GB Team Players Selection Announcement 2025

GB Team Players Selection Announcement 2025

GB Team Selection Announcement 

The GB Selection Panel is delighted to announce the team players who have been selected to represent Great Britain at the upcoming 2025 World Racketlon Championships in Rotterdam. 

Congratulations to everyone who has been selected!

Selected Junior Team Players

U12s:

Charlie Flatman

Henry Dobson

Sebastian Dobson

Tylor Li

 

U14s:

Edward Baker

Henry Flatman

Joseph Fitches

Millie Rhodes

 

U16s:

Cameron Firth

Daniel Austin

 

U18s:

Chase Burgess

Raif Fontanelli

Toto Agombar

Holly Ranson

 

U21s:

Anant Gupta

Cam Leighton

Beth Pye

 

Selected Senior Team Players

 

Alice Flatman

Andy Heath

Andy Stenson

Dave Edgar

Duncan Marlow

Ed Harvey

Ed Westmacott

Izzy Bramhall

James Pope

Jeremy Krzystyniak

Jon Foulds

Julian Clapp

Keith Lesser

Leigh Ware

Mark Steeden

Martyn Langston

Peter Barton

Peter Browning

Philip Pinto

Rakesh Gupta

Ray Jordan

Ray Ryan

Rob Rhodes

Sarah Ball

Simon Brown

Simon Lau

Tim Fitches

 

Selected Open Team Players

Alistair Prades

Alex Du Noyer

Anant Gupta

Callum Mitchell

David Bennett

Duncan Stahl

Ellie Thomas

Henry Jones

Holly Ranson

Ishan Bairoliya

Jack Bishop

Jack Taylor

James Simpson

Jamie Watkin-Rees

Jo Shelley

Johnny Bispham

Jon Spinks

Jonny Ritter

Jordan Marcus

Kayleigh Chapman

Kieran Shelley

Kirsten Atkinson

Leon Griffiths

Luke Griffiths

Matilda Parslow

Matt Davidson

Mollie Patterson

Reuben Cox

Ricky Hardcastle

Rohan Shergill

Ross Wilson

Ryan Bezer

Susie Dilloway



You will be able to keep up to date with all the GB team action on our social media channels (instagram: ukracketlon, facebook: UK Racketlon) throughout the event, and also on the tournament page: https://fir.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=f3c3db78-8d49-4a0d-9cf3-788220b52cd5 

Happy racketlon-ing to you all!

The GB Selection Committee

Matilda Parslow, Jack Bishop and Peter Barton

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CHA Redbridge Open 2025 – Review

Tournament organiser Keith Lesser reports:

Redbridge Open 2025 – Clash of the Racketlon Gladiators 

Under the lights of Redbridge Arena – once a world championship battleground, now once more echoing with the sounds of soaring smashes, devastating drop shots and the roars of modern-day racketlon gladiators – the Redbridge Open delivered one of its most fiercely fought editions in memory.

From rising juniors to grizzled veterans, from elite world champions to fresh-faced first-timers, the arena welcomed warriors of all kinds – and only the toughest emerged with glory.

 

 

Men’s A Elite Singles – Griffiths Reigns Supreme

In the hall of champions, one warrior still wears the crown. Leon Griffiths, World Number One, stood tall at the end of an epic draw, vanquishing all challengers. Only once was he truly threatened – in the final – when second seed Nico Lenggenhager pushed him all the way to tennis. Lenggenhager had carved a bloody path through the draw, toppling Ritter, Gupta, and Basti Bohm in three brutal rounds.

But Redbridge also forged new legends.

James Hempstead rose like a phoenix. He stunned James Simpson in table tennis, battled through a dramatic duel with Henry Jones, then delivered the upset of the tournament – defeating Basti Bohm, the Junior World Number One. GB selectors were watching… and they’ll be talking.

Quarterfinals brought heartbreak for Anant Gupta and Ross Wilson, both cut down by top-tier opposition. Ritter, too, will be cursing the draw after running into Lenggenhager early.

Jon Spinks had a strong showing, collecting two wins on the day – proof that the depth in this category runs deep

 

 

Women’s A Elite Singles – Parslow’s Comeback of Champions

In a four-player round robin as tense as any Roman senate vote, Matilda Parslow emerged victorious – but only after a miraculous comeback. Trailing by 29 points after the first two sports against TT maestro Mollie Patterson, Parslow summoned her inner gladiatrix, stormed back in squash and tennis to claim the match, and ultimately the title.

