my own choosing and was planning it would be in Melbourne, Matt’s home town, after the Commonwealth Games. Now it has been forced on me by circumstances over which I have no control. I am not too sure where I go from here.”

Her retirement at the top of the game – she was ranked world number two – is another blow to the Women’s International Squash Association (WISPA) who have had four great players retire whilst still in the top five in the last four years. First to go was Australian Michelle Martin to be followed by New Zealander Leilani Rorani, who left after winning her second British Open. Sarah Fitz-Gerald decided to quit while she was still almost unbeateable and then Carol Owens, another New Zealander, withdrew from the circuit two year ago while still number one.

When Jackman beat Michelle Martin 3/0 to win the World Open in 1999 she was expected to dominate the game for the next few years. These expectations were dashed by a lower back injury which struck during the 2000 British Open. In her second round match against Vanessa Atkinson she suddenly felt her left leg go ‘dead’ rendering her almost immobile. The cause was a pinched nerve in the lower back and a month later she had surgery to correct the problem. She recovered to return to the circuit, but two years later the complaint returned, necessitating a second operation. During this difficult period her marriage to England squash coach David Campion came to an end and Cassie returned to using her maiden name.

She was determined to get back , fighting a black mental period when there was some doubt as to whether she would ever play again. Not only did she get back on court she climbed all the way back to world number one in February of this year, a spot she held for six months. In November of this year she looked in superb form when winning the Shanghai World Stars tournament crushing both Natalie Grinham and and Nicol David 3/0 in the semis and final respectiviely.

But in the last two months she was twice stopped by injuries, first being rushed to hospital because of breathing problems during the Qatar Classic and then the ‘dead’ leg returned in the World Open in Kuala Lumpur, dashing her hopes of a second world title.

“She was a great personality and her buccaneering style made people want to watch her,” Andrew Shelley, WISPA’s director, told Squashtalk. “She was popular both on and off the court and she was warmly regarded by promoters and sponsors.”

Cassie was honored for her sporting deeds when she was made MBE in the Queen’s honours list this year.

It was a fitting national award for a sportsperson who spent 22 of her 32 years on a squash court, brining honour not only to herself but to British and world squash.

Vanessa Atkinson from Holland, winner of the World Open last week, takes over as world #2 player.

NEW ... Get the New Jonathon Power Instruction Video at the SquashTalk eStore!

Squashtalk.com All materials © 1999-2004. Communicate with us at info@squashtalk.com.
Published by Squashtalk LLC, 409 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 102, Acton, MA 01720 USA, Editor and Publisher Ron Beck,
Graphics editor Debra Tessier Send comments, ideas, contributions and feedback to the webmaster.
Copyright © 1999-2004 SquashTalk, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form except for one-time personal use.