BADMINTON veteran Haydn Dibble is casting an eye on qualifying for the national play-offs to take on England’s finest players.

The 47-year-old hopes leaders Wiltshire will mastermind victories from the last two league matches to wrapup the Over 45 South West title, which will secure automatic entry to the high-status nationals in May.

He also is questing to break into the UK’s top 20 and be selected for the World Championships in Sweden in September.

Salisbury’s Dibble recently took on some first-rate badminton stars at the Inter County Championships in Lilleshall, Telford where Wiltshire lost out by two points to Cambridgeshire, winning four out of five matches alongside partner Richard Outerside.

Aside from county level badminton, Dibble represents Salisbury Hurricanes, who are the champions of Salisbury and District first division and have been dominant in the county regional championships.

Dibble is also a coach at Sarum Academy, where he uses his 38-year nous in the sport to coach juniors on Thursday nights.

He said: “Since turning 40 I have been playing the national masters’ circuit and have enjoyed much success.

“Highlights are my first England call-up in 2013 when I was selected to play for England in the European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. I was eliminated early on but it was a great achievement being selected and playing alongside the likes of Nick Ponting, an ex-Olympian and Commonwealth gold medallist.”