The BDO Inter Counties season finished on a high note for both of our local county teams Warwickshire and West Midlands. In division one Warwickshire travelled south to take on Dorset and returned with a triumphant 27-12 result. The victory was enough to guarantee promotion and a place in the premier division next season.
Player of the season must surely be Trina Gulliver, not only has she gone through the campaign undefeated but she has also won all nine of the seasons lady of the match awards. This is a truly magnificent performance by Trina and I personally cannot recollect anyone ever doing that in a BDO Inter County season. In this final game Trina had a 22.10 winning average as her team romped to a 6-0 win. The ‘B’ side’s lady of the match was Debbie McPherson (20.04) as they won 4-2.
In the men’s games the ‘B’ finished all square at six each with their top man being Paul Cummings (25.48). Colin Fowler (29.85) for the third consecutive fixture took the ‘A’ side’s award in an 8-4 success, to maintain the teams 100% win record for the season, in addition to the men’s ‘A’ winning their league the women both won their respective league’s. A fabulous season and congratulations to all concerned.
It was good news also for the West Midlands as in their away game at Cumbria they chalked up a much needed 22-17 win which means they have retained their status in division two and beaten the dreaded drop.
The ladies ‘B’ were on the wrong side of a 6-0 whitewash, giving them nine defeats in as many outings. Diane Tolley (20.00) won the ‘A’ award as they also lost, 4-2. But it was good news for the men as the ‘B’ team strolled to a 10-2 win with Steve Penwright (26.37) their top man. The ‘A’ team’s 7-5 win means that they have won their league having suffered just one defeat, an 8-4 reversal against Berkshire back in March. Taking the man of the match award was Tipton’s Ian Jones with a tremendous 31.95 average.
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A 160 break from T.McGlone and an 11 darts game by D.Bourne helped Midland Red to a fine 6-3 win over Stonehouse Nomads in division one of the Harborne 401 Summer League. Nomads B.Davenport scored a maximum as did S.Riddick as his team, Bartley Green Social Club, won 6-3 against Ladywood Social. M.O’Donnell (Hillyfields) was another player to hit the three treble twenties as his side lost 5-4 at the George. J Cannon broke with 160 for the hosts.
Both E.Scullion and L.Scullion recorded 160 breaks for their team Lickey Banker in division two as they won 6-3 at the Plough. Avenue Social romped to an 8-1 win at Avenue Social while Highlander won a close fought match against an unlucky Village Stump by 5-4.
8-1 wins for Highlander Ladies and the Cock in division three against respective opponents Raven Ladies and Bartley Green FC.
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Tony Randell, the early season pacesetter in the Bass Breweries sponsored Minworth Social Individual League, was in top form this week as he roared to two cracking 3-0 victories against Brian Brookes and John Turner. In the first match he hit 3×140 and 3×100, but then turned up the heat in the second scoring 180,4×140 and 3×100 as well as recording a 13 darts leg. Tony on 25 points has opened up a two points lead over a quartet of players, Steve Cain, Gary Mills, Jason Gilbert and Paul Burnham, who all won their games this week.
Dave Shorthouse played three matches this week and hit a maximum in all three, Winnie Chinn played two and again hit one in each, while Steve Cain and Tony Whitehouse hit one each.
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After only two fixtures have been completed in the Small Heath Summer League just two teams remain undefeated, McDwyers and the Black Horse with the former just ahead on average and holding pole position. McDwers had a comfortable 8-1 success against Red Hill this week, Red Hill one of only two teams still seeking their first points of the season. The other team without a win is the Bear who lost their game with Saltley Flights 7-2.
Second placed Black Horse won a tight battle with the Custard House by 5-4, the same margin by which the Victoria Social Club beat Sheldon Heath Flights.
There was sad news for the league over the weekend when it was announced that Custard House Bar player Alan Mason had passed away suddenly. Alan known affectionately throughout the league as “Curly” had been a renowned and regular player in the Small Heath League for many years, he will be greatly missed.
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Despite losing 2-1 to reigning champion Joyce Webster, Vicky Edwards is still leading the field in the Birmingham Ladies Double Top League with 17 points. Janet Dudley, without a game this week, is second on 15 points and then comes a cluster of three players Angie Bourne, Chris Brooks and Joyce Webster all on 13 points.
Pat Bradshaw had a high scoring game against Julie James hitting 180,140 and 100 in her 2-1 win.
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The final of the Sheldon and District Winter League Doubles Knockout finished as an all Saltley Amateur Gardeners affair. Playing at Lea Hall RBL, Tony Randell and Tom White took the title with a 2-0 scoreline against team mates Bob Barley and Phil Henderson. Losing semi finalist were Paul Burnham and Graham Stych who lost to the champions, and John Whitehouse and Fred Ensell.
The first round produced two major shocks when Karl Attwood and Graham Stamps, Mark Wall and Jim Norris both crashed out of the competition
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There is still time to enter the ever popular Sheldon and District League / Lea Hall RBL Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal Competition. Entry closes this coming Sunday anyone wishing to enter a team should send their entry, together with the £3 fee to competition secretary Jim Tough, 6 Cowley Drive, Woodlands Park, B27 6SJ.
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The Sheldon Charity team have been in action again visiting the Stags Head, Stratford and the Tarrington Arms, Ledbury. The match at the Stags Head finished all square at six each, while at the Tarrington the charity team won 11-4. Top scores for the hosts came from Tommy Hibbs who hit 120 and 100. For the charity team were Tony Weston (140) and John Cook (121). Biggest winners were the two charities the team supports, namely the Burns Unit and the Childrens Hospital who will benefit from the fantastic amount raised from the games, £336.
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