It was not a good weekend for our local teams in the BDO Inter Counties Championships. For the second successive fixture Warwickshire, playing in the premier division, travelled south, this time to take on Essex. However, their journey was not as fruitful as their previous when they beat Kent 19-17. On this occasion it was the home team that got the 20-16 verdict. The ladies earned their share of the points as the ‘B’ side finished all square at three each (Terri Bellamy 17.89, lady of the match) and the ‘A’ won 4-2. It almost goes without saying that Trina Gulliver was the ‘A’ teams top lady, chalking up another tremendous average, 27.83.
The men’s ‘B’ suffered a crushing 10-2 defeat with Dave Shorthouse (man of the match 28.90) and Barry Stephens offering Warwickshire’s only resistance. The ‘A’ side was the success story of the fixture as they, with a 7-5 result recorded their first win of the campaign. Colin Fowler took the match award with a 30.87 average.
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In division two, West Midlands played hosts to Norfolk. The men’s ‘B’ made it three wins in a row, beating their counterparts 7-5. (man of the match Steve Brindley 26.84) the ‘A’ team were also on song as they won 8-4, their first win of the season. The match award went to another Steve, this Penwright (27.33). The ladies ‘A’ ended up on the wrong side of a 6-0 whitewash, while the ‘B’ also lost but by 4-2, their top player being Claire Hobbs (16.07).
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Hobs Meadow, leaders of the Forest of Arden Winter League, were in super form as they accounted for Warwick Aero with an 8-1 result. Two players on the mark for Hobs were Mick Benson, who had breaks of 160,120 and 100 and Wayne Mathews who had a game shot of 152 plus an eight darts leg. Surprise of the week was the 5-4 defeat of Silver Wings by the Cock and Hens. Hobs Meadow Mixes got back to winning ways with a 5-4 victory over the Harvester.
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The “Ace of Clubs” charity team gets underway on the 2nd December with an exhibition game against a combined Gulp charity and Haverfordwest select team. The match will be staged at the White Lion, Muntz Street, Small Heath and will begin at 8-30pm.
All monies raised will be donated to charities chosen by the teams.
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Pat Koyce has now opened up a three points lead at the top of the Bass Breweries sponsored Minworth Social Individual League. In his latest games Pat beat last season’s runner up, Alan Mayell 3-0, hitting in the process 180,2×140,125,3×100 taking just twelve darts in one of his winning legs. A 2-1 win over Karl Stephens keeps Rab South (180,140,2×100) in second spot, level on points with Trevor Frost who beat Steve Cain 2-1. Players to hit 180 this week were Derek Mountjoy, Richie Baker, Barry Stephens, Alan Grainger and Steve Davis. Tony Randell hit two maximums as he won 3-0 against Paul Burnham. Steve Davis also hit two maximums, however, it turned out that it was not enough as he lost 2-1 to Gordon Clinton, who notched 2×140,131 and 2×100.
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Black Horse were the biggest winners in the Small Heath Winter League, beating the Bear 6-3. Sheldon Heath Flights and the Custard House both won 5-4 in their respective games with Red Hill and Saltley Flights.
The winning numbers in the league’s “Lotto Game” were Ist £33-50, No 28 (serial No AG213157), 2nd £20,00 No 41 (serial No AH864265),3rd £13.50, No 51 (serial No AH864265).
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