Warwickshire have completed four of their nine match season in the premier division of the BDO Inter Counties Championship. However they will be hoping the New Year will be kinder to them than the old, as one win was all they achieved in the opening four fixtures and that was in the curtain raiser against London.
Both men’s teams are seeking their first victory of the campaign, the ‘A’ having drawn two, lost two, while the ‘B’ have one draw and three defeats. The ladies have fared much better, the ‘A’ won one, drawn two, lost one and the ’B’ won two drawn two.
The next fixture will be staged at the Granby Road Club, Doncaster where Warwickshire will take on Yorkshire, always a difficult match. Nevertheless a win would be a major confidence booster for Warwickshire and hoping to provide the points will be, Men’s ‘A’:- K.Dowling, M.Hollyoake, A.Sharratt, C.Laffar, S.Dwyer, G.Wylie, A.Smith, T.McGlone, S.Hine, T.Brown, P.Brotherton, P.Koyce, Men’s ‘B’:- P.Merrett, S.Cain, M.Flood, C.Betteridge, P.Rouse, P.Jiwa, R.Shenton, J.Kiernan, G.Flowers, T.Frost, M.Singh, L.Thompson, Reserves:- G.Podmore, D.Brown, P.Lloyd, M.Whelan, M.Strong, D.Clarke, Ladies ‘A’:- T.Gulliver, L.Newcombe, C.Weston, T.Montgomery, C.Jackson, J.Liddell, Ladies ‘B’:- C.Pike, L.Butler, J.Clements, T.Bellamy, M.Jennings, S.Deery, Reserves:- M.Redmond, C.Fisher.
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The Warwickshire Belgrave Open will be staged at the Belgrave Sports and Social Club, Wilnecote Lane, Tamworth on Sunday 31st January. For a £4 entry fee the winner will walk away with £500, plus there is £200 for the runner up, £100 for 3rd and 4th and £25 for the 5th to 8th places.
Entries are to be received by Monday 18th January and should be forwarded to Mr B.Johnson, 65 Wychbold Crescent, Lea Hall Village, Birmingham, B33 9TF. All cheques should be made payable “Warwickshire Darts Organisation”.
For further information Mr Johnson can be contacted on 0121-784-6536.
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England international and Warwickshire county player Trina Gulliver ended 1998 on a high. Playing in London in the finals of the BDO Ladies British Open Trina took the title with a convincing final 3-1 victory over Trica Wright, who was representing Middlesex. The semi final had gone the full distance, but it was Trina who got the 3-2 verdict against her Yorkshire counterpart Karen Smith.
The following day, not content with the singles title, Trina teamed up with London’s Julie Rogers and the duo proved to be a huge success taking the title with a straight 3-0 win over Swiss representatives.
Congratulations Trina may your good fortune continue into 1999.
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On Sunday 10th January the Warwickshire Youth squad will be taking on all comers at the Vauxhall Club, Neachells. Anyone fancying a game should be in attendance by 12-00 noon when the proceedings get underway.
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On the agenda for the Forest of Arden Winter League has been the semi finals of the Presidents Cup and the quarter finals of the Consolation Cup. First the former in which reigning champions Hobs Meadow, despite a maximum from Wayne Mathews, narrowly lost by 5-4 to the current league leaders Red Arrows. In the other contest Silver Wings defeated Harvester 6-3.
W.Townsend, with a 160 break helped his team, Hunters Moon to a 6-3 win over Hobs Meadow Mixes in the Consolation Cup. Also going into the last four was Cornerstones who beat Highwood 6-3. Mackadown Social had a bye.
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