Players on the team, members of the boards
How students and alumni joined forces to recognise the achievements of CUSRC’s women’s team
The Cambridge University Squash and Rackets Club (CUSRC) is one of the oldest sports clubs in Cambridge, but despite its rich history, for decades the achievements of its women members went largely unrecorded.
Now, thanks to the efforts of students, alumni, and staff, the names of CUSRC alumnae across the years hang proudly at the University Sports Centre’s renovated squash courts. Placed alongside the men’s counterparts, these boards represent much more than names on a wall; they commemorate the dedication it takes to achieve inclusivity and equality in sports and beyond.
How did the CUSRC story evolve from an unknown history of its women to a near-complete wall of names?
We caught up with some of the Club’s students and alumni to hear about their experiences on the team and how they worked together to reach this milestone.
Behind the boards
Mary Jordan (née Garvey) played on the CUSRC team in the early days of women competing at Varsity matches, when they often faced indifference to their participation in sports.
“At that time, women had to make a lot of noise to be noticed both on and off the court.
"That's why I just want to say a big well done and thank you to all of those who made this happen.”
The women’s Blues team 1962: J. Comrie, L. Taylor, C. Barlow, B. Yielder and M. Garvey (Mary Jordan) (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 1962: J. Comrie, L. Taylor, C. Barlow, B. Yielder and M. Garvey (Mary Jordan) (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 1979: Sarah Howlett, Belinda Wilkes, Judith Hallewell, Julia Dennis and Sue Sheers (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 1979: Sarah Howlett, Belinda Wilkes, Judith Hallewell, Julia Dennis and Sue Sheers (left to right)
Since studying natural sciences, Sarah Howlett stayed at Cambridge through a PhD and postdoc work. She’s experienced decades of change on the team.
“As women, we only got half Blues for competing in the Varsity matches at the time. My squash half Blues eventually got upgraded when I represented the British and English Universities.”
Sports shaped Lisa Hargrave’s experience at Cambridge. “Playing on the squash team gave me a break from my studies and allowed me to form connections outside of my College.”
Playing at a Varsity match, with the support of her College behind her, was a highlight for Lisa. “Getting a Cambridge Blue was one of my proudest achievements.
"Carloads of people from Fitzwilliam College came to support me, which meant a lot.”
The women’s Blues team 1992: A. Lythgoe, H. Smithson, J. Newlove, R. Loke (coach), J Wormald, and Lisa Hargrave (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 1992: A. Lythgoe, H. Smithson, J. Newlove, R. Loke (coach), J Wormald, and Lisa Hargrave (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 2008: Laura Alfers, Mhairi Dougal, Yvonne Ang, Alexandra Bryant, Ann Babtie, and Kate Mason (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 2008: Laura Alfers, Mhairi Dougal, Yvonne Ang, Alexandra Bryant, Ann Babtie, and Kate Mason (left to right)
Now a successful sports journalist and broadcaster, Kate Mason was captain of the squash team. “Playing for the University was a significant part of my Cambridge life and contributed massively to my decision to pursue sports broadcasting as a career.”
“The year I captained Cambridge our men’s side were brilliant and crushed Oxford in the Varsity matches, but it was the women who finished third in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
"In fact, the women’s team were the third best team in the country!”
Having played squash from the age of seven, Ellie White was, unsurprisingly, president of CUSRC from 2022 to 2024.
“As president, I focused on trying to integrate the Club because I think it’s a real strength that CUSRC includes both the men’s and women’s teams together.”
Playing on the squash team provided Ellie with new friendships and connections. “The vast majority of my friends have come from playing squash.
"It’s nice because you’re connected with people across Colleges.”
The women’s Blues team 2025: Lana Howell, Michelle Tang, Florence Gibson, Izzy Sargent, Sara Kapoor and Ellie White (left to right)
The women’s Blues team 2025: Lana Howell, Michelle Tang, Florence Gibson, Izzy Sargent, Sara Kapoor and Ellie White (left to right)
Recovering a long-lost legacy
Many members of the CUSRC community were heavily involved in the final stages of delivering the women’s Blues boards.
Raphie Reeves, Juliana Ganendra, Sarah Howlett and Ellie White organised the finalising of the boards, with support from over 30 alumnae and students who rigorously checked the records.
However, Sarah recalls that these efforts started much earlier. “Dr John Marks, a fellow at Girton and a sports coach, was keen on gathering information about women’s sports. He first approached me in the mid-1980s. I’ve been involved in gathering the data ever since.”
With the Sports Centre’s completion in 2013, the men’s Varsity squash boards appeared in 2017, with the women’s glaringly absent. The obvious disparity reinvigorated efforts.
Sarah’s longstanding connection to the team proved vital with finding alumni data. “I’ve got loads of information from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s, including a booklet of all the matches.
"I also played for the squash Masters in my 50s, where I met some people from the squash team.”
Ellie notes that the University's Development and Alumni Relations Office was essential to fill in the gaps.
“Crucially, the Development and Alumni Relations Office sent out mass emails calling for CUSRC alumni to get involved. It was vital because we had no previous contact with them."
Dr John Marks
Dr John Marks
Sports Centre
Sports Centre
Rebuilding a community
CUSRC alumni event 2023
CUSRC alumni event 2023
Hannah Taylor, Anna Knight, Juliana Ganendra and Pierson Klein (left to right) celebrating their names on the board, after playing in the first women’s Jesters fixture
Hannah Taylor, Anna Knight, Juliana Ganendra and Pierson Klein (left to right) celebrating their names on the board, after playing in the first women’s Jesters fixture
Ellie notes how alumni engagement has shifted in recent years in tandem with the project’s progress. “Since my time as president, we’ve organised alumni events twice a year.
