Dear Racketlon Community,

A strategic change of tournament management in 2005 saw the UK international tour events - The Scottish and English Opens become the most successful ever to date. Stuart Foster and Phil Reid handed over to Keith Lesser and Neil Russell respectively. Foster and Reid go down in history as the original pioneers for UK Racketlon and are still actively involved as members of the International Racketlon Federation Council. The 2006 World Tour has been announced and The UK Events will be in September and October.

All previous English and Scottish Opens go down in history as somewhat sensational spectacles. Main landmarks include Doug Struthers winning the 2004 English Open. Also, Calum Reid upsetting the field at the 2005 English Open. Mats Kallberg came to the newly formed 2005 Scottish Open in Edinburgh (3 previous tournaments had been held in Dundee) and took the plaudits. Sarah Mcfadyen, when injury free looks unbeatable. Hopefully she can come back and again astound the world with her multi-talents.

The 2006 British & Irish Racketlon Tour is launched for the first time. Thurrock (April), Hampshire (June), Eastbourne (July) start the tour after the British Champs. Check www.activeeurope.com where you can enter online.

The 1st British Championships on 1st/2nd April in Birmingham was a cracker and warm up for the England team players for the forthcoming World Team Championships in Belgium in June. This provided a taster of the 2006 English Open tournament venue and we are hopeful of a good turnout.

Redbridge Sports Centre (probably the best racketlon venue in England) have announced that they will run a racketlon taster day in the Autumn.

Many other sports facilities are starting to get the racketlon bug. Certainly, we will look to hold another competition in our most seasoned racketlon venue at David Lloyd Heston. The launch of a series monthly Club nights is a very exciting development as a pilot for other David Lloyd or branded clubs. The Heston Racketlon Club is launched!

The re-launched racketlon.co.uk website with regular news and calander updates shows UK Racketlon is set to grow and grow! For sure, we have already started the irresistible task of planning a future World Championship. This news has brought further joy to sports fans across the island, already ecstatic at the news of the 2012 Olympics. We are warming up.

See you on court sometime,

The UK Racketlon Team



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