Darts By Stan Launder

Last updated 09:28, Saturday, 30 August 2008

AFTER more than 27 years, this really is my last darts column.

Stan Launder: End of an era

During that time, it has been very rewarding in a whole heap of ways and there is a great sense of sadness that it has come to an end.

The rewards have been tremendous, seeing Barbara, Crissy and Richard making their England debuts are memories that one could not buy.

Being at Chesterfield to see Richard win the CIU tournament in which he beat pending Embassy winner Bob Anderson before winning the title at Kenny Husband’s expense was special, as was Barbara winning the ladies Gold Cup.

Richard and John winning the Daily Star doubles at Lords.... I could go on.

Seeing Cumbria promoted to the Premier Division in the Inter Counties Darts Championship was a special moment too.

There have been low points as well. The untimely deaths of young dart players has been hard with which to come to terms, as has the passing of other, shall we say, more mature darting friends.

Of local tournaments one of the most memorable was in the old Portland Club when we witnessed Garry Spedding simply destroy a class field which included Ronnie Baxter and Brian Darbyshire, Speds at his most awesome that night.

Many thanks to all those who have contributed to make the column over the years.

PDC

Having played in Australia - followed by Canada, the PDC’s almost evangelical tour took them to the States last week and to Atlanta for The Peachtree Players Open, which was won by Alan Tabern, who took his second PDC title at the expense of Andy Hamilton.

Canadian World Champion, John Part, decided against making the journey from his homeland to the States but several other players from the UK made the trip. Out own Peter Manley going out in the second round to Chris White.

You may well ask Chris Who? No bad player obviously - an American arrowman who got to the semi finals before losing to the eventual champion - Hamilton beat Steve Beaton in their semi final. Half-way round the World and I was complaining that our lads and lasses have to go as far as Somerset next month.

PORTLAND CLUB

Almost to the play-offs in this competition and last Saturday added the names of two more Durham darters to the final line up, and they didn’t have to play either half final because Doug McCarthy and Jeff Sneath got both of their entries to the last two pairs.

David Ferguson was a bit unlucky to have to lose in the latter stages of both halves whilst Brian Stedman, Colin Hope and Sean McGimpsey also featured in the latter stages. Brian had a pair of 180s and a 13 darter with Lee Dunlop having a leg in five sets and a 180.

Dave McCleary had a maximum as did Doug - but what about this? Jeff had an indecent total of 10 (TEN) maximums and went out in 12, 14 and 15 darts!

That is the kind of form which wins tournaments.

STOCKSMAN WIGTON

This was another excellent heat with a high 20s entry again - and a banquet to follow the darts too!

Maximums came from Jimmy Pattinson (2) and singles from Stuart Dinnell, Dykie Blair, Tom Gradwell and Garry Simpson.

Garry also had a 142 start and Barry Irving a 148 away, Ged Stockdale’s 111 finish was the best of the heat.

In the top half of the draw Garry beat Michelle Jackson in the semi final (nearly again ‘Chelle!) and Trevor Watters put out Don Studholme, Garry winning the final match to go through.

Garry also got to the final of the bottom half with a win at Jimmy’s expense to meet Stuart in the final after he had beaten Marvin Dobson.

At this stage Trevor was hoping for another Garry win to make the play off but Stuart was having none of that and beat Garry to book his place in next Friday’s finals, after the last heat which was last night.

ROBIN HOOD

This was heat six, last last night was heat seven - and Friday will be the last heat. 180s in this heat came from David Johnston, Terry Parry and Mike Sowerby with John Burns twice breaking off with 160 and Terry having a superb 12 dart leg.

Mike Sowerby won the first semi final 2-1 at the expense of Terry Herbert whilst Mark Sloan beat Martin King 2-0 in the other semi final. Mark went on to eclipse Mike in three straight legs in the final.

HENSINGHAM LEAGUE

There will be a league meeting in Frizington Vets Club on 8th September at 8pm and all participating teams really must attend as the fixture list for the coming season will be distributed at the meeting.

ELLENBOROUGH SOCIAL

Last qualifier was Rob McCoubrey who beat Mike Sowerby in the final to claim the last qualifying place. I had hoped to be at the play off on Thursday but a small but expensive problem with me car prevented me from doing so. I hope the final results are in before deadline!

GOLDEN LION HARRINGTON

This is a new darting venue to this page so I really hope that the players will support the tournament and it may become a regular feature.

The formula is blind pairs and the first heat saw Scanner Bone and Terry Parry get through at the expense of Steve Hodgson and John Birkett, not once but twice!

The winners beat them in the final of one half and then again in the heat final after Steve and John had disposed of Martin Morley and Billy Todhunter. Scanner, Steve and Kevin Parker each had all three darts in the red bit of the 20 bed.

UKRAINIAN CLUB SINGLES LEAGUE

I have preached for a long time that there are only two ways to improve your darts game - play with better players and, more important, against better players and this is being played out at the Ukrainian Club in the singles league.

Top averages this week came from Paul McGimpsey with a 27.83.

Mike English - another player forging a reputation - had a 27.21 and Andy Goodfellow, showing remarkable consistency had a 26.36 and a 25.47 and Andrew Foster had a couple of sets in which he averaged 25.91 and 25.89.

Andrew had a hat-trick of 180s as did John, Mike also had a brace and there were singles from Andy, Gordon Oliver, Michelle and Paul Bohaczewskyj. Three figure finishes are special in my view and they have come from John Scott with 115 and 102, Gimp with a 116, Andrew at 126 and Andy on 146 and a 161. But what about this, a 167 by Robert Miller!

Lee Dunlop has broken his duck of wins, and had two in the same week! Well done kid!

SOWERBY SUCCESS

The finale at The Tam O’Shanter was a real feast of tip top darts and a lesson in how to play the game in the best of spirit.

The first round matches all, most surprisingly ended in 2-0 scores. I cannot remember another occasion in which that happened.

John Scott beat George Moore: Trevor Watters beat Gimp: Graham Metcalfe (with a 160 start) beat Mike Blair: Mike Sowerby beat Martin Mitchell: Mark Sloan beat Derek Forster: Mark Steele beat Chris O’Prey: Ged Stockdale (with a 160 off) beat Mike English and finally Andrew Foster beat Spider. Not a leg went to the losers - remarkable!

In the first quarter-final John beat Trevor by the deciding leg of five whilst Mike need only four legs to out Graham - Mike starting with a 160 and having a 180.

In the battle of the Marks it was the Steele variety that prevailed by 3-1 and, to complete the semi final line up Ged beat Andrew in a five leg affair in which Boy Wonder had a 180.

Both semi-finals were won in three straight legs Mike against John and Mark at the expense of Ged.

Mike won the final match of the night and with it the best bit of the prize purse with a 4-1 victory.

ELLENBOROUGH TITLE FOR MARK

Mark Sloan won the 8 weeks tournament at Ellenborough Social Club on Thursday with a final victory over Andrew “Boy Wonder” Foster by four legs to two.

In the semi-finals Andrew had beaten Paul Tuck whilst the champion in waiting had put out the ever dangerous Dave Warren.

There was a brace of 180’s from Andrew and from Paul with singles coming from Gary Heaney, Mark and Dave.

The losing quarter finalists were Rob McCoubrey, Gary, Martin “Peck” Orchard and John Madine. Congratulations to the winner - from memory that is the first eight weeks competition won by Mark.

The prize money was presented by Craig Davidson from Scottish/Newcastle Breweries.