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 04-Sep-06:
Fiona Bows Out
England star announces retirement ... |
They say bad news always comes in threes .... Peter Nicol, Andre
Agassi, and now Fiona Geaves have all hung up their rackets
within hours of each other.
Fiona, a stalwart of England teams for over a decade, moved to New
York a year ago to take up a coaching position at Heights Casino,
but continued to play selected tournaments - Jamaica, Florida, you
know, the less glamorous ones!
But holding down a full-time job while continuing on the tour isn't
something anyone can do for long, so at the age of 38 Fiona has
finally decided to call time on her playing career.
Playing on the WISPA tour since 1987 when she was ranked 20, Fiona
reached a highest world ranking of five, and bows out after an
unbroken run of 19 years in the top twenty.
Six WISPA titles (from 14 final appearances between 1990 and 2006),
one National title, two British Open O35 championships and two
Commonwealth medals, plus a host of England caps and medals, plenty
to remember.
She chose to announce her retirement on SquashSite, and we invite
reaction to the news
...
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Fiona Moves to NY
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I retire!
 I
had a wonderful season, beginning with the start of my new job in
Brooklyn.
I never imagined I would have played such good squash with a full
time job, but somehow I managed it and had some wonderful results
beating two top 10 players, as well as winning the
Florida Open.
With those great events came a very admirable World Ranking of 18,
again something I didn't think I would be able to maintain with the
new job.
There will
obviously be a huge part of me that will miss the tour, the
travelling and mixing with all the players which has been such a
huge part of my life for 20 years, but I am pleased that my job
still gives me the opportunity to be a part of Squash in the Junior
development scene with such a special programme here in Brooklyn at
the Heights Casino, who knows we may produce a World Champion!
 I
am looking forward to catching up with the girls for our WISPA event
in October but taking a back seat for a change to just watch the
action, I am sure it will be awesome.
Cheers and farewell
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 The
phrases senior player or stalwart of the Tour seem a
little diminishing and never work for me - and certainly have hardly
been applicable to Fiona in the later years of her career.
 She
proved to be continually competitive and gritty as she had been
throughout her time as a top squash professional. Aligned to her
renowned short game she has used all her attributes to carve out a
great career - and will doubtless be a top class coach too.
Her career will be chronicled elsewhere, but suffice to say that the
WISPA Tour will miss her name in draws and her great personality off
court; but thankfully not entirely as she will be part of the team
organising the Carol Weymuller Open at Heights Casino next month.
There will be many players there cracking a bottle to celebrate her
superb WISPA Tour time in her life, and wish Fi all the best for her
next chapter!
Andrew Shelley
WISPA |
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Dear Fi Fi,
 Congratulations
on such a great career mate and all the success you've had over the
last 20 years...National Champ, 2 Commonwealth medals, numerous
England caps and world no 5 and several WISPA titles to your name
etc etc...fantastic!!!!
You'll be dearly missed on the circuit, on and even more so off the
court as you always have a ready smile and a cheeky comment or joke!
I've had so much fun sharing with you on the circuit over the last
few years, you definitely made my career more enjoyable. Many many
great photos and memories to look back on.
I'll miss practicing with you too, as you always had something
interesting to add to the session or make it competitive!!!! I don't
think that I'll miss getting your drop shots back though!
They'd give anyone a stiff bum, they're so short and tight!!!
Laurent and I want to wish you all the luck, happiness and success
in your life away from the circuit and we already know that you're a
fantastic coach and that they all love you in Brooklyn.
I know from personal experience that you're a great coach as you've
helped me through many a match over the years, so a HUGE thanks for
all your support and help and most of all friendship!!!
We're lucky enough that we're now not far away from you, with us
being in Greenwich, so we look forward to all the great times ahead
when we get chance to spend time with you.
Lots of love and hugs, your mates
Lind and Laurent Elriani.
xxxxx |
I have known for
a while that Fi was about to retire but it still comes as a sad day
now her final decision has been made.
Fi is the last player on the tour who played competitively against
the great players of the past such as Susan Devoy, Lisa Opie, Liz
Irving, Martine Le Moignan and her great rival from Gloucestershire
Lucy Soutter. Her graceful game full of elegant strokes, beautiful
touch shots and her trademark lobs was able to sustain her career
into the modern era and allow her to compete with more recent greats
such as Cassie, Vicky, Tania, Sarah Fitz and of course her great
friend from recent times Linda Elriani.
Sometimes her almost gentle style hid her fantastic natural
athleticism and the fierce determination that is obviously necessary
to play for so long at such a high level.
Although WISPA will be a poorer association without Fi, knowing her
as I do I'm sure Fi will remain as involved as her coaching
commitments allow.
WISPA's loss will be her friends gain as hopefully we can see more
of her !
As a coach I know her wonderful way with kids ( mine all love her to
bits !) coupled with her true understanding of the game will again
propel her to the top of her new profession.
Good luck Fi and congratulations on a genuinely amazing career
Chris Noakes |
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