Derek Talbot (born 23 March 1947) is a former English

badminton Badminton is a racquet sport played using racket (sports equipment), racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net (device), net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per s ...

player. One of Britain's most successful "all-rounders," he won eleven English National Championships four singles, three doubles, and four mixed doubles. He also won four

Commonwealth Games The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event among athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, which consists mostly, but not exclusively, of territories of the former British Empire. The event was first held in 1930 ...

gold medals and in partnership with the formidable Gillian Gilks he won three mixed doubles crowns at the prestigious All-England Open (1973, 1976, and 1977).

Early and personal life

Talbot was born and raise in

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...

, Tyne and Wear county. He married June Kay on 18 July 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Career

World Championships

Talbot won a silver medal in the 1977 IBF World Championships in the mixed doubles with Gillian Gilks, losing against Steen Skovgaard and

Lene Køppen Lene Køppen (born 5 May 1953) is a Danish badminton player who won numerous national and major international championships from the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Noted for her speed and athleticism, she and Camilla Martin are the only Dan ...

in the final.

1972 Summer Olympics

Talbot competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was played as a

demonstration sport A demonstration sport, or exhibition sport, is a sport which is played to promote it, rather than as part of standard medal competition. This occurs commonly during the Olympic Games but may also occur at other sporting events. Demonstration sport ...

. In the men's doubles he and Elliot Stuart, his former schoolfellow in Newcastle upon Tyne, were defeated in the semi-finals by Ade Chandra and Christian Hadinata 15–8, 15–12. In the mixed doubles, he paired with Gillian Gilks and they won the gold medal, beating

Svend Pri Svend Pri (earlier Svend Andersen; March 18, 1945 – June 8, 1983) was a Danish badminton player who won numerous major titles from the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s. Career His play was marked by great power, tenacity, and tactical astu ...

and Ulla Strand of Denmark in the final 15–6, 18–16.

Commonwealth Games

Talbot was also successful at the

; he won four gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals between 1970 and 1978.

Retirement

Talbot decided to retire from the international badminton in 1981.

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

''Mixed doubles''

World Championships

''Mixed doubles''

World Cup

''Men's doubles''

Commonwealth Games

''Men's singles'' ''Men's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

European Championships

''Men's singles'' ''Men's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

International tournaments (31 titles, 21 runners-up)

''Men's singles'' ''Men's doubles'' ''Mixed doubles''

Post-Badminton

Towards the latter stages of his badminton career Derek ran a sports shop, which specialised in racket sports, with ex-South African badminton internationalist Eddie Allen, and local man Neil Woodward, in Newcastle. They sold their own Vicourt badminton rackets. When he retired from serious competition, he set up his own badminton company called ''Talbot Torro Badminton''. In recent years Derek left his more traditional career behind and ultimately set up the Natural Patient homeopathic centre in Ibiza. He was appointed

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to badminton.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Talbot, Derek 1947 births People educated at Heaton Grammar School English male badminton players Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Commonwealth Games gold medallists in badminton Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in badminton Badminton players at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Badminton players at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Badminton players at the 1978 Commonwealth Games Living people Badminton players at the 1972 Summer Olympics Members of the Order of the British Empire Medallists at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1978 Commonwealth Games Olympic badminton players for Great Britain