Dubbo's Christine Cooper has quietly achieved something special. The avid squash player, a spritely 86 years young, took out the Open Women's 85-89 Year category at the 2025 Masters Squash Championship in Perth in September.

This fact was only brought to light recently when several of Chris's friends, who are very proud of her sporting achievements, contacted Dubbo Photo News.

Quietly spoken Chris regularly attends Masters squash competitions around the country, and was the only female competitor in what is the "oldest" age category available for women and men in Masters' squash competition in Australia.

During the championship, which took place in early September at Squashworld Mirrabooka, Chris competed against younger competitors from the Open Women's 80-84 year category.

"There's not many people my age who play squash," Chris acknowledged, describing her win as "fantastic."

Chris has played the sport for an incredible 67 years, first taking it up way back in 1958. The former Narromine resident plays regularly at the Narromine squash facility next to the local golf club, and will also play in Dubbo and Parkes if able to.

"I love the competition, and I love the challenge, but also the friendships," she explained.

She was recently surprised out walking in Narromine when she was stopped on the street by people passing through who had also competed in Perth recently.

"They said: 'We're going to Parkes for the squash tournament there. Why don't you come?'," she said.

"I went down with them and played in the doubles tournament down there," she added.

Chris's next competition will be at the beginning of February 2026 in Cardiff, Lake Macquarie, and she intends to keep playing and competing in Masters tournaments for as long as possible.

"I think so, yes," she concluded.