Derek Talbot

Derek Talbot
MBE
Wolfgang Bochow (left) plays against Derek Talbot from England (right).
Personal information
CountryEngland
Born (1947-03-23) 23 March 1947[1]
Newcastle, Tyne and Wear county, England
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  England
World Championships
1977 Malmö Mixed doubles
World Cup
1979 Tokyo Men's doubles
Commonwealth Games
1974 Christchurch Men's doubles
1970 Edinburgh Mixed doubles
1974 Christchurch Mixed doubles
1978 Edmonton Mixed team
1978 Edmonton Men's singles
1974 Christchurch Men's singles
1978 Edmonton Mixed doubles
European Championships
1972 Karlskrona Mixed doubles
1974 Vienna Mixed doubles
1976 Dublin Mixed doubles
1972 Karlskrona Men's doubles
1976 Dublin Men's doubles
1970 Port Talbot Mixed doubles
1974 Vienna Men's singles
1980 Groningen Mixed doubles
European Mixed Team Championships
1972 Karlskrona Mixed team
1974 Vienna Mixed team
1976 Dublin Mixed team
1980 Groningen Mixed team

Derek Talbot MBE (born 23 March 1947) is a former English badminton 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 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, Tyne and Wear county. He married June Kay on 18 July 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne.[2]

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 in the final.

1972 Summer Olympics

Talbot competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was played as a 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 and Ulla Strand of Denmark in the final 15–6, 18–16.

Commonwealth Games

Talbot was also successful at the Commonwealth Games; he won four gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals between 1970 and 1978.[3]

Retirement

Talbot decided to retire from the international badminton in 1981.[4]

Achievements

Olympic Games (demonstration)

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1972 Volleyballhalle, Munich, West Germany Gillian Gilks Svend Pri
Ulla Strand
15–6, 18–16 Gold

World Championships

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1977 Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard
Lene Køppen
12–15, 17–18 Silver

World Cup

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1979 Tokyo, Japan David Eddy Ade Chandra
Christian Hadinata
5–15, 8–15 Bronze

Commonwealth Games

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Paul Whetnall Walkover Bronze
1978 Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Prakash Padukone 9–15, 8–15 Silver

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens
Mike Tredgett
15–6, 6–15, 15–11 Gold

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1970 Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland Margaret Boxall Roger Mills
Gillian Gilks
8–15, 15–12, 15–12 Gold
1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Gillian Gilks Paul Whetnall
Nora Gardner
Walkover Gold
1978 Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Barbara Sutton Richard Purser
Alison Branfield
15–9, 15–9 Bronze

European Championships

Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Thomas Kihlström 5–15, 16–17 Bronze

Men's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1972 Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden Elliot Stuart Willi Braun
Roland Maywald
11–15, 15–18 Silver
1976 Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland Eddy Sutton Ray Stevens
Mike Tredgett
15–13, 12–15, 6–15 Silver

Mixed doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
1970 Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales Gillian Gilks David Eddy
Susan Whetnall
16–17, 16–17 Silver
1972 Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden Gillian Gilks Wolfgang Bochow
Marieluise Wackerow
15–6, 15–4 Gold
1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Gillian Gilks Elliot Stuart
Susan Whetnall
5–15, 15–3, 15–3 Gold
1976 Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard
Lene Køppen
6–15, 15–12, 17–15 Gold
1980 Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands Karen Chapman Lars Wengberg
Anette Börjesson
15–9, 9–15, 12–15 Bronze

International tournaments (31 titles, 22 runners-up)

Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
1970 Scottish Open Paul Whetnall 15–13, 9–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1971 Irish International Ray Stevens 15–4, 17–16 Winner
1971 Scottish Open Robert McCoig 15–5, 15–12 Winner
1972 Canadian Open Sture Johnsson 15–7, 15–6 Winner
1972 Scottish Open Ray Stevens 1–15, 15–3, 10–15 Runner-up
1973 U.S. Open Sture Johnsson 4–15, 4–15 Runner-up
1977 German Open Sture Johnsson 15–12, 15–18, 7–15 Runner-up
1977 Dutch Open Sture Johnsson 8–15, 15–6, 18–13 Winner
1978 Scottish Open Rob Ridder 18–14, 12–15, 15–6 Winner
1981 Portugal International Kevin Jolly 6–15, 4–15 Runner-up

