The Sheldon and District Winter League got underway with a bang recording no fewer than 5 x 160 breaks, 3 x 180, 138 finish and an 8 darts leg. The facts behind those headlines were as follows. In the premier division M.Green and M.Vale of E.B.A.H.A. had 160 breaks but it was not enough to avoid a 5-4 defeat at the hands of Shard End Social whose G.Clarke hit a 180. A similar story for S.Dwyer (Three Horseshoes) who also broke with 160 and his team lost by the odd game to Saltley Amateur Gardeners, their T.Randell grabbed a maximum and chalked up an eight darts leg. Olton RBL’s J.Norris checked out on 138, his side scored a 6-3 win at Fordbridge Social.
Two 160 breaks in division two, one for D.Fardon (Lyndon Arms) and the other supplied by Hobs Meadow’s L.Wheeler. Unfortunately both teams lost in turn to Malt Shovel and Heathway. G.Hill held the flag for the third division hitting a maximum as his team Banbury Club won 5-4 at the Hideout.
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The Harborne 401 Summer League staged the quarter finals of their Knockout Cup which produced a shock exit for the Hillyfields. Playing at home Hillyfields went down 6-3 to the Beeches. Bartley Green Social Club, with a 152 break from M.Heskins, whitewashed the Highlander 9-0, but their local rivals, Bartley Green Social Flights had a 7-2 reversal against Red Lion.
In the league’s Individual Knockout M.James followed up a 2-0 win in the semi finals against T.Byrne with another straight legs win over P.Brotherton in the final. Brotherton had won his last four game against A.Beagrie 2-1.
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Northfield recorded their first win of the current campaign in the Irish Centre Four a Side Ladies League, a 16-5 success against Sutton. Northfields victory has moved them up the table into joint second with Acocks Green on 34 points. Out in front is reigning champions Selly Park, their latest fixture giving them a close 11-10 win over Sheldon to take their tally to 53 points.
On the individual scene it now goes without saying that Lesley Newcombe is Selly Park’s top player, hitting this week 6×100, 121, 140 and registering the league’s best finish so far 115. Margaret Roberts was Sheldon’s best with 3×100. For Northfield Joyce Webster hit a similar 3×100 while her team mate, Vicky Edwards scored a maximum. Sutton’s Leslie Phillips hit 5×100, 120 and 121.
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The Forest of Arden Summer League played their Doubles Knockout at the Ivy Leaf. The final was an all Red Arrows nail biter with J.Daly and J.Mullholland just getting the edge on team mates C.Hall and B.Twist.
The league will be staging their Cup final at the Highwood on Tuesday September 28 when Hobs Meadow and Silver Wings will do battle for the title.
On the league front there are only a couple of matches remaining. However, in those fixtures the two top teams in division two, Stechford Social and Heart of England ‘B’ play each other and currently they are both locked together on 13 points, Stechford however, have played one fixture less than their rivals. Red Arrows top division one with 15 points from 9 games, Highwood, in second place have 13 points from 10 games.
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West Midlands County staged their play off for the Winmau World Masters at their headquarters, Chubbs Sports and Social Club, Wolverhampton. Many of the fancied big names were drawn against each other in the earlier rounds which saw Tom Aldridge go out in the first round proper to Ian Jones 2-0. Steve Parkes was Jones next victim, losing by the odd set 2-1. Jones then met his match in his final where he lost in straight sets to David Platt. Joining Platt in the next round will be Lol Fraser who defeated Mark Wellings 2-1 in his final.
The ladies title went to Penny Hooley, Penny beating Diane Tolley 3-1 in the final after a close 3-2 success over Dawn Holdcroft in the semis.
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Warwickshire have also been involved in their World Masters play off’s, representing them in the next round of the men’s competition will be Paul Merrett (Coventry Howitzers) and Gary Podmore (Tamworth), who in turn had final victories over M.Kane (Birmingham Vauxhall) and Mark Hollyoake (Birmingham Midland Red).
Terri Bellamy (Birmingham Central), with a convincing 3-0 win over team mate Dawn Barnes in the final will carry forward the ladies hopes. Both players had wins against Coventry Spencer ladies in the semis, Terri took out Cheryl Jackson 3-2 and with a 3-1 result Dawn accounted for Mo.Redmond.
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