Anthony Clark (pictured) needs just one more to equal the great man's record, but victory with new partner Chris Langridge would also set a new record of 10 consecutive titles.

Once again the English Nationals, from February 4-6, have attracted a quality entry.

Clark is one of six defending champions in action.

Rajiv Ouseph is bidding for a fourth consecutive men's singles title and will start as a strong favourite after climbing into the world's top 16 on the back of his Commonwealth Games silver medal in Delhi and his European bronze at the MEN Arena in Manchester last April.

Elizabeth Cann, who took bronze in Delhi, will be bidding to make it a fifth women's singles title.

In the doubles events Jenny Wallwork and Gabby White will defend their women's title for the first time but will face a strong challenge from last year's runners-up and European bronze medallists Mariana Agathangelou and Heather Olver.

And Bolton-born Wallwork will aim to do the double again as she and Nathan Robertson, the Commonwealth silver medallists, defend their mixed doubles title.



Robertson (pictured), who like Clark is specialising in just one event from now on, is bidding for a sixth mixed doubles title to go with his eight men's doubles titles, six of them with Clark.

Victory for Robertson will take him to within two of the men's record tally of 16 English national titles by Tredgett.

But as well as the established stars, there is plenty of emerging talent to watch out for.

Teenager Sarah Milne reached the semi-finals last year before losing to Helen Davies in three tight games.

Milne went on to finish fourth in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August.

She will be aiming to repeat her nationals performance this time round and will partner Davies, who will start her comeback from injury by playing both singles and doubles.

In the men's singles Toby Penty and Jamie Bonsels are two other young players to watch out for while in the men's doubles the new pairings of Chris Adcock and Andy Ellis and Marcus Ellis and Peter Mills will be out to stop Clark's record bid – as will six-times champions Simon Archer and Chris Hunt.

Archer, like Clark, has won the men's doubles nine times, including one victory with Clark.