Kirsten Atkinson sealed third place, with squash playing the decisive role in some nail-biting encounters!

 

Men’s B Singles – Taylor’s Redemption

This year’s British Champs B runner-up, Jack Taylor, came to Redbridge with unfinished business. He delivered in style, slicing through the draw and outlasting Alistair Prades in the final. Prades – more comfortable with a table tennis bat than a badminton racket on the day – was frustrated to lose to a “badminton specialist”, but both players showcased serious all-round game.

In the bronze match, Ishan Bairoliya edged Jordan Marcus in a close contest, using precision table tennis and clutch badminton to seal the deal. 

Mens doubles 2nd and 3rd place

Women’s B Singles – Alice’s Arsenal Too Much to Handle

Alice Flatman showed her technical TT and clean tennis strokes to win the women’s B title, outplaying squash specialist Ellie Thomas in the final after a quality win over the spirited and consistent Sarah Ball in the semis. Sarah rallied to secure third place over newcomer and friend Candice Geake, who showed lethal squash skills and lots of promise.

 

British Championships Womens Doubles Podium

Men’s C Singles – Tse Takes Charge

With sharp squash and commanding tennis, Kelvin Tse toppled Chris Cockburn in a compelling final. The C category was packed with tight matches, but Tse’s dominance on the back end of the court gave him the edge. Jeremy Lo impressed to take 3rd with some serious badminton.

 

British Championship Podium - Mixed Doubles A

Men’s D Singles – Firth the Force

Cameron Firth tore through the D draw like a lion among gazelles. His semi-final against James Patterson was a nail-biter, but once through that, Firth unleashed full fury in the final against Jordan Whitmore, claiming the crown in emphatic style. Tom Bool won a great match for 3rd. 

Men's +40s 1st and 2nd place

Juniors – Flatman the Future 

No one could touch Henry Flatman, who blazed a trail through the junior field, showing ruthless efficiency.

Tylor Li was a brilliant runner-up – full of potential – and Joseph Fitches rounded out the podium with some exciting all-round play. The future of British racketlon looks bright. 

Mens Senior Doubles 1st & 2nd place

Seniors – Glory in the Gladiator Pit

In the Over 40s, Keith Lesser, already five matches deep after stepping in to play the A grade for a late withdrawal, and fuelled by sheer grit, faced the undefeated titan Mark Steeden, a man who’s barely lost a domestic match in a decade. After an excellent start for Steeden, Lesser ground it out, charging into tennis like a man possessed, blasting to an 8-0 lead and finishing with a 21-11 win – stealing the Over 40s crown from the jaws of defeat. 3rd place went to racketlon warrior Izzy Bramhall, with a tightly contested defeat over Ollie Close. 

British Championship Senior Mixed Champions

Doubles – Titans Team Up

The doubles saw epic pairings and high drama.

Men’s Elite Doubles: Leon Griffiths/Bastian Bohm – Elite execution.
Women’s Elite Doubles: Matilda Parslow/Satarra Thaker – Tactical brilliance.
MIxed Elite Doubles: Mollie Patterson/Ross Wilson – Ice-cold finishing.
Men’s B Doubles: Alistair Prades/Rohan Shergill – Unbreakable under pressure.
Men’s C Doubles: Chris Cockburn/James Patterson – Grit and grind. 

 

Redbridge. Made. Legends.

Until next time…

The arena sleeps – for now. But the echoes of Redbridge’s racketlon warriors will ring long in our ears.

Full results can be found here: https://fir.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draws.aspx?id=A9A3CBE4-27EA-4CE3-BDBC-4E169150659F 

 

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CHA Redbridge Open 2025 – Preview

CHA Redbridge Open 2025 – Preview

 

Photo Credit: Alan Spink – Action Photography

 

 

Tournament Organiser Keith Lesser looks to the weekend’s draws and reports:

Welcome back to the hallowed halls of the Redbridge Sports Centre – a true coliseum of champions and a proud former host of the Racketlon World Doubles Champs and the Champions League. If these walls could talk, they’d scream about epic rallies and titanic tussles from years gone by.

An International Flavour (and a Travel Warning!)

