This coming weekend Warwickshire, for the fifth consecutive season will begin their campaign in the premier division of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships. Not only will this be their fifth season but also the fifth time their curtain raiser has been against Yorkshire.
Joining Warwickshire this season is former West Midlands star Jamie Hughes, who after a very successful time with Warwickshire’s neighbours is looking to pit his skills against premier division opposition.
Jamie and his new team will be hoping for better success against the reigning premier champions as in the previous four encounters they have finished on the losing side.
The match will be staged at the Bishopsgate Club, 141-143 Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV1 4LF and lining up for the hosts will be, Men’s ‘A’:- Jamie Atkins, Richard Foster, Tom Aldridge, Tom McGlone, Noel Grant, Ian McFarlane, Dave Harris, Steve Hine, Jamie Hughes, Dean Stewart, Mark Carter, Mark Westgarth, Men’s ‘B’:- Mark Archer, Simon Power, Rob Hawker, Antony Allen, Mark Strong, Ian Shaw, Paul Deslandes, Carl Green, Jimmy Hill, Peter Hughes, Steve Giddings, Mark Birch, Reserves:- Dave Sanders, Mike McFall, Chris Millward, Luke Kennedy, Nigel Heydon, Matt Edgar, Kevin Dowling, Ladies ‘A’:- Trina Gulliver, Sue Gulliver, Caroline Pike, Denise Keyte, Angela Jones, Marian Conway, Ladies ‘B’:- Melanie Hill, Louise Graham, Donna Pinch, Lisa Whitmore, Wendy Adams, Edwina Holdsworth.
The county get the season underway with the good news that The Sportsman Management Company Ltd have agreed to sponsor them, should prove to be a very successful and rewarding partnership.
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Following their relegation from division one of the Riley’s BDO Inter County Championships, West Midlands will begin life in division two with an away fixture against Leicestershire. The hosts finished last season’s campaign with promotion from division three as runner up to champions Cleveland and West Midlands should be well in with a real chance of a win in this their opening game.
A win would be a great start to get confidence high for a successful and hopefully promotional season back to division one.
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The Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League have been busy with their 3-a-side knockout and the last eight trebles through to the finals are, Jason McNally, Aaron Fellows, Ant Marshall (Otter and Vixen ‘A’), Shane Yeomans, Sean Carpenter, John Mycock (Victoria), Simon Pritchard, Stuart Kendrick, Phil Mayo (Otter and Vixen ‘B’), Sam Guest, Lee Davis, Paul Maiden (Wednesfield Legion ‘A’), Alan Marsh, Tez O’Donnell, Dave Harris (Boat ‘A’), Eddie Gripton, Ben Pearce, Jason Hough (Riley’s ‘A’), Phil Smith, Stan Withnall, Stuart Steele (Castle), Sean Flynn, Sean Neish, Pete Jones (Bull).
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Just two points separate the top three teams in the Tettenhall Wednesday Night League. After a 5-2 win against Wrottesley Arms, Riley’s ‘B’ lead the field with 42 points, second placed Wednesfield FC had a bye this week and are two points behind with a game in hand. Making up the trio is Riley’s ‘A’, who handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their visitors Otter and Vixen ‘A’ to leave them two points off the top.
All teams should note that Round Oak have dropped out of the league.
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The Iron Horse, Stechford are desperately short of players for the forthcoming Sheldon and District Winter League. Anyone who is interested in joining the team to play on Thursday nights should contact Roy Parry on either 0121-785-2791 or 07799-886053.
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The bank holiday knockout held at the Laurels, Cradley Heath was won by Jess Archer. Archer won the high scoring final against Greg Billingham 5-4
Losing semi finalists were P.Hadley and R.Reed.
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In the first of the qualifying competitions for the Riley’s Darts Masters Knockout was staged at Riley’s Snooker Bar, Wolverhampton and winning through to the grand finals was Walsall based Matt Dennant, who had a fantastic 6-5 victory over England international Wayne Jones in the final.
Both players had 6-4 wins in the semis, Dennant beating West Midland player Nick Fullwell and Jones taking out Steve Evans.
A total of 25 maximums were hit throughout the event, Nick Fullwell supplying six of them, Dennant five and recent West Midland signing Shaun Carrol three.
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Chelmsley Town, bottom of division two in the Forest of Arden Summer League, chalked up their first win in seven games when they beat Sheldon Flights 4-3. In the same division leaders Highwood KB took on their nearest rivals Crown Arrows and won 4-3. The win gives KB a two point’s advantage over Arrows, plus a game in hand.
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The Small Heath League played round one of their League Cup and winning through to the semi finals were, Custard House, Wagon and Horses, Gulp Tribe and Emerald Club, who in turn defeated Sheldon Marlborough Flights, Custard House Flights, Clock Inn and Redhilll Wanderers.
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Just one result from the Camp Hill League, which saw top team Cotterills Lane Club lose for the first time in six fixtures. Playing away to fourth in the table Shaftmoor Lions, Cotterills went down 4-3. There are now three teams at the top of the table all on ten points, Cotterills stay top on average, with Scruffy Ringers second, but with a game in hand and Bordesley Labour Club who have played seven games third.
Well done to Bordesley Labour Club who held a fund raiser for “Help The Heroes” and raised a fantastic amount of £1400.
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Two late results from the South Birmingham League, in group ‘A’ leaders Mackadown Social took on bottom of the table Shard End Social and won 8-0 to give them a perfect 12 points from six games, plus a two point’s lead over second placed Punch Bowl, who have played one game more than Mackadown.
In group ‘B’ bottom team Banbury Flights played hosts to top of the table The Dog and chalked up a somewhat surprising 5-3 win. The result leaves both teams in the same positions as before.
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