A Look Back In Time - 1st October 2008
Stirchley United Working Men’s Club was the setting for the South Birmingham Ladies Open and although the number of entries were a little disappointing, with only 32 entering the competition, nothing can be taken away from the both the class of player that entered or the quality of darts play on the day, both were of the highest standard. Players entered from numerous counties including, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Merseyside, Hampshire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire to name but a few.
The eventual winner of the knockout was Anastasia Dobromyslova from Ellesmere Port, who had a final win over local Warwickshire and Birmingham player Lesley Newcombe. As champion Anastacia collected the first prize which was a guaranteed £300 and for her efforts Lesley picked up £100.
The quarter finals displayed a variety of players from around the country, Cath (Buckinghamshire) losing out to Linda Jones (Oxfordshire), Gemma Hayter (Hampshire) losing to Anastasia Dobromyslova, Jan Beck (Merseyside) beating Shelly Ruthven (Northamptonshire) and finally two Warwickshire team mates Caroline Pike and Lesley Newcombe squared up to each other with Lesley winning through.
The semi finals saw Anastasia Dobromyslova beat Linda Jones and Lesley Newcombe take out Jan Beck. Both of the losing semi finalists collected £40.
After the main event a Blind Pairs Competition took place. Lesley Newcombe teamed up with fellow Warwickshire county player Vicki Byrne to win the title after a final victory over Stephanie Smee from Hampshire and her partner Cara Moody from Birmingham.
The Sheldon and District Summer League have been busy with the play off of their Mrs F. Richman Trophy. The second round of the competition saw 6-1 wins from both Bromford Bridge Members Club and Brook Meadow who in turn took out Pavilions and Iron Horse. Joining them in the quarter finals were Shirley RBL, Mackadown Social, RAFA, Saltley Amateur Gardeners, Sheldon Dukes and Small Heath Gardeners Flights.
Shock of the last eight was the departure of group one leaders Saltley Amateur Gardeners who lost 4-3 playing away to group two’s Mackadown Social. The remaining three games all finished with close 4-3 results, the all group one tie Shirley RBL beat Bromford Bridge Members Club and in the other games Brook Meadow defeated Sheldon Dukes and RAFA beat Small Heath Gardeners Flights.
The two semi finals provided big results for both Mackadown Social and Brook Meadow, the former handing out a 7-0 whitewash to their opponents RAFA, while Brook Meadow beat Shirley RBL 6-1. The final also produced a resounding scoreline as group one outfit Brook Meadow chalked up a massive 7-0 victory over their group two rivals Mackadown Social to claim the title. Dean Grainger (Brook Meadow) was named man of the final.
On the league front, at the time of going to print, most of the issues have been decided with just one rearranged game in group two to be played. Group one has been won by Saltley Amateur Gardeners but by the narrowest of margins. Both Saltley and Brook Meadow finished on 15 points with the champion’s just one more leg of average to the good on the runners up. In group two Mackadown have one final game against bottom of the table RAFA to play, a win will see them leap frog Sheldon Dukes and win the group by one point.
Group three was won decisively by Stechford Social, they had a clear seven points advantage over their nearest rivals Old Bill and Bull. There was a similar situation in group four, Highwood ‘A’ winning the title with 20 points and Yardley Ex Colts second, six points adrift on 14 points.
Group five was another close affair as Shard End Social and Kingshurst Labour Club both finished their fixtures with 16 points, however, Shard End had 55 legs for as opposed to Kingshurst’s 53 and so Shard End got the verdict.
Finally in group six Highwood ‘B’ made it a probable unique double as they won the title on 15 points and Golden Acres finished runners up on 11, a double in so much as their ‘A’ side had won group four.
Most 180’s (7) went to Tony Randell (Saltley Amateur Gardeners), while the highest finish of 156 was recorded by Vince Lloyd (Shirley RBL). Two players Tony Randell (Saltley) and Bob Nixon (Olton RBL) shared the least darts for the season which was nine and taking the averages was group two’s Richard Lucas from the Old Bill and Bull. Richard went through the season undefeated winning all ten of his games.
I end this month’s column with the sad news that on the 12th August Mick Hartland passed away. Mick was a keen darts player and over the last few years had represented the Potcheen Still in the Small Heath League.
Mick’s friends and darts colleagues offer sympathy and condolences to his family in this time of great sorrow.
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