Athlete Modern
Hinnegan, Elaine
SPORT | Squash
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2010
(1954 – )
Elaine was born in Chatham in 1954 and attended CCI where she was an all-round athlete, starring in basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and track and field. While in grade 13 she was the female winner of the prestigious “Hinnegan Trophy” which was named after her deceased brother, Richard “Dick” Hinnegan.
At Lakehead University, where Elaine completed a four year Honours Physical Education Degree, she was a starting guard on the basketball team for 3 years and played field hockey for 4 years. She was chosen as Female Freshman Athlete of the Year. In 1976, in her last year at Lakehead she dropped basketball to concentrate on her studies and took up squash at which she has excelled for over 30 years.
While working towards a teacher’s degree at the University of Western Ontario, Elaine was selected for Canada’s first national squash team which trained weekends in Toronto.
Elaine, as a result of her husband’s job, has lived in numerous countries around the world, playing squash competitively and, as a pro, teaching others to play the game she loves. She has represented both the Canadian and Philippine national teams in tournaments in nine different countries.
Career Highlights
1978 to 1983
Canada – was runner up in National championship 3 times (’82, ’83, & ’84) – was a member of the Canadian National Women’s Team – competed in 3 British Opens – competed in 3 World Championships (‘79, ‘81, & ‘83) – in 1979 was Women’s Champion in Edinburgh Open in Scotland – in 1983 in Perth, Australia, was team captain and #1 ranked Canadian Player – was Head Pro at 4 different squash clubs in the greater Toronto area and became qualified as a National Level 1 Coaching Course Instructor and a Provincial Professional/Clinician
1983 to 1986
1983 – 1984 – United States – teaching pro in Los Angeles, California area
1984 – 1986 – Manila, Philippines – was National Coach for Junior and Senior Men’s and Women’s Teams – was two time winner of Philippine Championship (’84 & ’85) and was #1 Player for National Women’s Team at East Asian Championships – in 1984 was runner up for individual title and in 1985 was Women’s Champion
1987 to 1997
1987 – 1993 – Taiwan – was teaching pro at Taipei American Club – 1992 was Women’s Runner Up at the Japan Open
1993 – 1997 – Singapore – was teaching pro at Singapore American Club – was member of Singapore Cricket Club’s Traveling Squash Team – 1993 was Women’s Champion at Bundaburg Open in Australia – competed in the 1995 World Masters Tournament in Melbourne, Australia
1997 to Present
United States – resides in Chatham, New Jersey – from 1997-1999 and 2002 was teaching pro giving private lessons and clinics
1998 competed in US National Women’s 40+ Tournament in Los Angeles
in 2002 played in Howe Cup in Philadelphia
in 2003 competed in US National Women’s 45+ Tournament in Hartford
in 2004 played in second Howe Cup in Boston – in 2006 was Women’s 50+ Age Group Champion at US National Tournament at Yale University
Additional Achievements
1993 – Passed the 100,000 mark for single targets hit
1994 – Hit 648 consecutive targets at the Grand American competition
2001 – Inducted into the Ontario Trapshooting Hall of Fame
Roy now lives in Petrolia and still competes in local competitions representing the Dresden Shooting Club.