A Look Back In Time - 1st August 2008
I wrote last month regarding a new knockout that was being introduced into the darts calendar, the double16 member’s knockout. The event as previously stated is for members only of the new and fast growing double16.com darts forum. The latest information on the knockout is that it will be staged at Stirchley United WMC, Hazelwell Lane, off Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham, B30 2PP on Saturday 18th October with prize, subject to receiving 128 entries paid out to the last sixteen players. Full details of the pay out is, winner £500 (sponsored by Coors Brewery), runner up £200 (sponsored by Martindale Fascias), losing semi finalists £2 x £100 (sponsored by Frame Trade), all the remaining prizes will be sponsored by double16.com members, losing quarter finalists 4 x £50, 9-16 8 x £25, least darts £50 (shared if a tie), highest finish £50 (shared if a tie), furthest lady £40 (shared if tied). There will be a blind pairs competition in which the winners will receive £50, runners up £25 and losing semi finalists £2 x £12.50, again sponsored by double16.com members.
On the day doors will open at 10.00am, registrations will be accepted up to 11.00am and match play will commence at 11.30am. The entry fee is £5 per player.
Stirchley United WMC is also the venue for the forthcoming South Birmingham Ladies Open, which is to be played off on Saturday 30th August. Sponsoring the competition, which carries a guaranteed first prize of £300 is Coors Brewery. The entry fee is £5 or £6 on the day and will be limited to the first 128 players, with all entry fees being paid out in prize money.
All cheques should be made payable to Stirchley United WMC and together with the entry should be sent to one of the following Mr Dennis Stokes, Flat 2, 106 Park Hill, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DS, Mr Ken Herbert, 15 Mountford Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 1JA or Mr John Bates, Stirchley United WMC, Hazelwell Lane, off Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham, B30 2PP.
The West Midlands Super League have been engaged with the play off of their Averages Knockout. The event was open to any registered Super League player who had chalked up an average during the season, even if they had only played one game that average counted.
The winner of the men’s knockout was the evergreen Ian Jones, who as always was representing Tipton. Jones took the title with a final success against Smethwick’s Frank Johnson.
Smethwick may have had to be satisfied with the runners up prize in the men’s event but that certainly was not the case in the ladies competition. Teresa Woakes (Smethwick) was crowned champion after she defeated fellow team mate and namesake Teresa Johnston in the final.
On the league front Tipton, as ever are going to be crowned champions again, can someone tell me, how many times is that now? The biggest tussle is for the runners up spot between Wolverhampton City and Wednesbury.
In the ladies league Wednesbury, with 59 points from 11 games are ten clear of second placed Wolverhampton who have played fourteen games.
The Small Heath League have completed their season, the league champions are Mitre, a fact that has been known for quite a few weeks but now it’s official. Mitre won the title by a clear 14 points from runners up Victoria 301 Club. The 301 Club clinched second place when in the final week’s fixtures Mitre beat Custard House 5-4 to rob them of the number two spot and 301 Club beat Wagon and Horses 7-2 to end with the same 36 points as Custard House but with a superior average.
Potcheen Still won the Shadow League title with 16 points, runners up Victoria Flights finished with 8 points.
The league have played off their Mixed Doubles Knockout, staged at the Victoria Club the winners were John McCaffrey and Gloria Lightwood, who scooped the top prize with a final victory over Eamon O’Sullivan and Dee O’Sullivan.
Losing semi finalists were Andy Cooper and Helen Davies and John Quigley and Katie O’Sullivan.
On the local league front scene, at the time of going to print, the early pacesetter in the Brook Meadow Individual Double Top League is Ian McFarlane. After the opening six weeks fixtures McFarlane has a total of 46 points from 12 games, Mark Birch has moved up into second place on 43 points, and reigning champion Trevor Frost, after a somewhat shaky start to the campaign, now breathing down both their necks on 41 points.
Week three of the Sheldon and District Summer League saw group one teams Saltley Amateur Gardeners and Banbury Club both chalk up their first wins of the campaign. Saltley had a 6-2 home success over Shirley RBL, while bottom of the table Banbury came up with the shock result of the week by beating second in the table Olton RBL 5-4, this being Olton’s first defeat. Leaders Brook Meadow dropped a point as they finished all square with third placed Bromford Bridge Members Club.
In group two Mackadown Social maintained their 100% win record with a 5-3 win at home against Iron Horse. Old Bill and Bull also kept their winning run going in group three with a 5-3 win over Pavilions, and a similar situation in group four where leaders Highwood ‘A’ beat Small Heath Gardeners Flights 5-3 to stretch their winning sequence to three.
Smethwick Labour Club gained an important win in division one of the Harborne and District Summer League this week, playing away against Midland Red they returned with a 6-3 victory to make it six straight wins. Hillyfields ‘A’ remain in second place following their 6-3 home win over the Bell to stay two points behind Smethwick.
Old Crown are setting a red hot pace in division two, their 5-4 win at Bartley Green F.C. giving them a six points lead over the rest of the field after only five games.
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