"We took this opportunity to ask alumni to help us to fill in the gaps for the boards."
These events have allowed alumni to celebrate the success of the boards. “We recently had Jesters, which is a match against alumni, and it was the first time we included a women’s fixture alongside the men’s.
“A lot of women in my team came back to play and they were so excited to see the boards up!”
For Lisa, the project introduced her to the Alumni Committee. “The Committee got in touch to ask me if I could recall the team members from my time on the squash team. I emailed back with the names that I could remember.
"Long story short, now I’m on the CUSRC Alumni Committee!”
“I’m hoping to contribute professionally to the Committee. I’m co-owner of an online racquet sports multinational business, so I’d like to bring some connections and potential sponsorships to CUSRC.”
The Committee’s efforts and the process of the collecting data have reignited the passion for squash amongst alumni and brought them together.
“Being contacted about the boards brought back the pride I felt when I was playing for the University. It’s nice to see the enthusiasm of the Alumni Committee and how they're supporting the current students.”
Using the past to write a brighter future
The boards have had a very personal impact on women who played on the team. Kate notes, “Seeing the boards in place in the sports centre made me emotional. It felt like first time I remembered to be proud of my achievements in sports here.
The boards also illustrate that the efforts of women in sports are just as worth celebrating as men’s. “In honouring women in this way, we recognise that men and women are equal here.
We train equally hard, with identical commitment and sacrifices. In fact, in some cases, certainly in my era given the challenges with access, we had to work much harder than the men.”
For Ellie, the boards evidence a history of CUSRC that was previously unknown. “It’s amazing that the records of the women’s team go back so far. I would love to know how the game was played differently, as we’ve seen with the men’s that the styles of play have changed so much.
"I’m sure the women involved in those early matches were pretty amazing to persevere without all that history behind them.”
Sarah sees the boards as sharing a broader history of Cambridge. “Before the late 1970s, the majority of the women came from either Girton or Newnham. And, looking at the men’s boards, if you go back to the 1920s, you can even see a Lord and a Sir!
"These boards represent the increasing diversity at Cambridge and the expanding access to sport.”
Lisa believes that these boards will inspire future generations of women to stay in sports. “We know that the drop-off rate of girls playing sports is much higher than boys, so it’s so important to celebrate these successes.
"The sense of encouragement and community is also so important.”
Kate with Raphie Reeves (CUSRC President) and Izzy Sargent (women's Blues Captain)
Kate with Raphie Reeves (CUSRC President) and Izzy Sargent (women's Blues Captain)
Sarah next to the board recording her years on the team
Sarah next to the board recording her years on the team
Beyond the boards
Ellie playing in a squash match
Ellie playing in a squash match
University Sports Centre Give it a Go
University Sports Centre Give it a Go
Credit: @Lateef.photography
Credit: @Lateef.photography
Sarah sees the boards as the first step towards parity in women’s and men’s sports. “Clearly things have come a long way for women in sports. It’s an awful lot better than in my time, although it’s still not equal and there’s more work to be done.
"But I feel positive that we’re going in the right direction.”
Ellie believes that improving women’s access to sports must come from all directions. “It’s important to have grassroot efforts, especially as women are much more likely to have dropped out of sports in their teenage years.
"The Sports Centre’s ‘Give It a Go’ sessions are brilliant because they’re aimed at beginners, which are much more likely to be women.”
Similarly, CUSRC’s social membership provides court time and camaraderie to squash enthusiasts who do not make the university teams. As fully fledged members of the Club, participants can access events and merchandise, with several developing their skills to become prominent players on the CUSRC teams.
Kate agrees that welcoming women into sport at university is essential. “The barriers to sports participation in 2026 are still vastly greater for girls than they are for boys and that must end.
"Cambridge can play a big part in leading change. Research from Women in Sport tells us that girls as young as five say they don’t feel welcome in sport, but when you’re a student is a perfect time to arrest that.”
“I’d like to see a task force set up to connect the different exercise and sport opportunities for women across the University, to find out where there are gaps, and to talk to everyone here who doesn’t see sport as part of their life about why they don’t!”
The boards have clearly started a lively conversation about not just recognising but championing women in sports at Cambridge. The long list of names represents decades of progress and the promise of future change.
This success also signals the importance of the Cambridge alumni community, who rallied together for a common and long-overdue goal.
For Kate, everyone has something to gain from sports:
“To every woman at Cambridge and beyond, and every man for that matter: find a sport that intrigues you and give everything a try until you find that one that could be yours. Even if you already have one you love, try out new ones!”
Thank you from the CUSRC committee
"This project has been many years in the making, and CUSRC would like to thank everyone who contributed along the way. It was made possible by countless alumni who helped verify the Women’s Blues Squash records. In particular, we thank the CUSRC Alumni Committee for their mentorship; Sarah Howlett, Dr John Marks (d. 2016), Nicky Dee, Louisa Dalwood, Nick Brown and Jude Brimmer for their research; Richard and Ali Loke for their review; Megan Shale and CUDAR for their outreach; and Ash Edwards and the University Sports Service for their support."
Were you a member of a sports team at Cambridge?
To stay connected with the clubs and societies you loved at Cambridge, email: darclubsandsocs@alumni.cam.ac.uk