Derek Talbot

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).

Derek Talbot
Wolfgang Bochow (left) plays against Derek Talbot from England (right).
Personal information
Country	England
Born	(1947-03-23) 23 March 1947 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

Career

World Championships

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.

1972 Summer Olympics

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.

Commonwealth Games

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.

Major achievements

Rank	Event	Date	Venue
World Championships
2	Mixed doubles	1977	Malmö, SWE
Badminton World Cup
3	Men's doubles	1979	Tokyo, JPN
European Championships
1	Mixed doubles	1972	Karlskrona, SWE
1	Mixed doubles	1974	Vienna, AUT
1	Mixed doubles	1976	Dublin, IRE
2	Mixed doubles	1970	Port Talbot, WAL
2	Men's doubles	1972	Karlskrona, SWE
2	Men's doubles	1976	Dublin, IRE
3	Singles	1974	Vienna, AUT
3	Mixed doubles	1980	Groningen, NED
Commonwealth Games
1	Mixed doubles	1970	Edinburgh, SCO
1 1	Men's doubles Mixed doubles	1974	Christchurch, NZL
1	Team	1978	Edmonton, CAN
2	Singles	1978	Edmonton, CAN
3	Singles	1974	Christchurch, NZL
3	Mixed doubles	1978	Edmonton, CAN
Open Championships
1	Mixed doubles	1973, 1976, 1977	All England Open
2	Mixed doubles	1971, 1972, 1974	All England Open

International tournaments

Men's doubles

Year	Tournament	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
1973	India Open	Elliot Stuart	Indra Gunawan Amril Nurman	15–11, 15–8	Champion

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