We’ve got a seriously spicy mix of players this year – with a handful flying in from across Europe. To our travelling amigos: don’t forget your ETA if you haven’t sorted it yet! It’s £16 and mandatory in the UK from April 9th onwards.   
 
Star-Studded Showdown 
 
Hold onto your rackets – this isn’t your average challenger. We’ve got four World Number Ones playing:
 
Men’s Singles WR1
U21 Men’s WR1
U18 Men’s WR1
O40s Men’s WR1
 
That’s not to mention the WR2s in U11 and 70+ too. 
Legends mixing with mortals – and the real magic? We’ll all be battling it out in our ABCD categories, brushing shoulders (and perhaps trading shots) with the very best.
 
Courts Galore – But Watch That Knock-Up
 
Yes, we’ve got loads of courts. No, that doesn’t mean you get a 10-minute Wimbledon warm-up. Three-minute knock-ups or face the wrath of the schedule overlords. You’ve been warned. 
 
Doubles Trouble – Elite Showdowns Incoming
 
The doubles draw? Five groups of four in a manic Monrad-fest – 40 players, four hours, full throttle.
 
Bookie favourites:
Griffiths/Bohm
Wilson/Patterson
Parslow/Thaker
 
But hey, stranger things have happened. Don’t sleep on an upset.
 
Ladies A Singles – Wide Open War
 
A fierce 4-player round robin: 
Parslow starts as favourite, but Thaker, Atkinson and Patterson won’t be rolling over. Expect fireworks.
 
Seniors
 
Keith Lesser, tournament organiser and current O40 World Number One, won’t have it easy.
He faces a top-tier field featuring:
Oliver Close (Paul Twisterling slayer)
Rakesh Gupta (Polish Open podium)
Izzy Bramhall (former world silver elite singles)
Mark Steeden (Kent squash royalty)
A shame we won’t see Simon May v Oliver Close after an unfortunate withdrawal, but the field still sizzles.
 
Men’s A Singles
 
Griffiths is WR1 for a reason – but Junior WR1 Basti Bohm is breathing fire after a massive win over Kresten Hougaard, the reigning World Race champ. First, though, he’s got to deal with the lightning hands of Jermaine Manners.
Then there’s Nico Lenggenhager vs Ritter – a slugfest in squash and badminton, with Lenggenhager hoping to cruise through TT. This one’s tight.
Special thanks to Jack Bishop – schedule maestro and all-round legend – rewarded with a cheeky first-round match against WR1 Griffiths. Not a happy bunny. 
 
Juniors Watch
 
Flatman or Dobson – if you fancy a punt, those four are ones to watch.
 
11 Categories. One Glorious Tournament.
Expect drama, dingers and dazzling rallies. And fear not – Big Man Lazarus is behind the desk, keeping everything tighter than a squash nick.
 
See you on court.
Keith

 

British Championships 2025 – Review

British Championships 2025 – Review

 

The 2025 UK Racketlon British Championships delivered a thrilling showcase of racket sports at the stunning Parklangley Club in Beckenham last weekend, celebrating both seasoned champions and fresh faces. Congratulations to all the newly crowned British Champions!!

Men’s A Singles

  1. Leon Griffiths
  2. Jonathan Ritter
  3. Anant Gupta

In the Mens A, defending champion Leon Griffiths secured his 6th British Elite singles title in convincing fashion. With tennis rackets gathering dust in his racket bag, Leon defeated Jonathan Ritter by +30 in the final. Anant Gupta beat Jamie Watkin-Rees by +13 to take 3rd place, showing his solid badminton and squash skills which saw him defeat #4 seed James Hempstead in an earlier round. Jamie Watkin-Rees also downed a seed, in #3 James Langworthy on his way to the elite semi-final.

 

Mens A Singles podium

Women’s A Singles

  1. Matilda Parslow 
  2. Beth Pye
  3. Mollie Patterson

The women’s elite singles was a rollercoaster of an event from start to finish! Due to a late withdrawal from defending champion Holly Ranson, the draw was redone on the day, with two groups of 3 battling it out to make the final. In group A, #1 seed Matilda Parslow reached the final, no tennis needed, with wins over Kirsten Atkinson and Ellie Thomas. 

It was in group B where things were getting interesting! Satarra, Mollie and Beth all won one match and lost one match. Which meant… time for a gummi arm playoff! This saw the 3 women play 4 points of each sport, against each opponent. Most points after all four sports would make it to the final. Beth emerged victorious, on 20 points, and Mollie and Satarra tied on 14 points. This meant Mollie and Satarra had to play one final gummi arm point in tennis to see who would be playing for 3rd place – it was an excellent rally and Mollie came through.

In the final, Matilda and Beth traded point for point in the badminton for a 22-20 match, which Matilda capitalised on in the squash with a 21-2 win. Taking the tennis 7-5 meant Matilda secured her 2nd British Championship title! Mollie beat Kirsten to take 3rd place.

British Championship Womens Singles Podium

Men’s A Doubles

  1. Leon Griffiths / Raymond Jordan
  2. James Hempstead / Ross Wilson
  3. Reuben Cox / Henry Jones

The Men’s doubles went according to seeding as favourites Leon Griffiths and Ray Jordan advanced into the final having needed minimal tennis scores in their two opening victories. They were met in the final by James Hempstead and Ross Wilson, but the number #2 seeds were facing an uphill task from the beginning, after losing the TT 21-6. Leon and Ray then took the badminton and squash to 15 and 14 respectively, to clinch the title. This is their 2nd title as a pair, having won the British Champs quite a while ago together!

Reuben Cox and Henry Jones clinched third following a doubles badminton and tennis masterclass against Jon Spinks and David Bennett.

Mens doubles 2nd and 3rd place

Women’s Doubles

  1. Matilda Parslow / Alice Flatman
  2. Jo Shelley / Mollie Patterson
  3. Beth Pye / Satarra Thaker

Mollie and Jo fought off the tough pair of Beth and Satarra, culminating in some nail-biting tennis, to get to the final, where it was all to play for against the new partnership of Alice and Matilda. In a great final, the #1 seeds showed their tennis skills and held their nerve to take the tennis 21-7, and with that, the match and the British Championship title. Beth and Satarra defeated Kirsten Atkinson and Susie Dilloway to take third place.

 

British Championships Womens Doubles Podium

Mixed A Doubles

  1. Jamie Watkin-Rees / Beth Pye
  2. Jonathan Ritter / Mollie Patterson
  3. James Hempstead / Satarra Thaker

The mixed doubles was a wide open draw – with neither Griffiths brother playing, it was anyone’s guess! On the way to their victory, Jamie and Beth defeated the #2 seeds Jamie and Satarra, backed up by an excellent 21-1 table tennis win, before edging past #1 seeds Jonny and Mollie in an incredibly close match, winning the tennis 21-14 to take the title with a +1 win. James and Satarra beat Reuben and Kirsten to take 3rd place.

 

British Championship Podium - Mixed Doubles A

Men’s +40 Singles

  1. Peter Barton
  2. Luke Penna

Peter Barton overcame Luke Penna in the +40 singles, helped in large part to an incredibly consistent 21-2 TT win. Despite a fight back in the badminton, Peter was able to find the necessary 9 points in tennis to take home the title.

 

Men's +40s 1st and 2nd place

Men’s Senior Doubles

  1. Peter Barton / Ed Westmacott
  2. Mark Jackson / Jeremy Krzystyniak
  3. Peter Browning / Keith Lesser

 In a closely matched Seniors doubles event, Peter Barton and Ed Westmacott came out on top, winning by +8 against Mark Jackson and Jeremy Krzystyniak. After tight victories for both sides in TT and badminton, Peter and Ed pulled away in the squash before closing out the tennis at 11-14. 

 Last year’s winners Peter Browning and Keith Lesser took third with a +11  victory over Jonathan Graham and Mark Steeden.

 

Mens Senior Doubles 1st & 2nd place

Mixed Senior Doubles

  1. Keith Lesser / Alice Flatman
  2. Peter Browning / Sarah Ball
  3. Simon Lau / Jane Galsworthy

There were close matches all around in this 3 way round robin, with plenty of tennis being played! Keith and Alice’s table tennis was too strong for the other pairs, leading them to victory. Peter and Sarah took 2nd place over Simon and Jane, with a convincing tennis win to seal the silver.

 

 

British Championship Senior Mixed Champions

Women’s Senior Doubles

  1. Sarah Ball / Jane Galsworthy
  2. Sarah Austin /Katie Hill

The more experienced duo of Sarah Ball and Jane took the women’s senior doubles title with a convincing win over newer players Sarah Austin and Katie Ball, with the badminton being a close fight between them.

.

