2015 Gene Turk, Winnipeg, MB

Gene Turk began his competitive squash career in 1977 as Manitoba Junior Champion, a position he held until 1979. He finished 4th at the National Championship and was a member of Canada’s National team that visited England for the World Junior event.

In 1980, he took his first provincial senior title and was 1st in the Manitoba closed championship from 1980-1987. He won the men’s amateur in 1981 and 1986.

In 1984, Turk was a member of the Canadian senior team that captured the Intercontinental Cup, an event where he was named MVP. 1984 was also the year Gene and his twin brother, Bill, competed in the national doubles final and finished 2nd.

Turk captained the Manitoba squad that grabbed the Canadian Provincial Team Championship title in 1986. His travels brought him to Australia where he took 2nd place in both the Gordonvale Open and Cairns Open that same year. In 1987, Turk was named to Canada’s senior team that attended the world championships in England.

Turk held the #1 ranking in the province in 1988 and 1989, and was ranked 2nd in the country in 1988. He won the 1988 Bermuda Open and, as a member of Canada’s senior team, took part in the World Championship in Singapore in 1989.

Turk was a member of Canada’s National Team in 1991-92 when the worlds were held in Finland. He took 1st at the 1991 Nanaimo Open in B.C. He also took first in the Saskatchewan Open, third place at the Belville Open in Ontario and ended up 5th at the Canadian Nationals. 1991-92 was also his first year as a National Coach/Player.

His last years of competitive play saw Gene Turk take a series of top 3 finishes from B.C. to Ontario including a 3rd place finish at the Western Canadian Championships which were held in Winnipeg in 1993-94. In 1982 he began full-time employment at the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club and became Head Pro, and in 1999 he coached the Manitoba Squash team in the Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook.

Information retrieved from the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame