A veteran badminton star from Salisbury has won gold in a recent tournament as the badminton club grows.

Haydn Dibble from Salisbury Badminton Club competed in the Middlesex Open championship on Sunday, February 2. Along with his teammate, Jason Grimshaw, Haydn won a gold medal in the 55 and over category after winning all their group games.

The 57-year-old also made it to the quarter-finals of the European badminton championships in Belgium in 2024. He has been playing since he was seven years old as his mum used to play for Salisbury Badminton Club.

Haydn is also a coach at Salisbury Badminton Club and does some private coaching as well. He retired in 2024 after being the Partnerships Director at car company Cinch for years.

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After being born and raised in Salisbury and now living in Laverstock, Haydn loves coaching the next generation of kids, especially in schools.

He said: "I have played badminton all my life and had lots of success. Now I am the chairman and treasurer of the club.

"With all this experience I love going into schools and sharing my knowledge."

Haydn in action (Image: Haydn Dibble) Haydn coaches at Amesbury Archer Primary School but used to coach in a range of schools.

When reflecting on the tournament at the weekend, (February 2) Haydn said: "We were in the master's category which is between 35-70-year-olds and more specifically the 55 and over.

"We were split into two groups of four and won every single one of our group games quite easily. Then in the final, we had a hard-fought third set which lasted over an hour but we ended up winning 20-16."

Since the pandemic, Salisbury Badminton Club says it has seen a "massive" increase in membership enjoying a purple patch in people participating in playing Badminton locally.

Salisbury Badminton Club juniors (Image: Haydn Dibble) The playing standard at the club ranges from complete beginners to county standard and beyond.

Due to this recent membership swell and, to reduce subsequent waiting lists, the coaches agreed to add another junior session on a Tuesday night between 6 pm and 7 pm.

The club is based at the five-court Sports Centre at Sarum Academy on a Tuesday and Thursday night.