British Championship Senior Mixed Champions

Women’s +45 / +50 Singles

  1. Alice Flatman
  2. Jo Shelley
  3. Sarah Ball

The women’s +45s and +50 singles categories were merged, meaning the highest place player out of Jo, Sarah and Katie would win the 50+s, and the winner would win the 45+s. 

Alice triumphed in the +45s, picking up her 3rd gold medal of the weekend. She was pushed all the way by +50s winner Jo, winning just +3, and by Sarah Ball, who subsequently picked up 3rd in +45s and 2nd in +50s. In the effective +50s final, Jo beat Sarah before tennis to pick up another +50s gold!

 

British Championship Senior Mixed Champions

Men’s +50 Singles

  1. Jeremy Krzystyniak
  2. Mark Steeden
  3. Ed Westmacott

Mens +50 singles was a closely fought category, Jeremy Krzystyniak coming out on top, defeating #1 seed Mark Steeden in a tremendous final. Ed Westmacott took 3rd after an equally tight battle with Jon Foulds, taking the match by just 2 points.

 

British Championship Podium - Mens +50 Singles

Men’s +55 Singles

  1. Simon Lau 
  2. Rakesh Gupta
  3. Mark Jackson

In the over 55’s Simon Lau eased to victory, defeating GB compatriot Rakesh Gupta with a strong showing in badminton, squash and tennis. Mark Jackson took 3rd with victory over Simon Brown.

 

British Championsips +55 Mens Podium

Men’s +65 Singles

  1. Martyn Langston
  2. Duncan Marlow
  3. Ray Ryan

In a 4 man round robin Martyn Langston came out on top, winning all 3 games. Duncan Marlow pushed Martyn close, taking 2nd place and Ray Ryan beat Phil Pinto in another great match to take home 3rd.

 

Men’s B Singles

  1. Ryan Bezer
  2. Jack Taylor
  3. Stuart Preston

 In the Men’s B, Ryan Bezer proved too strong for the rest of the field, powering past #1 seed Stuart Preston in the semi final, before defeating another badminton specialist, Jack Taylor in the final. Unfortunately Jack had to retire due to an injury during the squash and we wish him well in his recovery. Stuart Preston took 3rd with a +19 victory over Jordan Marcus.

 

British Championship Podium for Mens B Singles

Men’s B Doubles

  1. Daniel Austin / Chase Burgess
  2. Ricky Hardcastle / Stuart Preston
  3. Raif Fontanelli / Mark Steeden

 Both finalists of the Mens B doubles came through 1st round scares with Dan Austin and Chase Burgess squeezing past Thomas Agombar and Ishan Bairoliya by a single point. In the other half of the draw, Stuart Preston and Ricky Hardcastle came through a nervy tennis set to win by +2 against Sam Barker and Nick Rate. In a dramatic final, Daniel and Chase once again held their nerve, using their fantastic tennis skills to take the match by a single point once again! 

Third place was taken by #1 seeds Raif Fontanelli and Mark Steeden.

 

British Championships Mens B Doubles Podium

Women’s B Singles

  1. Kayleigh Chapman
  2. Karen King
  3. Olivia Clark

The more experienced racketlon players showed their skills in the women’s B event, with Kent’s Kayleigh Chapman sweeping up 3 victories to win the event. Her closest match was against long time racketlon player Karen King, with some brutally close scores! Olivia Clark came 3rd, only dropping 3 points in badminton in 3 matches. 

British Championships Womens B 1st and 2nd

Mixed B Doubles

  1. Jack Taylor / Olivia Clark
  2. Andrew Heath / Kayleigh Chapman
  3. Daniel Austin / Sarah Austin

Jack and Olivia showed off their serious badminton skills, losing just one point in two matches. This, coupled with steady squash and only needing 2 points of tennis, meant the B doubles title was theirs, beating Andrew and Kayleigh in the final. In the 3rd/4th place play off, mother/son duo Sarah and Daniel battled through. We look forward to seeing more Austin/Austin combos in the future!

 

British Championship Podium for Mixed Doubles B/C

Men’s C Singles

  1. Ricky Hardcastle
  2. Luke Penna
  3. Kelvin Tse

TT specialist Ricky Hardcastle was victorious in the Mens C, brushing past #1 seed Adam Stagg in the semi final before staging a magnificent comeback against the experienced Luke Penna, taking the tennis 21-6 to win by +6. Kelvin Tse came in 3rd following a +16 win over Adam Stagg.

