2011-09-01

West Midlands will kick off their new season in division one of the BDO Inter County Championships with a tough away fixture against Surrey. Last season the Midlanders finished seventh in division one, their opponents suffering relegation from the premier division, closing the season at the foot of the table.
The fixture should be a real tester for the West Midlands, any kind of result against, what basically is a premier division outfit will be a real morale booster for the Midlands team and give them an idyllic start to the campaign.
At the time of going to print the players already signed up for the West Midlands men’s squad are, Nick Fulwell, Martin Angell, Danny Coyle, Matthew Dicken, Andrew Forrester, Vivian Gould,, Lance Hackett, Ian Hartland, Christopher Hickman, Jamie Hughes, Gareth David Johnson, Ian Jones, Mark Lloyd, Griegg Parkes, Richard Platt, Jonathan Platt, Neil Pointen, Paul Price, Mark Rollinson, Jack Routledge, Avtar Singh, Christopher Stanley, Ian Stanton, Dean Stewart, Mark Watkiss, Paul Wright, Peter Wyse.
For the ladies, Elizabeth Arnold, Lisa Astbury, Jayne Breakspear, Tammy Chance, Jenna Couch, Tina Harris, Natalie Harrison, Leanne Jennings, Jemma Poole, Sarah Robbins, Jacqueline Simmons, Doreen Kaye, Kim Fellows, Claire Ford, Claire Hobbs, Katherine Jenkins, Jane Stubbs, Diane Tolley, Heather Wright, Jackie Crew, Sam Kaye.
It must be stressed again that these players are the one’s signed at the time of going to print and will not be the final list of playing staff recruited by the West Midlands, it has been stated that further signings are imminent.
On the official’s side of the organisation, Robert MacDougal will be Chairman, Steven Gittus, Secretary and Rod Harvey Treasurer and Vice Chairman.
The Committee will comprise of, Paul Dicken, Assistant Secretary, John Jones, the players representative, Vic Lloyd the men’s team manager, Diane Tolley the women’s team manager and Paul Simmons stage manager.
Best wishes go to both the player’s and officials for a very successful season and hopefully their efforts will be rewarded at the end of the campaign with promotion to the premier division.
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On the local league scene the Small Heath League staged their Cricket Competition, in which the players Colin Walsh (2×100), Jean Forde, Neil Parsonage (3×100) and John Cawley, known as the “Jolly Roger” won the event. Cawley was in top form as he not only hit a top score of 171, but also in one throw hit three bulls.
The losing finalists were the “Three Men and a Lady” team comprising of Brendan Lysaght (2×140,100), Gloria Lightwood, John O’Connor (133) and Peter Hopkins.
The “Just to Good” team of Glynn Thomas, Joe Fox (2×125,3×100), Michael Looby (140,2×100) and Mick Fowle (100) won the Shadow Competition, the runners up being Arthur Forde (110,100), Clive Austin (140,125,4×100), Ian McLean (133,122,100) and Mark Fisher (112), who played as “Cool Running’s”.
The league have also played off their Singles Knockout, which was won by league newcomer John Burdett, representing the current league leaders Mitre.
On reaching the quarter finals John squared up to and defeated team mate Dave Lacey, he followed that with a further win over Emerald Club’s Neil Parsonage, himself a winner in numerous local league competitions.
From the other side of the draw Peter Yardley emerged as a finalist, beating Glynn Thomas from the Custard House in the last eight and then booking his final spot with a win over Joe Fox, a fellow Emerald Club player.
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The Camp Hill League have also had cup games on their fixture card. The Division Cup Knockout saw wins for Scruffy Murphy’s, Lady Westminster, Langley Hall and Clements Arms, in turn at the expense of Laddettes, Old Moseley Arms, Devils Club and Roost. In the last four play off, and going through to the final were Lady Westminster and Langley Hall.
The league’s singles competition the eventual winner was Langley Hall’s Dan Tudor, with John Young form the Devils Club runner up. Losing semi finalists were Mark Gilmartin (Lady Westminster), who lost out to John Young and Graham Davis (Waggoners), taken out by Tudor.
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The first round of the Mrs F Richman Trophy in the Sheldon and District Summer league brought about quite a few surprise results. The biggest shock of the round was possibly the 4-3 defeat of the group one reigning champions Olton RBL by group four team George V.
Further surprises were, Kingshurst and District Labour Club (group 2) going out 4-3 to Scanlons (group 3), Brook Meadow (group 2 ) losing their home tie with Pavilions (group 3) 5-2 and Shard End Social (group 5) losing 6-1 at home to group six outfit Langley Hall Sports and Social.
Other teams winning and going into the hat for the next round were, New Firs Flights, EBAHA, Holy Souls, Mackadown Social, Highwood Flights, Bagot Arms, Bromford Bridge Exiles, Maggies, Riley’s, Castle Vale Residents Association and Old Bill and Bull.
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To round off this month I would like to thank my wife Sheila for forty years of happy married life, which will take place on the 18th September. She has been not only an incredible wife but also a fantastic mother to our two children, Clive and Claire.
Throughout my darting days she put up with me playing seven days a week, and during the rough times we encountered a few years ago when a so called “Friend” and his brother conned me out of everything I had worked for, house, car everything was lost, she was there and stood by me all the way.
Thanks Sheila for just being you, no one could ever ask for, or find anyone better than what you have been. Happy Anniversary.
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