Derek Talbot

Derek Talbot MBE is a former English badminton player. One of Britain's best ever "all-rounders," he won multiple English National Championships, as well as numerous international titles, in badminton's three events - singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. In partnership with the formidable Gillian Gilks he won three mixed doubles crowns at the prestigious All-England Open (1973, 1976, and 1977).

When he retired from serious competition, he set up his own badminton company called Talbot Torro Badminton.

He won a silver medal in the 1977 IBF World Championships in mixed doubles with Gillian Gilks, losing against Steen Skovgaard and Lene Køppen in the final.

Talbot competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was played as a demonstration sport. In men's doubles he and Elliot Stuart, his former schoolfellow in Newcastle upon Tyne, were defeated in the semifinals by Ade Chandra and Christian Hadinata 15-8, 15-12. In mixed doubles he paired with Gillian Gilks and they won the gold medal, beating Svend Pri and Ulla Strand of Denmark in the final 15-6, 18-16.

Derek Talbot was also successful at the Commonwealth Games, he won 4 gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals between 1970 and 1978.

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.

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