 An incredible stat to note is that in one match, Greg Roffey got 21 points in each sport…. And still lost the match! This must be the first time this has happened. He lost to Adam Stagg 21-15, 21-23, 21-23, 21-23! 

 

British Championships Mens C Podium

Men’s C Doubles

  1. Jeremy Lo / Kelvin Tse
  2. Richard Boreham / Duncan Marlow
  3. Greg Roffey / Adam Stagg

 In the Mens C doubles, Jeremy Lo and Kelvin Tse proved a cut above the rest of the field as they cruised to victory, defeating the experienced Richard Boreham and Duncan Marlow by +24 in the final. 

 Greg Roffey and Adam Stagg used their badminton to good effect to beat Ray and Daniel Ryan to 3rd place.

 

British Championships Mens C Doubles Podium

Men’s D Singles

  1. Jeremy Lo
  2. Oleg Blyuss
  3. Simon Bramwell

Jeremy Lo proved a class above in the Mens D, romping to victory and defeating Oleg Blyuss by +19 with strong performances in both badminton and tennis. Simon Bramwell claimed 3rd place with a +20 win over #1 seed over Pol Thill.

 

British Championship Podium for Mens D Singles

Junior U18 Singles

  1. Chase Burgess
  2. Raif Fontanelli 
  3. Thomas Agombar

The 3 way round robin in the U18s draw had some fantastic matches, with all matches going to tennis and with some big scores! Chase Burgess was victorious overall, taking the title with two solid wins, while Raif and Thomas’s match for 2nd place went right to the wire, with Raif winning +1!

 

British Championships Mens U21 Podium

Junior U16 Singles 

  1. Daniel Austin
  2. Edward Baker
  3. Joseph Fitches

U16 World Champ Daniel Austin showed us how it’s done, winning the U16 British Champs title without needing a tennis racket in this 5 player round robin! Relative newcomer Edward Baker had an impressive set of results, taking home a silver medal to go with his U14s gold medal, with another relative new player Joseph Fitches coming in 3rd.

British Championships U18 Podium

Junior U14 Singles

  1. Edward Baker
  2. Henry Flatman
  3. Henry Dobson

Edward Baker showed us his overall great racket skills, winning his group comfortably before defeating Henry Flatman in a very high-quality final. Henry Dobson got his revenge over Charlie Flatman, having lost to him in the U12s event just a few hours before, to take 3rd place. 

 

British Championships U14 Podium

Junior U12 Singles

  1. Charlie Flatman
  2. Jack Ennis
  3. Henry Dobson

9-year-old Charlie Flatman was the U12s winner, with some great performances in this 5 player round robin, needing to play tennis just once, versus Henry Dobson, in an excellently-fought match. New player Jack Ennis showed off his tennis skills, and general racket skills, to pick up a silver medal, while Henry Dobson took 3rd place.

British Championships U12 Podium

A huge thank you must be given to all of the people who were involved in organising such a big event. Thank you to volunteers Andy Wilson, Karen Wilson, and Steve Bispham, who ran the tournament desk with excellent efficiency and always with a smile over the whole weekend. Not an easy feat! 

Thank you to Kieran Shelley for successfully running his first British Championships as tournament organiser – a lot of work goes in behind the scenes to make these events happen smoothly, and Kieran worked tirelessly to achieve this.

Full results of the UK Racketlon British Championships 2025 can be found on Tournament Software and remember to follow UK Racketlon Facebook and Instagram for the latest tournament news and updates. 

 Entry to the Ebbisham Open on Sunday 1st June is here: https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/tournament/C2E030AB-2439-4394-952D-CC4D095BB492 

 And read more about the upcoming Sprint Championships and County Championships here! 

https://racketlon.co.uk/2025/04/09/staffordshire-sprint-and-county-championships-2025/ 

 

Happy Racketloning!

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Staffordshire Sprint and County Championships 2025

Staffordshire Sprint and County Championships 2025

Block out your diaries for the weekend of 28th – 29th June because UK Racketlon is returning to Keele University for a double-header of the Sprint Event and the County Championships! After the success of the world’s first ever Sprint tournament last year, we are looking to make this year’s event even bigger and better! 

