Referee/Volunteer
1950 -
Born in Wales, Penny emigrated to Canada and specifically Ontario in 1968 and during this time, she excelled as a player, official, coach and volunteer administrator. Even before coming to Canada, Penny had learned to play and referee squash in Cardiff. She played her first match for the Welsh International ladies’ team in 1965 against Scotland and went on to represent Swales several more times before coming to Canada.
She joined the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club and tackled the North American hardball game, winning the Ontario Women’s Open in 1970. She moved to Ottawa and for the next two decades, she was a trailblazer, both on and off the courts. She racked up Ontario hardball and soft ball titles and was selected for four Canadian Women’s teams between 1976 and 1981. She added 3 Canadian titles to her long list of on court achievements.
Not content with only playing the game, Penny has been an integral part of the development of squash in Canada. In Ottawa she was involved in the founding of the
Ottawa & District squash Association in the 1970s, and the switch from the hardball game to the softball version. She was President of the ODSA in 1998 and has held most o the other positions on that Association’s Committee over the years.
With the introduction of the international soft ball game to Canada, Penny played an important role in the development of Squash Canada’s new officiating certification program. She was appointed an A1 national level referee when the program was first introduced and then was chosen as a National Instructor and Assessor.
Apart from refereeing at many local, provincial, and national tournaments, including the Canada Games, she has been invited to referee at several major international events, including 3 World Women’s Champions, 2 Pan Am Games amongst many.
Penny has been recognized by the City of Ottawa with Sports Awards for Squash, and in 2019 she was presented with the City’s Lifetime Technical Official Award. She is the recipient of two Province of Ontario National Achievement Awards and the Ontario government’s Syl Apps Volunteer Award. Perhaps her most cherished award is the Simon Warder Officials Outstanding Achievement Award – nominated BY and voted upon by her peers. In 2014, she was inducted to the Squash Canada Wall of Fame.
She has given of her time unselfishly to officiating to many players and officials over the years. Her contributions have been outstanding and exceptional.