There is just one remaining fixture to be played in the Premier Division of the BDO Inter County Championships and it is between Warwickshire and Glamorgan a game that will be played this coming weekend at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV1 4JJ.
Last season Warwickshire played away against Glamorgan with the home side winning the tie 20-16, currently Glamorgan are on 170 points and in fourth place in the table with Warwickshire on 157 and in seventh place, so a big win could see the local county finish in a top four position which would be one place higher than they finished last season. However whatever the outcome of the fixture Warwickshire are guaranteed their place in darts top flight again next season taking their run in the Premier to double figures, ten fantastic seasons.
Lining up for the final game will be Men’s ‘A’:- Nigel Heydon, Kevin Dowling, Tom Aldridge, Mark Carter, Mark Westgarth, Dean Stewart, Steve Hine, Noel Grant, Charlie Symons, Simon Power, Carl Green, Antony Allen, Men’s ‘B’:- Richard Foster, Dave Hill, Ian Shaw, Mark Strong, James Hykin, Karl Reynolds, Ashley Hykin, Rob Comben, Anthony West, Gareth Braham, Jack Wareing, Tom McGlone, Reserves:- Adam Paxton, Luke Kennedy, Tom Ryan, Jamie Hughes, Ian McFarlane, Matt Edgar, Prakash Jiwa, Ted Evetts, Women’s ‘A’:- Sue Gulliver, Kat Spanswick, Caroline Pike, Marian Conway, Wendy Adams, Nina Bolt, Women’s ‘B’:- Melanie Jones, Chloe McKivett, Lisa Deslandes, Helen Rigg, Angela Jones, Donna Pinch, Reserves:- Ann Rogers, Tracey Edgecombe, Lucy Keyte, Denise Keyte.
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Birmingham has seen a new darts league get underway the C’s Club Double Top Wednesday Night League which in its inaugural season has attracted an encouraging 30 players.
After the opening week Luis Barberan tops the table by virtue of the fact that he has played and won three games compared to his rivals having only played two. With seven points Barberan is just one point to the good on five chasing players Mark Birch, James Buttle, Chris Millward, Neil Parsonage and Tom White who have all won their first two games 3-0.
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Rubery RBL held on to their four points lead over Avenue Social in week 20 of the Kings Norton League when they won their home tie with Dingle 5-2, Avenue meanwhile were in top form as they handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Grant Arms with their Tony Hamilton in top form as he not only recorded a maximum 170 break but also had a winning seven darts leg.
Third in the table West Heath fell further behind the leading duo as they surprisingly lost their game at Weoley Hill 5-2, Weoley being some eight places below them with eighteen points fewer.
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With the tenth season of the Shirley Premier League completed presentation night not only saw Paul Higgins crowned as new champion but the league also staged a doubles knockout with partners being randomly selected. The winners of the event were Mark Gwalchmai and Ken Hopton who in the final won 3-2 against league champion Paul Higgins and runner up Phil Thomas.
In the last four games Gwalchmai and Hopton won 3-1 against Andy Thomas and Chris Thomas snr while losing out 3-0 to Higgins and Thomas were Jordan Ottley and Mark Henderson.
The league will begin their eleventh season on the Thursday 24th May.
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The C’s Club, Chelmsley Wood staged another of their knockouts with entries steadily increasing with every event. The latest of the knockouts saw for a second consecutive time Neil Parsonage win the top prize. After hitting a 180 and winning 4-1 against Terry Webster in the semi-finals, Terry also notching a maximum, Neil booked his final place against Luis Barberan who defeated Alan Carter in his last four game. The final produced a 5-2 scoreline with Parsonage the winner.
Winner Neil Parsonage with organiser Sue Kingdon
In the first round losers Plate Competition Steve Whatmore took the honours with a close 3-2 win over Richard Mills. Losing semi-finalists were Lee Walker who lost 2-1 to Whatmore and Ryan Beale who Mills beat 2-0.
Plate Knockout Winner Steve Whatmore with organiser Sue Kingdon
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With Erdington Club having a bye in week five of the Sutton and District Summer League The Boat took full advantage to replace them in pole position in division one with an 8-1 win over bottom of the table Red Lion. Boat and Erdington are now both unbeaten in four games, Boat top with the slightly superior average.
