british racketball nationals preview - part 2 - O55s to o35s

We return to the action and take a look at the next batch of age categories, kicking things off with the Women's O55s draw!

Draws here:

​www.sportyhq.com/tournament/view/The-British-National-Racketball-Championships-2026


Women's O55s - Reigning Champ - Siobhan Garland.

Cornwall's Garland has now moved up to the O60s draw so leaves it open for a new category winner! Last year's finalist Kim Brook looks to be in with a good shot, but local legend Tina Wotherspoon will be calling on home support to hopefully see her to a title!


O55's - Reigning Champ - David Evans.

Last year this category provided us with two unbelievably high quality semi finals, with both going to 5 brutal games. Champion David Evans is unfortunately absent this year with an injury, and with Nick Billington (last year's runner up) having moved up into the O60s it creates a power vacuum in the draw. We have a very punchy line up of top seeds however, with all four players very capable of battling their way through to a win. Chris Wase, Phil Hall, Andy Murray and John Simpson are all looking in good form, we could see a repeat of last year's mammoth showdowns! Last man standing...


Women's O50s - Reigning Champ - Sam Mueller.

Sam is absent this year, but we have a great line up of 8 quality players battling it out instead! Two of our current top Series regulars - Linda Pritchard and Karen Bealey will be looking to renew their rivalry by meeting in the Final, but Yorkshire's Diane Fenwick and Devon's Jo Perriam will both have something to say about that, having both come very close to taking the title themselves last year.

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O50s - Reigning Champ - Jon Davies.

The Welsh wizard returns to defend his title after battling past Chris Morris in a tough and entertaining final last year. Morris also returns in the top half of the draw, where he is seeded to meet top seed Mat Lowery who has just come up from the 45s. This age group has always provided us with some of the closest match ups possible and this year is no exception. We also have the likes of Mark Davis, Nick Staunton, current Series leader Andy Speake, and Steve Smith all also in the mix for the title. No easy matches in this one next weekend!


O45s - Reigning Champ - Ryan Loska.

Mr Relentless is back once more, ready and raring to sap the legs and minds of anyone ready to try and go up against him! He faces regular sparring partners Knocker Norton, Adam Giles and Barry Talbot in his quest to regain top spot. And the guys certainly have their work cut out against one of the most consistent Racketball players we have had ever in the Series! Norton and Giles have however registered wins against him in the past so you never quite know...


Women's O40s -  Reigning Champ - Natalie Lawrence.

Another increased draw size which is really great to see. With Lawrence absent it is very much an open line up, with all players capable of battling through to take the win. Yorkshire's Marie Elcock looks to be the slight favourite on paper, but Priory club members Kirn Dibra and Tina Wotherspoon on home turf will see what they can do to upset the odds!


O40s - Reigning Champ - Alexis Smith.

What. A. Line Up! 
We only have 8 players in this draw but it is one hell of a group of them. Last year's finalists Alexis Smith & Mike Tolman who battled each other to a standstil return as top seeds, joing this year by Zeb Young and Dan Soar, both of whom are very capable of causing problems in the semis. Plus two Welsh warriors in Ross Cassley and Damian Burgess who won't be going to make up the numbers! Whoever comes through this by Sunday night will very much have earned their title!


O35s - Reigning Champ - Jason Pike.

We have a very punchy draw of 9 for this category, with several players in the mix to do some damage. With the draw format offering up three berths in the finals stage, with all three finalists having to play off against each other, whoever can come through the group stages unscathed with energy to spare will have a great shout. Ted Jeal comes in as top seed, searching for his first National title, but county mate Billy Jones will be looking to double up from his British Open 2025 title last year! Last year's semi finalists Duncan Moselhi is also out for revenge after a tight loss to Jones previously... They will have some very tough group stage games though, with the likes of Arnott, Bryant, Vasey and more all out to upset the standings. 


So many quality draws and tough battles to come through! This time next week the action will all start to unfold. We can't wait...

Part 3 (third and final) of the preview to come very soon... Stay tuned!