Ryan Jenkins is back on the GP circuit at Bristol – and says he never actually retired.

It was widely thought the Welsh wizard had stepped away from the competition after winning his 50th title last season.

But, speaking before his return in Bristol tomorrow, he said: “Someone asked me last season ‘when you reach 50, is that going to be it?’ and I said it was probably a good time to finish.

“I didn’t really think I would reach 50 so quickly – I thought it would be this season or next – but I did.

“But I couldn’t play in Liverpool, I was at the School Games when Medway was on and in South Shields I had a Belgian League match.

“People assumed I wasn’t playing GPs, but it was because I couldn’t. But I still enjoy playing, so that’s why I’m here.”

Jenkins is in the men’s singles tomorrow, in Group 1 alongside Aaron McKibbin, Helmuth Osborne and Mike Bishop.