2001-02-01

As far as the West Midlands are concerned the year 2000 did not finish in the manner they would have wished and must certainly be hoping that 2001 will be a happier New Year.
The Millenium year was seen out in division two of the BDO Inter Counties Championship with an away trip against Buckinghamshire. With three games under their belts and still without a win to their name West Midlands were in need of a victory, not just for the points but also as a morale booster.
The ladies ‘ B’ got off to a bad start when Amanda Kuling, Angela Webb, Ann Wakefield and Jane Sobey all chalked up 3-0 straight wins over Claire Hobbs, Sue Smith, Val Arnold and Angela Barnett to give the hone side an unassailable 4-0 lead. Janet Cox took a leg off Fiona Carmichael, but went down 3-1 before West Midlands won their one and only game of the match. Anchor girl Janet Hubbard (14.05) won the match award with her 3-0 success against Dawn Goff putting the final score at 5-1 to Buckinghamshire leaving the West Midlands ladies ‘B’ still seeking their first win.
The men’s ‘B’ were looking to continue their impressive start to the season by adding to their three previous victories. However, they did not begin the match in the manner they would have wanted. The home’s side Anthony Davies opened his team’s account with a 3-1 victory over Bill Hadley, after he had lost the first leg. Frank Johnson squared the match when he beat Phil Barter 3-2, Johnson twice having to come from behind. From here on in the remainder of the first half turned sour. Fred Parsons after leading 1-0 against Paul Comb lost 3-1. Fred’s son Jamie was taken out in three legs as Tony Moore with his 3-0 win moved the scoreline along to 3-1 in favour of Buckinghamshire. Mark Day’s straight legs success over Ron Johnson made it 4-1 and at the halfway mark the hosts had taken a commanding 5-1 lead thanks to a further 3-2 win by Ian Wise against Roger Kinsella.
Veteran Joe Biggs reduced the arrears for the Midland side when in the opening game of the second half he beat Phil Simpson 3-0, checking out on 116 in the second leg. It was but a brief respite for the visitors as Raymond McKeating, in just three legs defeated Peter Hadley. Another straight victory went to Mick Wroe as he accounted for Martin Tibbetts. Wroe’s win putting the result beyond West Midlands reach as their opponents opened up a 7-2 advantage and at the same time inflicting on their counterparts their first defeat of the campaign.
West Midlands man of the match In Hartland (26.59) was on at number ten. Hartland wrapped up his 3-1 win over Les Charvill with a superb fourteen darts leg. Paul Minns moved the home team’s lead along to 8-3 when he beat Clive Francis 3-1 and in the final encounter Steve Brindley made the result a more respective 8-4 with a 3-2 win after trailing 2-0 to John Tarbox.
The ladies ‘A’ like their ‘B’ team had not produced a win so far, but they had managed to finish all square in the game with Suffolk. So a win would be most welcome. The match began with promise as Diane Tolley when her tussle with Jackie Hampshire 3-1. Unfortunately that promise was not fulfilled as West Midlands were made to wait as long as the last game before recording their, second and only other success. Gill Cook (2-3) lost to Kate Drake, Frances Allen (0-3) went down to Dawn May, Angie Perry (1-3) lost to Barbara Legge and Claire Downing was another player to lose 3-0 in her tie with Carol Trevarrow.
Seasoned campaigner Rose Mycock was the Midlanders other winner as she won 3-1 against Helen Webster, her 19.12 average earning her the lady of the match award.
The men’s ‘A’ were left an almost impossible task as they were required to win 11-1 just to earn an overall draw. Their first two games dismissed any thoughts in that direction. Steve Penwright began with a winning 19 darts leg, only to see his counterpart, Terry Adolpho (30.11) reply in 17-15 and 15 darts to win 3-1. Paul Farnes was also in fine form as he chalked up a 30.32 average against Avtar Singh to also win 3-2.
Tom Aldridge was taken to a deciding leg, after twice taking the lead, before securing his 3-2 win over Damien Fyffe. Then a 3-1 win from Dave Robbins against Mark Leather levelled the match at two each. Colin Davies forfeited a 1-0 lead over Nigel Beavan to go down 3-2 and give the home side the lead again. Their lead extended when Graham McFarlane beat the previous day’s man of the match, Ian Hartland 3-0 to open up a 4-2 lead at the midway point.
