Graham Tallyn starred in an historic week for pickleball at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Retired bank manager Tallyn, 67, featured in the English Open at the Telford International Centre – the largest pickleball event taking place outside of North America.

With ages from 7 to 70+ competing, the event is reflective of the incredible growth in pickleball over recent years, with a record number of almost 2,000 players from 42 countries participating in a sport which has aspirations of making the Olympic programme.

“I was playing badminton with my son down at Berkhamsted Leisure Centre two-and-a-half years ago and a group of people were playing this game I’d never seen before on a court nearby,” said Whitchurch's Tallyn.

“One of the ladies there who was organising it came over to me and asked me if I wanted to have a hit.

“So, I went over and had a hit, after the game they all went back to work, I was retired and I picked it up and really enjoyed it.

“Since then, I’ve got my sons involved and now they’re the best players at the club, West Herts Wizards, where we have 200 members.”

This year’s English OPEN comprised seven days of high-level competition, with the world’s top professionals from America, Europe and Asia taking to the court in singles, doubles, mixed, wheelchair and junior events.

A hybrid of tennis, badminton & table tennis, the sport’s popularity has been attributed to its accessibility. Easy to pick up and fun to play, the sport’s accessibility transcends demographics, providing it with universal appeal.

“The Open such a well organised, well-oiled event, it’s run on computer and even us oldies can follow it quite simply,” added Tallyn.

“I think we’ve got something like 50 players from our club playing here, which is amazing.

“I knew pickleball had come from the States, but in tennis we’ve tended to look down on pickleball – we think it’s like a beach thing we play with our kids, but when you actually see it, it’s actually a brilliant game.”

Pickleball England has announced a record number of players competing at this year’s English OPEN from the 8th-14th August at the Telford International Centre in the largest pickleball event taking place outside of the USA EVER – visit pickleballengland.org