2011-12-01

On Friday 21st October the New Firs Entertainment venue in Birmingham was the setting for not one, nor two but THREE world record attempts by local darts players. The first record to beat was that set up by an eight man team in 2009 when they recorded a score of 21,944 in one hour. Setting out to beat that record were the New Firs Flights representative team who play in the local Thursday night Sheldon and District Dart League, namely, Sean O’Donnell, Luis Barberan, Mark O’Donnell, Chris McFall, Robbie Earl, Tom Fitzpatrick, Lee Beech and Mike McFall.
The record was not only beaten but smashed as the New Firs outfit chalked up a magnificent total of 24,541, beating the existing record by 2,597 points.
The second of the world record attempts was by twelve years old Luis Barberan, who was attempting to hit as many as possible inner and outer bull’s-eye’s sections in the space of one minute. The existing record, set up by professional darts player Anastasia Dobromyslova back in 2009 was seven. Luis, set to the task and recorded a new record of eight.
To complete the hat trick of new records Andy Hutchings and Bob Nixon were faced with scoring more than 475 in two minutes, scoring only with inner and outer bull’s-eye’s. Andy and Bob recorded an amazing 700 to totally beat the old record.
A very successful night of darts and with the approval and official verification from the Guinness Book of Records will result in three new world records. Well done to all the players and officials that made it possible.
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Just twelve months ago I wrote about an up and coming eleven years old darts player Luis Barberan, who showed early signs of having all the qualities to become a really top class player. This month I am updating that story and highlighting some of the achievements Luis has achieved during the last year.
During the year Luis decided in order to further advance his skills he would to opt out of the Warwickshire County Youth team and concentrate on playing in the open circuit where he would come up against more experienced players who would test his ability, all at the tender age of twelve.
January saw Luis, from a field of 70 older and more experienced player’s, reach the semi finals of the South Birmingham League Singles Knockout and narrowly lose 2-1 to Warwickshire’s Darren Whitehouse. The following month at the Barn Winter Warmer, he won the first TD Events One 7T Contest, finishing two legs of 170 in 14 darts, losing out in the main event to Mark Hylton.
In April Luis lost in the semi finals of the LPKOD (Let’s Play Knockout Darts) monthly knockout to Simon Jones, but nevertheless went on to win the league’s 301 competition. He teamed up with Carl Betteridge to win the South Birmingham League’s doubles knockout in May and followed that the next month by winning the T.A.S.C.O.S. Open, beating Simon Jones 6-5 in the final.
In the TD Events Summer Sizzler in May Luis, now playing 501 came up against the talented Nick Fullwell, but now with more experience himself he was not fazed by the prospect and went on to win two sets to nil, without dropping a leg. In the semi finals Luis faced another player he had never beaten, Ian McFarlane that was to be remedied as he turned on another fine display to clinch a place in the final. Simon Jones was the final hurdle and that proved to be a step too far despite a spirited performance Luis lost 3-1 in sets.
Adding to his ever increasing list of achievements Luis won the Bolehall Swifts Tournament in July, Mark Tomlinson the 4-2 loser in the final. Then in September he joined the Warwickshire Men’s Super League to become the youngest ever player to be selected to play in the league. Playing for Sutton Sports he has won six of the seven games he played and on three occasions collected the “Man of the Match” awards. Amongst some of his most notable conquests was the 3-2 victory over PDC player and representing Rugby, Matt Edgar.
October was when he beat the world record for hitting as many as possible inner and outer bull’s-eye’s sections in the space of one minute and in the same month he won the Spa Darts Heartlands Invitational 301 Round Robin Competition, dropping just one leg during his group play off before beating Ian McFarlane and Simon Jones in the knockout stages. In the final Luis faced his cousin and winner of many open competitions Tony Randell, who he beat 5-2.
All in all it’s been a great year for Luis “The Flame Thrower” Barberan and the signs are there are still better things to come especially as next year he will be 14 years old and able to join the PDC Youth Tour. Watch out for the name LUIS BARBERAN.
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Congratulations to 21 years old Matt Gallett, the sole Birmingham qualifier in the finals of the PDC Youth World Championships played off at Crawley. In the opening round of the finals Matt hit top form taking on Robbie King and winning 5-4. Unfortunately doubles then got the better of Matt and he made his exit losing 5-3 to eventual finalist James Hubbard. Although Matt did not progress any further he did gain vital experience to help in future competitions.
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In the local league round up the Forest of Arden Summer League were winding up their season with various finals and in the League Cup it was a very close encounter with division one runners up Riley’s Flights just getting the 4-3 edge on Kenny’s Boys, who finished the season with the wooden spoon.
The biggest shock of the semi finals of the Divisional Cup was the 7-0 win by Greville over division one champions Riley’s Red Arrows. Riley’s Flights won the other semi 5-2 against Kenny’s Boys. The final was a close affair with Riley’s Flights just getting the close 4-3 result over Greville.
In the division two semi finals Harvester had a convincing 6-1 win against Old Bill and Bull Flights and Riley’s Mixed beat Highwood 4-3. Again the final was a close 4-3 scoreline with Harvester just pipping Riley’s Mixed to the post.
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Mark Kane and Brendan Lysaght from the Mitre are the winners of the Small Heath Doubles Knockout. The winning pair beat team mates John Burdett and John Evans in the final.
Losing semi finalists were Neil Parsonage and Raymond Fisher (Emerald Club) and Glynn Thomas and Daniel Thomas (Custard House).
The League Cup final saw Emerald Club and Mitre face up to each other for the third time in four weeks. Most of the games went to a finishing double, but it was the better finishing of league champions Mitre that gave them the 16-8 verdict.
Peter Yardley (Emerald Club) had the highest score of 180 and also hit the most tons of eight. Best finish of 130 went to Mark Kane (Mitre).
In the End of Season 501 Knockout Emerald Club’s Neil Parsonage beat his fellow team mate Peter Yardley in the final.
Losing semi finalists were, Brendan Lysaght (Mitre) and Eddie Bullock (Redhill Tavern), while Joe Fox, Mark Fisher and Raymond Fisher (Emerald Club) and Michael Looby (Devils Club) all make their exits in the quarter finals.
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The Pip Club League have been engaged in various play off finals, the first of which was their Shadow League Knockouts. In the division one tie J.W.Belgrave Club beat Sports bar 180 and it was Old Liberal Club who got the better of North Warwick Cricket Club in the division two play off.
The Doubles Knockouts saw the Dolphin pairing of Phil Turner and Mark Martin clinch the title with a final win over Sam Whittaker.and Simon Caswell (Bolehall Swifts), losing semi finalists were, Kevin Clubley and Brian Bird from the Dolphin and Jimmy Williams and Nigel Groves who represented J.W.Belgrave Club.
The triples title went to Mick Smith, Daz Jones and Gary Padmore from the Red Lion, with Trevor Barrs, Richard Baker and Alan Carter from Sports Bar finishing as runners up.
Winner of the Singles Knockout in division one was Mark Martin (Dolphin), who beat Daz Jones (Red Lion) in the final. The division two title went to Tom Parker, from the Queens Head, with Mark Edwards (Pip Club) taking the runners up spot.
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