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1969 South African Championships Tony Jordan Kenneth Parsons
Rennie du Toit
15–7, 8–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1970 Scottish Open David Eddy David Horton
Elliot Stuart
18–13, 5–15, 9–15 Runner-up
1971 Irish International Elliot Stuart Roger Mills
Ray Stevens
15–10, 15–3 Winner
1971 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Erland Kops
Svend Pri
11–15, 5–15 Runner-up
1972 U.S. Open Elliot Stuart Mike Adams
Thomas Carmichael
15–9, 5–15, 15–3 Winner
1972 Canadian Open Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens
Mike Tredgett
11–15, 13–15 Runner-up
1972 German Open Elliot Stuart Ng Boon Bee
Punch Gunalan
9–15, 12–15 Runner-up
1972 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Erland Kops
Svend Pri
6–15, 15–11, 7–15 Runner-up
1973 India Open Elliot Stuart Indra Gunawan
Amril Nurman
15–11, 15–8 Winner
1973 U.S. Open Mike Tredgett Jim Poole
Don Paup
15–11, 11–15, 12–15 Runner-up
1973 Jamaica International Mike Tredgett Jamie Paulson
Yves Paré
11–15, 1–15 Runner-up
1973 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart David Eddy
Eddy Sutton
12–15, 15–18 Runner-up
1973 Swedish Open Elliot Stuart Poul Petersen
Svend Pri
9–15, 15–1, 10–15 Runner-up
1974 German Open Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens
Mike Tredgett
15–12, 14–15, 15–5 Winner
1974 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens
Mike Tredgett
15–8, 12–15, 4–15 Runner-up
1975 Scottish Open Elliot Stuart Jim Ansari
John Britton
12–15, 15–7, 15–8 Winner
1977 Canadian Open Eddy Sutton Bengt Fröman
Thomas Kihlström
17–16, 11–15, 10–15 Runner-up
1978 Scottish Open Mike Tredgett Billy Gilliland
Fraser Gow
15–6, 15–7 Winner
1979 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Morten Frost
Steen Fladberg
15–8, 18–17 Winner
1980 Scottish Open Kevin Jolly Ray Stevens
Mike Tredgett
4–15, 11–15 Runner-up
1981 Portugal International Ray Stevens Billy Gilliland
Kevin Jolly
18–17, 12–15, 15–12 Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
1969 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Wolfgang Bochow
Karin Dittberner
15–7, 1–15, 15–5 Winner
1969 South African Championships Gillian Gilks Tony Jordan
Susan Whetnall
15–10, 15–13 Winner
1970 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy
Margaret Boxall
18–14, 15–8 Winner
1971 Irish International Gillian Gilks Roger Mills
Julie Rickard
15–4, 15–9 Winner
1971 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Per Walsøe
Pernille Kaagaard
5–15, 15–6, 17–14 Winner
1971 All England Open Gillian Gilks Svend Pri
Ulla Strand
12–15, 15–8, 11–15 Runner-up
1971 German Open Gillian Gilks Wolfgang Bochow
Kay Nesbit
15–8, 15–10 Winner
1971 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Svend Pri
Ulla Strand
15–4, 6–15, 17–16 Winner
1972 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Robert McCoig
Margaret Beck
15–9, 15–11 Winner
1972 All England Open Gillian Gilks Svend Pri
Ulla Strand
15–12, 8–15, 12–15 Runner-up
1973 Denmark Open Nora Perry Elo Hansen
Ulla Strand
15–4, 14–17, 10–15 Runner-up
1973 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy
Nora Perry
13–15, 15–6, 15–5 Winner
1973 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Elliot Stuart
Margaret Beck
15–11, 15–3 Winner
1973 All England Open Gillian Gilks Elliot Stuart
Nora Perry
9–15, 15–13, 15–8 Winner
1974 All England Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy
Susan Whetnall
5–15, 15–7, 10–15 Runner-up
1976 All England Open Gillian Gilks Mike Tredgett
Nora Perry
15–9, 15–12 Winner
1976 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard
Lene Køppen
15–6, 13–15, 15–3 Winner
1976 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Mike Tredgett
Nora Perry
18–17, 15–9 Winner
1977 All England Open Gillian Gilks Mike Tredgett
Nora Perry
15–9, 15–9 Winner
1977 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard
Joke van Beusekom
15–7, 15–10 Winner
1977 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard
Lene Køppen
15–6, 15–9 Winner
1979 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy
Barbara Sutton
15–8, 15–11 Winner

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.[5]

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to badminton.[6]

References

  1. ^ "1947 births". Free BMD.
  2. ^ Scheele, H. A. E., ed. (August 1975). "On the side lines: Some notes and news from all parts" (PDF). World Badminton (21 ed.). p. 9. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  3. ^ Commonwealth Games medallists – Badminton
  4. ^ Jessup, Peter (February 1981). "End of a fine career" (PDF). The Official Journal of the Badminton Association of England. p. 8 and 10. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  5. ^ "About Derek Talbot". Natural Patient.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010.
  6. ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 23.