Martin Ruth channelled his inner Olympian to strike gold at a record-breaking Skechers English OPEN.

Former golf professional Ruth, 62, 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.

Ruth and playing partner Nik Scopes won every game en route to victory in the men’s 3.0 60+ men’s doubles event.

“My sons play pickleball and they said to me: ‘go and play it, dad,’ so I started playing in October twice a week and in January, the boys played last year in this event and said: ‘enter it, dad, you’ll do OK,’” said Lympstone's Ruth.

“Once I entered it, if you’re going to do something, I then stepped it up to playing five times a week.

“We came up on Sunday, I played on Monday in the men’s doubles, on Tuesday in the mixed and on Wednesday in the singles.

“The best aspect is the confrontation at the net and the speed of the ball. That’s what really gives me a buzz.”

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.

“It was electric, when we walked in, we’ve got a pickleball group at Exeter and I just wrote on there ‘this is absolutely amazing. If you get the chance, come up, it’s electric. I’m buzzing already,” added Ruth.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it on Monday and on Tuesday I played with the good lady [wife Natasha Ruth].”

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