Dave Babb made it five for Buckinghamshire with a 3-2 victory over Jonathon Platt, but Ian Jones managed to reduce the deficit to 5-3 when he got the better of Darren Williamson with a 3-2 verdict. The gap was shortened even further to 5-4 after Adrian Arnold beat Lee Rose 3-1, leaving both teams with everything to play for.
Mick Carrick ensured at the worst a share of the spoils for Buckinghamshire, when he finished on the right side of a 3-0 result against Paul Johnson. Then Rob Allen followed up with a similar straight legs win over Nick Walters and the home team were suddenly in an unassailable 7-4 position.
The last tie went in West Mids favour, Mick James strolled to a comfortable 3-1 win, Peter Stockley on the receiving end. The final score 7-5 to Buckinghamshire.
———————————
The Barrass Social Club, Coventry was the setting for the Midland Darts Open and the day produced some top darts from some top class players.
West Midlands star Wayne Jones, had, only a few weeks earlier earned himself an early Christmas present when he won the Birmingham “2000” Open and in the process the £400 top prize. In the Midland Open he came within a cat’s whisker of making it a tremendous double when he reached the final. With wins over Shayne Burgess, Dave Weston and Andy Smith in the early rounds, Jones squared up to Warwickshire man Colin Fowler in the final. Fowler had made his way to the final with victories against Joe Palmer, Kit Young and Tony Littleton.
The first semi final was between Wayne Jones and Andy Smith. Playing the best of seven legs Smith took the first two both in seventeen darts. Jones then replied with an eighteen darts leg, only to see Smith restore his two legs cushion with a similar eighteen darts leg. Seventeen darts were all Jones required to win leg five and he then levelled the match in nineteen darts to force a deciding leg.
Jones had first throw advantage in the seventh leg, both players kicking off with a ton. Smith followed up with 85-100-100 and 98 to leave double nine, Meanwhile, Jones had been scoring 100-140-60 and 69 to put him on double sixteen. It was now that the first throw advantage showed its worth as Jones calmly stepped up and won the leg and the match with his first dart.
Tony Littleton was Colin Fowler’s opponent, but it was the latter who drew first blood when with a 93 checkout won the opener in fourteen darts. Finish wise Littleton went one better when he won the second with a 126 outshot. Fowler took the lead again in sixteen darts, but once more Littleton pulled level in 27.
All square with two to play the ingredients of any exciting game. Fowler got the vital edge in fifteen darts with his opponent back on 90 and he sealed his victory when he won the last leg in 18 darts leaving Littleton nursing 89.
Two in form players and playing the best of nine legs, the crowd had great expectations and they were not disappointed. Jones raced to what appeared to be a possible title winning 3-0 lead when he won the first three tussle’s in 17-18 and 20 darts with Fowler left on doubles five, twelve and five. Fowler then moved up a gear when he began his fightback with an eighteen darts leg and then followed that with winning legs of 17-13 and 17 darts to put him within an ace of victory.
The eighth leg could have gone either way. Jones had first throw and took full advantage with an opening maximum. Unfortunately he then struggled to hit the big scores. Nevertheless he still had three clear darts at a finishing double eight to force a final leg, but failed and Fowler, with double two decided the issue and claimed not only the leg but the match and the title plus a lucrative £750 first prize. For his efforts Jones collected £350. Cash prizes were paid down to the last sixteen players.
———————————
One thing for certain is that there will be, for the first time in three years, a new name on the winners trophy for the Bedworth Gateway Open. The champions for the past two years, Chase Inn (Walsall) went out of the competition by the odd game of seven to the Redfield Inn with Chris Mason the Redfield’s man of the match.
In another close encounter the Nags Head (Peterborough) scraped through to round four with a 4-3 verdict over the Golden Knight from Cambridgeshire. Crown Hotel’s (Doncaster) captain John Bailey has told competition organiser Derek Wells that he hopes to pick up the winner’s trophy on the 24th February and with a convincing 7-0 success against Stockingford Social Club who knows?
