A class field of in excess of eighty players from all around the country as far afield as Kings Lynn and Somerset turned up at the Bishopsgate Club, Foleshill Road, Coventry, all to do battle for the title Coventry Open winner 2014.
Many of the entrants were more than capable of securing the title, but at the end of a tremendous day of darts the final was competed by two Cheshire players John Bowles and Dave Pallett. After opening up a 4-2 lead Pallett was pegged back to 4-4, but with a 104 game shot he went 5-4 up and completed his victory in the tenth leg with a cool 56 outshot in fifteen darts to secure the top prize of £500, Bowles, as runner up picked up £200.
There was £70 for each of the losing semi finalists, Ian Jones and Jamie Richardson, with £25 for losing quarter finalists Scott Rand, Lloyd Pennell, Kevin Dowling and Darren Johnson. For reaching the last sixteen Cain Unwin, James Thompson, Matt Padgett, Ian McFarlane, Mark Westgarth, Nick Fullwell and Andy brown each received £10.
It was congratulations to Warwickshire’s Natalie Gilbert in the ladies competition, she clinched her title with a final victory over Shelley Bontoft Gash.
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Riley’s Rags lost ground in the group one title race in the Sheldon and District Summer League when they were held to a 4-4 draw away to next to bottom of the table Highwood Flights. The result now leaves “Rags” two points behind leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners, who won their home tie with Iron Horse Flights 5-3. Third placed Highwood Arrows won 5-3 at Mackadown Social to put them on the same seven points as Riley’s Rags.
Wins for the top two teams in group three, leaders Banbury Club beating bottom team Sheldon Social 7-1, while Raven won 5-3 at home to RAFA to keep them on the same six points as Banbury, trailing slightly on average.
Willclare Sports and Social lost not only pole position in group five, but also their unbeaten run after going down 5-3 away to fourth in the table Ridgemere Social. Taking over at the top of the group is Holy Souls, who won 6-2 at home to next to bottom Greville Arms giving them a one point lead over Willclare.
With Emerald Flights not playing this week, Meadway Sports and Social missed their chance of going top of group seven when they were held to a 4-4 draw at home by bottom of the group Langley Hall Flights and have to be content with a joint top position, level on points and average with Emerald Flights.
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Crown ‘A’ made it 23 straight wins in the Cradley Tuesday Night League when they won with a convincing 8-1 scoreline at Roost ‘B’. Second placed Chainmakers ‘B’ beat their local rivals Chainmakers ‘A’ 5-4, to remain eight points behind Crown ‘A’ and third in the table Members Club, who are a further two points adrift won 5-4 at home to Wheatsheaf.
At the other end of the table it was good news for bottom team Bulls Head, who for the first time this season, in 23 games, chalked up their first win, a 5-4 home success over fifth placed Gate (Darby End).
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The Forest of Arden Summer League had round one of their Knockout Cup on the agenda. The draw brought together the top two teams in division one, leaders Olton Crown beating second in the table Highwood ‘A’ 5-2. There was a similar situation with Centurion and New Inns, who in turn are top and second of division three, Centurion winning the tie 5-0.
There were a couple of shock results for two division one sides as Highwood KB and Harvester lost their respective games against division two teams Peachy Keens and Iron Horse 5-2.
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The Bridge suffered their first defeat of the campaign in the Stourbridge Wednesday Night League when they lost 6-1 at home to top team Ashwood ‘A’ and as a result drop two places in the table to fifth. Ten Arches ‘A’ won 5-2 at Dudley Sports to keep them on the same eight points as Ashwood ‘A’, trailing by just one leg of average.
Gigmill recorded their first win of the season’s four games so far, a 4-3 home success over fifth from bottom Netherton Cricket Club.
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The Small Heath League staged their doubles competition and taking the honours were Emerald Club’s Raymond Fisher and Neil Parsonage, who beat Tommy Hill and Chris Stokes (Gulp Tribe) in the final. Losing semi finalists were Matthew Cooper and Mick O’Sullivan (Gulp Tribe) and Anthony Fisher Colin Rigby (Emerald Club).
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Week seven of the Riley’s Friday Individual League brought about the conclusion of the 301 section of the season with John Burdett holding top spot with a 100% unbeaten record of fourteen straight wins to give him 28 points, seven more than second placed Barry Stephens, who in turn is one ahead of third placed Luis Barberan.
The next stage of the season will see games of 501, players then chasing a top four position to take part in the end of season play off.
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No change at the top of the Pip Cub league as all of the top six teams won keeping Bulls Head ‘A’ the overall and division one leaders with a four points advantage over the rest of the field and Travellers top of division two with a slender lead of one point over both Two Gates Club and Old Liberal Club.
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The South Birmingham League staged their Captains and Secretary’s cups and winning the former with a final 3-0 success over P.Bryant was Will Naylor. In the semi’s Naylor beat S.Hughes 2-0 and by the same margin Bryant accounted for D.Kingdon.
The final of the Secretary’s Cup was also 3-0, the title going to Bob Harris with Dave Mortiboys runner up. Harris had a straight 2-0 win in the last four against B.Anderton, while Mortiboys was taken to a third and deciding leg by D.Clinton.
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Wins for the top three teams in the Camp Hill League, Gulp Tribe, Cotterills Lane Club and Scruffy Ringers all made it three wins in a row and at the same time maintaining their 100% start to the campaign. Gulp Tribe handed out a 7-0 whitewash to their hosts Station Flights to send them to the foot of the table. Second placed Cotterills won 5-2 at The Lions and “Ringers” had a close 4-3 home win over Bordesley Labour Club.
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There were big wins for the top two teams in the Rowley Monday Night League as leaders Crown won 8-1 at home to Bulls Head and second placed Springfield Social Club went one better with a 9-0 home win against White Swan. Third placed Ex Serviceman’s Club also won but theirs was a much closer 5-4 away to Little Beech.
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Otter and Vixen, leaders in division one of the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League were the sole losers in the top six teams in the division. Playing at home and with only one defeat in the previous fourteen games, they went down by a massive 6-1 to third in the table Victoria throwing the league wide open as Riley’s ‘C’ won 5-2 against Railway, they and Victoria are now just two points behind Otter and Vixen.
Inn division two Chillington Club lost a vital game at Wednesfield Conservative Club 4-3 to see their hosts replace them in second place in the table as they have a better average by one leg, both teams on 28 points, two adrift of top team Wednesfield Legion ‘A’, who won 4-3 at home to Ukrainian Club.
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As the Tamworth League winds down its season the singles knockout has been played off and claiming the crown with a final victory over Phil Daulman was Ian Turner. Losing semi finalists were Kev Clubley, who lost to Turner and Martin Edwards.
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