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For the ice hockey player, see Jeff Hunt. For the marine artist, see Geoff Hunt (marine artist). For the golfer, see Geoffrey Hunt.

Geoffrey Brian Hunt, AM MBE (born 11 March 1947), is a retired squash player from Australian who is widely considered to be one of the greatest squash players in history. He was four-times world champion, three-times world amateur champion and eight-times British Open champion.

Career Overview

Hunt was born in Melbourne and now resides in Queensland.[1] He won the Australian Junior Championship in 1963, and he first won the Australian Amateur men’s Championship in 1965.

Hunt turned professional shortly after winning his third World Amateur Squash Championship final in 1971.[2]

He was ranked the World No.1 squash player from 1975 to 1980. He won the World Open title four times. He was the event’s inaugural champion, winning the competition on the first four occasions it was held (1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980). He also won the British Open (which was considered to be the effective world championship event involving both amateurs and professionals before the World Open began) eight times between 1969 and 1981. Hunt won 178 of the 215 tournaments he contested during his career.

In 1974, he was a leading participant in the formation of the International Squash Players Association which was formed to give players a voice in an era dominated by the Squash Rackets Association. He was elected vice-president alongside Jonah Barrington (chairman), Ken Hiscoe (president) and Geoff Poole (secretary).[3]

Hunt was known for having great determination. He ultimately suffered back problems, which curtailed his career. After retiring as a player, Hunt served as the Head Squash Coach at the Australian Institute of Sport from 1985–2003, where he helped develop a new generation of Australian squash stars. He then worked for 8 years at the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar. Following his retirement and move back to Australia, he has continued to coach Qatari professional player Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi.

Recognition

In the 1972 New Years Honours Hunt was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport and international relations.[4] He became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1982 Australia Day Honours[5] and received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.[6]

Hunt has been inducted into the World Squash Federation Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.[7][8]

World Open final appearances

Wins (4)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1976 Mohibullah Khan 7–9, 9–4, 8–10, 9–2, 9–2
1977 Qamar Zaman 9–5, 10–9, 0–9, 9–4
1979 Qamar Zaman 9–2, 9–3, 9–2
1980 Qamar Zaman 9–0, 9–3, 9–3
Runners-up (1)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1981 Jahangir Khan 7–9, 9–1, 9–2, 9–2

British Open final appearances

Wins (8)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1969 Cam Nancarrow 9–5, 9–4, 9–0
1974 Mo Yasin walkover (injury)
1976 Mohibullah Khan 7–9, 9–4, 8–10, 9–2, 9–2
1977 Cam Nancarrow 9–4, 9–4, 8–10, 9–4
1978 Qamar Zaman 7–9, 9–1, 9–1, 9–2
1979 Qamar Zaman 2–9, 9–7, 9–0, 6–9, 9–3
1980 Qamar Zaman 9–3, 9–2, 1–9, 9–1
1981 Jahangir Khan 9–2, 9–7, 5–9, 9–7
Runners-up (2)
Year Opponent in final Score in final
1970 Jonah Barrington 9–7, 3–9, 9–4, 9–4
1972 Jonah Barrington 0–9, 9–7, 10–8, 6–9, 9–7

Books

Geoff Hunt on Squash (London: Cassell) 1977.

References

  1. ^ “Geoff Hunt on Jahangir Khan, squash in the 70s, Egypt and coaching in Qatar”. Sportageous. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. ^ “Australian stars turn professional”. Birmingham Daily Post. 23 September 1971. p. 19. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ “50 Years of Professional Squash”. PSA Squash Tour. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  4. ^ “Geoffrey Brian Hunt”. honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  5. ^ “Geoffrey Brian Hunt, MBE”. honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  6. ^ “Geoffrey Brian Hunt, AM, MBE”. honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  7. ^ “Squash Legends : Geoff Hunt”. World Squash. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  8. ^ “Geoff Hunt | Sport Australia Hall of Fame”. Retrieved 6 February 2024.