The Dog at the Welsh Masters and Classic

The Red Dragon Welsh Masters and Welsh Classic were held at Lyons Robin Hood Holiday Park at Rhyl. The Red Dragon Welsh Masters were held on the Saturday. With a smaller entry than usual I had my 1st math against Ian Mcfarlan of the West Midlands. He had played a preliminary round where I felt I was a little cold but was still able to get past Ian with a 4-1 win. Next in last 64 was well known to me Cheshire player Dave Pallet. Dave just selected for England to so a class act and the 4-3 scoreline although I was the victor, was nothing less than I expected. He took advantage of every mistake I made as I did his. Great game to be in and on I’d have enjoyed watching too I think. On to last 32 and Mr X factor Andy Boulton. Started well and took the 1st leg. But next 2 legs I found myself with the odd dart at a double while Andy waiting to pounce with three in his hand. I was then 3-1 down and with Andy having the darts a 15 dart leg was enough to take the match 4-1. The week before I’d won the match for points and the swings and roundabouts this game gives us, I was on the wrong end this time. The final Saw Alan Norris crowned Red Dragon Welsh Masters singles champion beating 1st time finalist Hampshire^s Gary Stafford.

The Sunday was the Welsh Classic pairs and my partner ironically was James Wilson the guy I’d beat for points in Mariflex Open the week before. Our 1st game was Clive Barden and Jake Jones. I played terribly for 1st 2 legs and then started 3rd with a 180 and so from 2-0 down we won 3-2. Next up were Dutch Pair Dave Proosten and wonder kid Jeffery de Graff. We won that 3-0 then it was Yorkshire^s Dave Copley and Darren Hales and same score line 3-0 and the partnership starting to really click. Eywan Hislop and Gary Stone the Scottish pairing were our semi Final opponents. We beat them 3-0. So we found ourselves in the final. We played Ritchie George and Jamie Robinson from Essex. We missed a shot at double 1st leg and lost it which seemed to wake us up for the next 3which we won. So were Crowned Wesh Classic pairs champions for 2012.

After an hour or two snooze back at our caravan it was out for a 6pm start in the mixed pairs. My partner was Sue Gulliver and through luck started the evening with a walkover. The nextmate was against a nervous Kev Kershaw and Jo Oliver. We won this 3-1. Next Opponent was Martin McClosky and Angie deWard. We knew this was a toughie and it was. At 2-2 and Martin Missing a shot at tops Sue stepped up and hit it 1st dart to take us through to the last 8. Our opponents there were Martin Phillips and Anastasia Dobrobaslova. We raced into a 2-0 lead with some super double shooting from Sue. But with one missed dart at double 4 for a 3-0 win seemed to inspire our opponents. From then on we were never close enough to get a dart at a double and lost 3-2 and kept wondering what if. Martin and Ana went on to be crowned champions beating surprise finalists Andrew Cummings and Jane Andrews. It was a close affair and a good to watch 3-2

So we moved into Monday and the Red Dragon Welsh Classic mens singles. I had a walk over 1st match taking me to a 2nd match with Jake Jones. Having made mistakes to let people in previously I had to be a little more clinical with my doubles. I was and beat a good player who one for a very bright future 4-1. My next opponent was Dave Pallet. I’d played him once already but finished and scored far better to win this time 4-1. That win put me in the last 16 and points so could now relax a little as we now have something to take homwe from this weekends points double header. Alan Norris stood in my way of a last 8 spot. I Won the bull up for throw which I felt very important in this game. Won 1st leg in 14 and the 2nd against the darts in 11. The third I won in 15 shooting 94 on the bull with throw so 3-0 up. I had no intention of letting this one go now. Alan won his throw in 15 and I won last leg in 15 shooting 124 60,treble14 and double 11. Alan sat on 40 after 12. Last 8 saw me play Martin McClosky who at 3-3 won the bull and i felt the match was over. I sat on 196 hit 140 and Martin missed his shot at 56 and i hit mine for a 4-3 win. Martin is such a good guy and so likable and it makes him hard to beat. Add that he is a damn good dart player.

Semi finals time and a couple of hour break saw me play Scotlands Gary Stone. I won 1st 2 legs and then Garys power scoring saw hm take the next 2 to level at 2-2. Gary bossed the 5th leg but missed 3 darts at double top leaving me a chance at 88 which i took hitting double 7 last dart. Gary with throw as all game was comfotable holding his throw to go 3-3.He won bull up on 2nd occassion and threw 180,140 with my 60 sandwiched inbetween and it was gameover. Gary won 4-3. Second Semi saw Stephen Bunting beat Jamie Robinson 4-2 thus reaching his 2nd final in 8 days. Bunting went on to win the final 5-4 with Stone missing one dart at 40 to take the title. This ended a good weekend for Myself personally in North Wales.

We had shared a Caravan with Trina and Sue Gulliver and before we had left on Monday evening, I’d set a few booby traps. They were staying till tues morning so ramming cardboard in the end of their shoes, a well placed empty milk carton on a door top and an old pizza on the roof for the seagulls feed 1st light at 4:30am in the morning for a wake up call. We left North Wales with a 5 hour drive home but a smirk on our faces.

Scotty