In the second division Pint Pot Flights consolidated their number one spot by handing their visitors Sutton Sports a 9-0 whitewash to keep intact their undefeated record in four games. Boldmere Tap and The Boot are on the same eight points as the leaders but have both played one game more.
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Avenue Social Club, Weoley Avenue, Birmingham was the setting for a charity match between the Harborne League and Kings Norton League in a bid to raise funds for the Air Ambulance.
Harborne League
With wins from Dave Hill, Kenny Bedder, James Hykin, Ashley Hykin, Tony Hamilton, Dave Hopkins, Graham Dews and Richard Mann the Harborne League won the game 8-3. Winning for the Kings Norton league were Simon Hodges, Chris Burke and Liam Fox.
Kings Norton League
The biggest winner of the night was the charity as the evening raised a fabulous total of £367.50 made up of £212.50 from the night, £50 from each of the leagues and £55 raised by Tony Hamilton in sponsorship money.
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After playing twenty games in the Small Heath League East Birmingham Allotment Holders Association are unbeaten their latest fixture seeing them win 6-3 against Cob’s Bar to open up a ten points lead over second in the table Heartlands Club who lost their game away to fourth in the table Wagon and Horses 5-4.
In the local derby clash between Sheldon Marlborough Flights and Sheldon Marlborough Arrows it was third in the table Flights who got the close 5-4 verdict over their next to bottom of the table opponents.
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The Netherton Thursday Night League played their singles knockout down to the quarter finals and winning through were C.Hadlington, A.Cowley, C.Wakeman (White Horse), M.Jones (Fairfield), A.Tonks, P.Tonks (Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club), R.Lenton (Townsend Club), M.Bennett (Delph Bell).
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With Queens Head having a bye in the Main Section of the Pip Club League The Office with a 7-2 win over Globe (Wilnecote) had replaced them at the top of the table. Both teams are on 38 points and have lost just one of their twenty fixtures, Office having the better average top the table. Third in the table Birchmoor are only two points behind the leading pair after a 6-3 win at Sports Bar ‘180’ however they have played two games more than the top two teams.
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Tipton Sports with a 6-1 win away to Ivy Bush consolidated their top position in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League as they took their points tally to 30 from 16 games.
The battle is on for second place as no fewer than three teams Island Inn, Dewdrop ‘A’ and Wagon and Horses are on 26 points. In turn the three teams won against Sportsman (4-3), Merry-Go-Round ‘B’ (6-1) and Horseley Tavern (6-1).
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With Wheatsheaf, second in the Cradley Tuesday Night League table having a bye leaders Brickmakers Arms extended their lead to four points with a 7-2 home win over Bulls Head who drop from third to fourth in the table. Brickmakers have 18 points and the three teams chasing them Wheatsheaf, Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ and Bulls Head are all on 14 points, Netherton Cricket Club ‘A’ winning 6-3 at Roost. All of the top four teams have played ten games.
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After playing seven games in the division one singles section of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League the Railway finally got their first win of the season when they won their home tie with Wednesfield Conservative Club 4-3, the Conservative Club replacing them at the foot of the table still seeking their first win. At the top of the division Riley’s ‘C’ who have won all seven of their games had a bye and their nearest rivals Bull reduced the arrears to just two points with a 6-1 win against Dog and Partridge ‘A’.
A 4-3 win at Dog and Partridge ‘B’ took Wednesfield Legion’s unbeaten run at the top of the division two singles to eight games and gives them a lead of four points over both Royal, Albrighton and Dog and Partridge ‘B’, Royal had a 5-2 win at Penn Bowling.
In the division one doubles section three teams, Gilberts Bar, Victoria and Wednesfield Conservative Club are on 10 points at the top of the table while in division two Village Inn and Penn Bowling lead the field both having 12 points.
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Week nine in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League produced a clash of the Titans as the top two teams squared up to each other. Leaders Whitmore Reans WMC were the hosts to second placed and former leaders ECC ‘A’ and it was ECC ‘A’ who got the 4-3 result to put them level on 14 points with Whitmore who remain in pole position on average.
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