Read last year’s review here: https://racketlon.co.uk/2024/06/23/staffordshire-sprint-open-2024-review/ 

 

Staffordshire Open Racketlon Sprint Tournament – Saturday 28th June, Keele University

 

Firstly, on Saturday 28th June we are delighted to bring to you the Staffordshire Open Racketlon Sprint Tournament, Keele University Sports Centre in Keele, Staffordshire. (Entry opening soon!)

So, what is a sprint tournament, and why should you enter?

Innovative Format:
This tournament introduces the concept of Racketlon Sprint, featuring sets that are played to 11 points instead of the conventional 21. At 10-10, the next point determines the winner, eliminating the need for a two-point lead.

Streamlined Experience:
In an effort to speed-up proceedings, there will be no switching ends or extended warm-up sessions, with the exception of the necessary squash ball warm-up.

More Matches:
Participants are guaranteed five matches, as opposed to the usual three, ensuring ample playing time and the opportunity to compete against a diverse range of opponents in groups of six. We are definitely expecting some more upsets in the seedings and matches with this!

Whether you’re a seasoned racketlon player or new to the sport, the Staffordshire Open Racketlon Sprint Tournament offers a unique opportunity to experience racketlon in a new and exciting format. In addition, it is a perfect opportunity to practice for both the county champs (see below!) and also the World Team Championships, as these are both played to 11 as well! 

To secure your place in the Staffordshire Open Racketlon Sprint Tournament, enter via Tournament Software as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. 

 

 Read on below for information about the 2025 County Championships!

 

 

Finalist of Division 1 Racketlon County Champs 2024

Defending County Div 1 Champions – Surrey(L) and runners up – Yorkshire (R)

UK Racketlon County Championships – Sunday 29th June, Keele University

The 2nd event of the weekend, also being held at Keele University, is the UK Racketlon County Championships, taking place on Sunday 29th June. The 2025 Racketlon County Championships offers players a unique opportunity to play in a team event within the UK Tournament schedule, with a mix of singles, mixed and doubles.

 

County Div 2 Champions 2024 –  Hampshire

Once again we return to Keele University for the UK Racketlon County Championships. 2024 saw Surrey win for the second year in succession as they defeated Yorkshire. Can Leon Griffiths match Duncan Stahl and captain a side to three consecutive County Championship titles (Duncan achieving this with Middlesex in 2011, 2012 and 2014*). The second division was won by Hampshire, with the second seeds defeating top seeded Herts in a tightly-contested final!  

*and before someone asks, we didn’t have a county champs in 2013!

Here’s what you need to know:

Match Structure:
Each match will consist of 3x men’s singles, 1x women’s singles, 1x men’s doubles, and 1x mixed doubles, providing a variety of playing opportunities.

11-Point Sets:
Sets will follow the Racketlon Sprint format, with each set played to 11 points.

Streamlined Experience:
There will be no warm-up sessions, allowing for a more efficient tournament schedule.

Team Composition:
Counties must field a team of at least 3x men and 1x woman, with no maximum limit on players. Each team must contain a minimum of four players, of which one must be a woman. It’s worth noting that if a side contained two women, one could be nominated to play as a man throughout the match. There is no limit on squad sizes and no requirement for the four singles players to also play doubles. Team make up is at the discretion of the captain. Multiple teams per county are allowed. Any queries about this – ask James Pope at new2racketlon@gmail.com or join the County Champs WhatsApp group and ask in there!

Qualification Criteria:
Players must meet one of the following criteria to qualify for their county team:

– county you were born in

– county you live in

– membership in a relevant racket sports club within the county (any of the four component sports or a racketlon club)

– previous representation in the County Championships for that county (as long as you haven’t represented a different county since – the Jon Spinks rule)

– a transfer as authorised by the tournament director

Any entry queries, please contact James Pope (new2racketlon@gmail.com)

Registration – now open!!
Interested teams can register online through the Tournament Software website before the deadline of Sunday 22nd June. The team captain is responsible for entering the whole team online (don’t enter as an individual!) and will split the cost between their team. Total cost per team is £125, irrespective of how many players are on the team. 

Please be aware the usual rules regarding refunding entries due to withdrawal will apply. If you are intending to enter a team, please contact Tournament Director James Pope (new2racketlon@gmail.com)to let him know which county you will be captaining (you can do this in advance of entering). We will likely have capacity for 16 teams, playing in two divisions of 8.

