2015-02-01

The fifth annual Ripley Elite Darts Singles League Christmas Open once again proved to be a huge success attracting a total of 83 players to the Somercotes Snooker Club, Somercotes, Derbyshire.
In attendance was reigning champion Ricky Sudale plus big names from both the BDO and PDC including Colin Osbourne, Terry Temple, Daz Johnson, Matt Padgett, Jamie Robinson, Nick Fullwell, Ian Jones, Jay Foreman, Daz Brown, two players competing in this year’s Lakeside World Championships Jamie Wilson and Brian Dawson plus former world top ten player Chris Mason.
All four of the quarter final games finished with a 4-2 scoreline producing wins for Daz Johnson, Nick Fullwell, Ricky Sudale and Brian Dawson at the expense of Jay Foreman, Colin Osbourne, James Richardson and Dean Sanders. Similarly in the semi finals both games shared the same result this time 5-2, first on was Daz Johnson who beat Nick Fullwell and in the second semi Ricky Sudale won against Brian Dawson.
The final, as in the previous rounds produced some top notch darts although Darren Johnson put up a brave fight no one was going to stop the popular Woodville player Ricky Sudale successfully defending his title as he romped to a 6-2 victory and a first prize of £500. Johnson, as runner up received £200 and there was £100 for each of the losing semi finalists, players going out in the quarter finals picked up £25.
A big vote of thanks goes to Dawn Buckley who once again ran the competition so expertly and made sure it progressed smoothly throughout the day, also thanks go to the Somercotes Club and everyone else who had a hand in making it such a fantastic day of darts.
Preliminary Round:- Andy Brittland 4 Lee Arkwright 0, Devon Neave 4 Ady Asprey 1, Paul Baker 4 Don Bennett 1, Ian Jones 4 Wayne Willis 0, Jay Foreman 4 Reece Spurr 0, Sam Perry 4 Jamie Shannon 1,Daz Brown 4 Richard Spicer 0, Loz Barnes 4 Richard Hosey 2, Nick Fulwell 4 Nigel Daniels 1, James Thompson 4 Jack Daykin 2, Ash Spencer 4 Nathan Richards 0, Terry Temple 4 Paul Iliffe 0, Chris Mason 4 Tom Blagg 1, Matt Padgett 4 Rich Palmer 2, Andy Baker 4 Pete Wyse 0, Alan Statham 4 Mem Martin 0, James Richardson 4 Luke Allcock 0, Stuart Sutton 4 Neil Parkin 3, Daz Gilbert 4 Mark Craddock 1, Last 64:- Rob Woolery 4 Alan Clegg 1, Julian Bilbie 4 Dan McCready 2, Ian Hannah 4 Paul Bettney 2, Darren Johnson 4 Gary Bright 0, Ian Richardson 4 Johny Bryan 2, Andy Brittland 4 James Parkin 1, Paul Baker 4 Devon Neave 0, Jay Foreman 4 Ian Jones 3, Colin Osbourne 4 Lauren Jackson 0, Ian Byard 4 Neil Beresford 0, Jack Kerr 4 Steve Bestwick 1, Wes Smith 4 Max Roberts 3, James Wilson 4 Mike Ivekich 0, Sam Perry 4 Jordan Beresford 3, Daz Brown 4 Loz Barnes 2, Nick Fulwell 4 James Thompson 0, Adam Smith-Neale 4 Lee Stanley 2, Ty Ward 4 Roy Clarke 1, Dean Sanders 4 Stuart Barrowcliffe 2, Daz Sullivan 4 Andy Marriott 3, Jamie Robinson 4 Joanne Oldershaw 2, Brian Dawson 4 Ant Parry 2, Terry Temple 4 Ashley Spencer 3, Matt Padgett 4 Chris Mason 2, Rick Gray 4 Mick Chapman 3, Shaun Carroll 4 Dave Fritchley 0, Ricky Sudale 4 Wayne Howe 1, Chris Hughes 4 Paul Hodges 3, Pete Slater 4 Ant Pearce 1, Andy Baker 4 Doug Walker 2, James Richardson 4 Alan Statham 1, Daz Gilbert 4 Stuart Sutton 0, Last 32:- Rob Woolery 4 Julian Bilbie 0, Darren Johnson 4 Ian Hannah 0, Andy Brittland 4 Ian Richardson 3, Jay Foreman 4 Paul Baker 2, Colin Osbourne 4 Ian Byard 1, Jack Kerr 4 Wes Smith 0, James Wilson 4 Sam Perry 0, Nick Fulwell 4 Daz Brown 3, Rick Gray 4 Shaun Carroll 3, Ricky Sudale 4 Chris Hughes 1, Andy Baker 4 Pete Slater 2, James Richardson 4 Daz Gilbert 0, Adam Smith-Neale 4 Ty Ward 3, Dean Sanders 4 Daz Sullivan 3, Brian Dawson 4 Jamie Robinson 1, Terry Temple 4 Matt Padgett 2, Last 16:- Darren Johnson 4 Rob Woolery 2, Jay Foreman 4 Andy Brittland 1, Colin Osbourne 4 Jack Kerr 3, Nick Fulwell 4 James Wilson 1, Ricky Sudale 4 Rick Gray 1, James Richardson 4 Andy Baker 0, Dean Sanders 4 Adam Smith-Neale 3, Rich Dawson 4 Terry Temple 2, Quarter Finals:- Daz Johnson 4 Jay Foreman 2, Nick Fulwell 4 Colin Osbourne 2, Ricky Sudale 4 James Richardson 2, Brian Dawson 4 Dean Sanders 2, Semi Finals:- Daz Johnson 5 Nick Fulwell 2, Ricky Sudale 5 Brian Dawson 2, Final:- Ricky Sudale 6 Darren Johnson 2.
