Masters Stories: “I walked back into the club and the lovely smell of plaster and sweat, and I just thought ‘Oh, I’m home!’”

After a promising spell as a junior, making it into the Scotland U19 squad at 16 years old, Sue Strachan started to drift away from the game as university, work and life got in the way.

Lots of other sports followed, but nothing brought the Dumfries based player as much joy as her first sporting love, squash.

Sue reflects: “Someone said that they had heard I used to play squash, and asked if I wanted a game.

“I walked back into the club and the lovely smell of plaster and sweat, and I just thought ‘Oh, I’m home!’”

That fateful return to the game ultimately led Sue to compete in her first Masters event, twenty years ago – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sue said: “I started speaking to some people about Masters squash and I told myself – like most women do – that I wouldn’t be good enough.

“Thankfully I played anyway, and I’ve been playing Masters squash ever since.”

The sports-loving doctor lifted the Masters crown in her age group in 2010 and 2018, with long time friend Rosie Wilson proving a tough opponent.

The duo came through as juniors in the west region together, and even now they still play and provide a stern test for each other on court.

Sue said, laughing: “I kept getting beaten by Rosie in finals, but the times that she didn’t go were the ones I managed to win.”

Her time in Masters squash has allowed her to experience the highs of representing her country, and travelling the world to complete in international events.

There was no high greater than her involvement in the Masters Home Internationals side which took the win in Dublin in 2014/15, with Sue clinching the crucial win over old rivals England in the final match.

As she looks ahead to this weekend, Sue will compete in the O60 category, facing stiff competition from Bernie Beattie and familiar foe Rosie Wilson.

A passionate advocate for women and girls in sport, she is a big proponent of Masters squash as a way for everyone to enjoy the sport she loves, while staying fit and healthy.

Sue said: “It’s such a friendly community – we all come together in our love of the sport and that’s what comes first.

“We compete as hard as we can and we win and we lose, then we shake hands, smile and catch up as part of a family.

“I would recommend it to everyone – even if you’re doubting yourself, that’s okay – if you lose games it’s not a disaster.”

With her love for squash, and Masters squash in particular shining through, there’s no doubt that Sue will continue to fly the flag for the sport for many years to come.

Nine male and four female champions will be crowned at Edinburgh Sports Club this weekend. You can check out the schedule and keep up to date with the results on SportyHQ.