British Racketball Nationals Preview Part 1 - O80s - O60s

In the lead up to next weekend's 2026 British Racketball National Championships lets take a look at the contenders, previous winners and what could play out across the draws! First up we investigate our O80s - O60s age group categories...

​All draws here: www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/The-British-National-Racketball-Championships-2026

- O80S: Reigning Champ - Andrew Rugg Gunn.

Andrew returns again at the fantastic age of 87 to try and retain his Nationals title. It has been phenomenal to watch him in action and let's see if he can continue to amaze with his court coverage. He will be hard pushed this year though, with a bumper draw of 7 players - our largest in this category to date - to contend with. Notables are recently aged up Bob Shelley, Howard Thompson and Andrew's Devon compatriot Pete Hamblett, all who have National age group titles to their names. With 3 or 4 best of 5 game matches for the players over the weekend, the winner will certainly have earned it!


- O75s: Reigning Champ - Ian Graham.

Last year's winner Ian returns again in a bid to retain his title for a second year. His 2025 final opponent Graham Greensall is back from injury and keen to hit the ground running on local turf. 2025 British Open runner up Richard Firmin is also in the mix in the third group so we could see an interesting Finals box of three if all make it throigh reasonably unscathed!


- O70s: Reigning Champ - Andy Mitchell.

This is always one of the more evenly balanced categories in the Series, and although Andy returns as top seed, there is no guarantee he will be sat at the top of the pile at the end of Sunday 19th. John Herbetko at 2 seed has proved regularly able to upset the apple cart and sneak wins off of Mitchell, with the 3/4 seeds of Graham Holmes and Paul Loska also with National Championship and Series wins to their names. With some extra dark horses such as Wallington, Pearcey and Hudson Oldnall in the mix too, the tops seeds are going to have to hit the ground running!


- Women's O65s: Reigning Champ - Lesley Sturgess.

Lesley returns once again as the bane of anyone trying to squeeze a National title under her belt. She has been remarkably consistent across her age group categories over the years and carries a wealth of experience of success at this level. It is great to see a group of 4 in this age group, and the likes of Sue Moore, Jan Hazell Hunt (last year's runner up in a very tight battle with Lesley) and Melody Ripley will all be locked in in their attempts to topple this legend of the Women's game.


- O65s: Reigning Champ - Chris Davey.

Davey is absent this year so it does open up the draw for a whole host of contenders. However, his loss has meant the arrival into the age group of John Cordeaux, one of the O60s regular top dogs, and he is very much the one to try to beat. The languid lefty (host and creator of the fantastic Play Squash57 Youtube Channel) has serious pedigree at this level, and previous Champions Mike Phillips (2 seed) and Collis Sheik (3/4 seed) will have their work cut out to take him down. It is a cery competitive line up across the draw however with several of the lower seeded players having reached the semi finals stage of majors in the past. So no easy games for anyone!


- Women's O60s: Reigning Champ - Lesley Sturgess.

Sturgess has stuck to her O65 guns, and in so leaves a great draw of 8 players to battle it out to take their inaugral O60s National title. Nicky Horn from Yorks is back in Majors action and looks to be the odds on favourite for the win, but Lesley's old sparring partner Siobhan Garland at 2 seed will have a few tricks up her sleeve we are sure. Again it is really positive to have an 8 player draw in this category, a sign that the Women's game is picking up impetus!

- O60s: Reigning Champs - John Cordeaux.

With John having moved on up to the O65s, it is his old battle partner (and regular Doubles buddy) Patrick osborn who once again sits as top seed in this draw. Patrick being one of the the most consistent players in the scene across the Series and Major events makes him somewhat of an immovable object at the top of the order. However with Neil Baldwin also bringing a huge amount of skill and quality at 2 seed, plus the recently aged up Nick Billington and Welsh Wizard Richard Murphy at 3/4 seeds, the UK Racketball legend definitely won't have it all his own way. The likes of Jim Muirhead, Martin Greenslade and John Rycroft also sit at the lower end of the seedings, all very capable of doing damage. This is definitely going to be one of the standout draws of the event!


We will bring you Part 2 over the next few days, but as you can see there is loads to get excited about next weekend! A huge thank you to all of our amazing event sponsors for their contribution to this pinnacle of the UK Racketball scene, it should be a brilliant weekend and your backing makes it all possible!