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The Long Eaton Darts Singles League have completed their summer season and the division one champion is Mark Cowley with a total of 95 points just three more than runner up Tony Glover, Mark also recorded the division’s highest finish of 143. The least darts of 13 went to Dean Andrews, while Kez Barfield recorded the highest average of 77.43.
Division two was a very close affair with only two points separating the top three players. Jason Holmes with 93 points was the divisional champion, Paul Iliffe runner up on 92 and third placed Richard Turgoose just one further point behind on 91, that was a really close and nail biting finish to the season.
The highest finish for division two was 158 achieved by Paul Iliffe, again as in division one the least darts was 13, which in division two went to Richard Turgoose.
Division three provided the most clear cut winner champion Mike Booth finishing with 122 points no less than twelve points ahead of runner up Colin Dunston. The division also provided not only the division’s highest finish but also the league’s highest finish of 167 which went to John Brierley, who ended the season in third place in the table. The least darts of 14 went to Colin Dunston.
The Champion of Champions Round Robin Divisional Cup was won by division one’s George Singh. George had a 4-1 win over Gary Pearson (division two) and a closer 4-3 verdict against Mike Booth (division three). In the other game played Mike Booth won 4-1 against Gary Pearson.
In the best of thirteen legs final Mark Cowley won the League Cup, the Singles Knockout title went to Brian Spence and the Blind Pairs winners were Malc Tucker and James Atkin.
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On the local league scene the Cradley Tuesday Night League’s Harry Siviter Memorial Cup saw the Brickmakers Arms take on The Gate (Colley Gate), the Gate won all three of the doubles games but had finishing problems in the singles and eventually lost 6-3.
In the Wally Fellows Memorial Trophy A.Cowley (Crown ‘A’) narrowly missed a maximum 170 checkout as after scoring two treble twenties he hit the 25 for the bull and then lost his game, nevertheless his side still went on to win 5-4 against Jay’s Bar.
For the first time the league staged their Over Sixties Knockout in memory of former member Des Watton who passed away earlier this year and as Des was 60 years old, the knockout was only available to the senior players in the league as the name suggests.
Playing at The Gate (Colley Gate) the winner of the event was Alan Dimmock, who beat Brian Pearsall 2-1 in the final, Alan checking out on 118 in third leg to clinch the title.
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Blue Brick ‘C’ rounded off a superb season in the Brierley Hill Monday Night League with a 7-2 home win over fourth in the table Rose and Crown (Brierley Hill) to make it 43 wins from 45 games and seal the title with a clear 18 points more than runners up Dudley Sports ‘B’, who finished on a low as they lost 5-4 at Bulls Head (Netherton), the winners moving up one place to finish fifth.
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The South Birmingham League played off their Mixed Doubles Knockout and taking the title were Poachers Pocket duo Mark Osborne and Julie Green, who had a final win over Dave Clinton and Sue Kingdon from St John’s.
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The Small Heath League staged their inaugural Jim Haveron Memorial Competition at the Emerald Club, which will now become an annual event. A total of 44 players turned out for the competition, the semi finals saw Jim’s brother George Haveron, (Cob’s Bar) beat Wagon and Horses player Mick Tilley, while from the other half of the draw Neil Parsonage (Emerald Club) won against Michael Looby, another Wagon and Horses representative.
The final result went in favour of Neil Parsonage, but the biggest winner of the night was charity as all the proceeds from entry fees and raffles was handed over to George Haveron to donate to his chosen charity.
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Winning the Secretaries knockout in the Camp Hill League was Dave Carter from Holy Souls with a final success over Peter Shipley from Scruffy Murphy’s, while the Captain’s title went to Cotterills Lane Club member Matt Cooper with Mick O’Sullivan (Holy Souls) runner up.
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The Black Country Premier League staged their Festival Open Knockout which turned out to be a fantastic night of darts with Robert “The Robot” Smith winning the event with a final victory over Ash Hykin.
In addition to the great darts a tremendous amount, in excess of £200 was raised which will go to McMillan Nurses.
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Dave Lucas and Paul Bromley (Wednesfield Legion ‘A’) took the Wolverhampton Tuesday Night League doubles title with a final 3-1 win over John Nixon and Dave Edwards form The Victoria.
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