Not sure of who your county captain is? Again, please get in touch with James Pope (new2racketlon@gmail.com) who will be able to assist you in finding a county, or message on the County Champs WhatsApp group! 

 

We can’t wait to see you all in what is going to be a fantastic weekend of racketlon, including the world’s seconf Racketlon Sprint Event! 

 

Happy racketlon-ing to you all!

 

 

The Devon Open 2025

The Devon Open 2025

The Devon Open Review

Jones Claims First Win After Gumi-Arm Drama!

Henry Jones became the first Jones to ever win on the UK Racketlon tour when he claimed the inaugural Devon Open Men’s A title, with Gideon Brennan (Men’s B), Steven Ford (Men’s C), Stuart Vincent (Men’s D), Rufus Underwood (U14s) and returning stalwart Ed Harvey (O40s) joining him in the winners enclosure, at the Atlantic Racket Centre in Bideford. All the results can be found here.

 

Men’s A

In the Men’s A, it was a four player box league with local hopeful, coach and long time ARC evangelist Alistair Prades joining Jones, Johnny Bispham and Ryan Bezer. The opening round saw Henry take the first win over Prades by 12 points, and in the other match, dominant squash and tennis saw Ryan cruise past Johnny. In the second round of matches, the Devonian local dominated the badminton over Ryan, with Alistair running away with a comfortable win. Johnny had a strong TT win (21-12) over Jones, and the pair split the badminton and squash 21-8 each, which meant Johnny needed just 13 for the win into the tennis… and well, round robin draws can do funny things to Racketlon players! Henry raced into the lead, but Johnny clung on and squeaked his way to losing 21-12, giving us the gumi-arm we all wanted to see. It was a pretty decent gumi-arm as they go, and Johnny held his nerve to take the win, putting the cat amongst the pigeons (1 win and 1 loss for each of the 4 players!!)

Onto the final round of matches, and Henry worked his way past Ryan in a brutal match, the “easiest” victory being a 21-15 badminton set, holding on for a 7 point win. This left Alistair to play Johnny. Despite being firm friends for almost a decade on the Racketlon tour and having played doubles events together many times, Johnny and Alistair had never played each other before. The result in Bezer vs Jones meant that Johnny would either win the Men’s A (if he beat Alistair) or finish fourth (if he lost). Helped by a dominant badminton set, it was Alistair who took the win and with it second place on his home turf. 

 Men’s B – D

The Men’s B was a simpler four player round robin, with Gideon Brennan and Dan Lobato both reaching the final match against each other with a brace of wins each, having both see off the challenge of Matilda Parslow and Jack Powell (Tilda going down by just 5 and 7 points against both men, in a cracking pair of matches). The effective final was the closest of all. Gideon had a dominant start winning the TT 21-14 and the badminton 21-3, however Dan fought back a 21-4 squash win meaning that Gideon needed 16 points for the win, which he just reached with Dan almost at the finishing line on 20. 

In the Men’s C, it was our only Monrad 8 draw of the day, which saw Steven Ford face Kevin Hooper in the final. Steven led by 1 point into the tennis and it reached 20-20 in that final game of tennis. However as they switched to a serve each, Steven managed to get the two points that mattered most and earn the 22-20 victory. 

Stuart Vincent dominated the Men’s D dropping just two sports through the day in the four player box group. 

U14s

Three boys contested the U14s with both Rufus Underwood and Ross Lynd squeaking past Rudi Lobato by 2 points in two matches featuring some exceptional tennis in particular, in both cases finishing 21-19 to the victor. That left Rufus and Ross to contest the final, and it was Rufus who came out the stronger in that match thanks to the badminton and the squash. 

O40s

In the O40s it was a hugely successful Racketlon comeback for Ed Harvey. Back after several years out having first one and then the second hip replaced, our sport’s very own Andy Murray came and won his first tournament back on the UK Tour!

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The Atlantic Racket Centre was a fantastic venue for a Racketlon event and our thanks to everyone involved with the club players and staff for hosting us on Sunday, in particular to Tom Vinall who helped set up the event and also competed well in the Men’s C. Tom and everyone at UK Racketlon is hoping we will have many more trips to the scenic North Devon coast and the brilliant ARC club. 

Pictured below:

Men’s A:

Johnny Bispham, Ryan Bezer, Henry Jones (winner), Alastair Prades (runner up)

 

 

Hertfordshire Open Racketlon 2024