Results from Round 3:- Raddy’s Bar (Weston Super Mare) 6 Robin Hood (West Midlands) 1, Foster Arms (Shropshire) 6 Coton Conservative Club (Nuneaton) 1, Kings Head (West Midlands) 4 Railway (Cambridgeshire) 3, Redfield Inn (Bristol) 4 Chase Inn (Walsall) 3, Crown Hotel (Doncaster) 7 Stockingford Social Club (Nuneaton) 0, Blackcountryman (West Midlands) 5 Lamp Inn (west Midlands) 2, Highfield Social Club (Blackpool) 5 Stirchley United WMC (Birmingham) 2, Nags Head ‘A’ (Peterborough) 4 Golden Knight (Cambridgeshire) 3, Memorial Social Club (West Midlands) 3 Hollybush Inn (Cheshire) 4, Rodbourne Cheney WMC (Wiltshire) 6 Fishermead Social Club (Milton Keynes) 1, Lincolnshire Nailer (Skegness) 2 Gornal Labour Club (West Midlands) 5, Camp Inn (Worcester) 6 New Inn (Worcester) 1, Clifton Hotel (Dorset) 7 Halesowen RBL (West Midlands) 0, Bakers Arms ‘C’ (Swindon) 6 Post Office Social Club (Milton Keynes) 1, Phoenix Social Club (Bristol) 7 Sportsman Inn (Worcester) 0, Bakers Arms ‘A’ (Swindon) 5 Erwood Inn (Powys) 2.
Draw for Round 4:- Crown Hotel (Doncaster) v Nags Head ‘A’ (Peterborough), Raddy’s Bar (Weston Super Mare) v Redfield Inn (Bristol), Clifton Hotel ‘A’ (Dorset) v Fosters Arms ‘A’ (Shropshire), Camp Inn (Worcester) v Gornal Labour Club (West Midlands), Moonraker ‘C’ (Swindon) v Rodbourne Cheney WMC (Wiltshire), Phoenix Social Club (Bristol) v Kings Head (West Midlands), Moonraker ‘A’ (Swindon) v Hurst Tavern (West Midlands), Highfield Social Club (Blackpool) v Hollybush Inn (Cheshire).
———————————
The former Mercury Ladies Charity team have played their first game under their new name the “Ace of Clubs Charity Team”. The match was a fun night whereby the charity squad took on opposition comprising of the Gulp Charity team and a Haverfordwest select, the exhibition being staged at the White Lion, Muntz Street, Small Heath, Birmingham. The result was a close 9-8 success for the Ace of Clubs with a fabulous total of £100 raised. Acorns Hospice, Selly Oak, Birmingham and the Haverfordwest Children’s Home will both benefit to the tune of £50 each.
Full results (Ace of Clubs names first), C. Lucas lost to C.Walsh, B. Andrews beat C.Thomas jnr, P.James lost to D.Wilson, C.Stokes lost to P.Thomas, J.Webster beat J.Phipps, J.Lucas lost to C.Thomas, A.Bourne beat E.O’Sullivan,J.Warner lost to M.O’Sullivan, B.Andrews beat A.O’Sullivan, C.Lucas lost to B.Phipps, A.Bourne lost to E.Hockell, P.James beat G.McBride, J.Warner beat S.Hockell, J.Lucas beat I.McLean, C.Stokes beat D.Cavanagh, J.Webster lost to J.Phipps, B.Andrews beat J.Haywood.
Anyone wishing to arrange a match against the Ace of Clubs should contact Joyce Webster on 0121-604-5081.
———————————
The Forest of Arden Winter League have played off their men’s and women’s singles knockouts, both events were staged at the Sheldon Heath Social Club. The women’s final was amazingly a repeat of last years when Jeanette Mulholland (Red Arrows) took on Stechford Social’s Jeanette James, the result, again a repeat of last season a 2-1 success for Jeanette Mulholland.
The men’s event attracted a very encouraging 60 entrants, but only one person can win the crown and on this occasion it was Hobs Meadow’s Mick Gorste with a final 2-0 win over Mackadown Social’s Mick McCormack.
———————————