Andy Fordham back playing Darts
The Dog’s Last Few Weeks On The Darts Circuit
After no points at Dutch Open, Scottish Open loosing in round for the points at both. The Isle of man Open a couple weeks ago saw me needing to score ranking points to get back on track. I had 8 of 12 ranking scores needed with 6 months to fill them. So there is no panic setting in just yet. You do tend to check your draw to see if there anyone in it to worry about. I had Jonny Clayton the Welsh international who if we got to each other would be round for the points. It happened that way and i was right to fear the outcome. Jonny flew out the traps and missed 5 darts at a double with me sneaking it. It turned the match on its head, as next leg went to me with the darts so at 2-0 down. In the sprint format we play its a killer to your confidence. Another missed dart to save the match and i hit 40 1st dart to win 3-0. Jonny the nice guy he is chalked for me as it was winners chalk. Shows the good guy he is in defeat. Won Board final against Ricky from Cumbria and then the usual 1=2 hour wait while all boards finish. Last 32 saw me play Red Dragon team mate Martin Atkins. I set off fast winning 1st leg in 13, i then stole 2nd leg so at 2-0 i then hit nothing in the treble 20 region till it was 2 late every leg. Kept leaving a double and Martin Kept shooting whatever he had left. Disappointed but 14 Points and box no9 filled.
The pairs saw Richie George and I progress to last 16 where we met Winmau Duo of Darryl Fitton and Andy Fordham. Best of 3 is even more cut throat and at 1-1 Dazzler throws a dart and it falls from the board. On his return to the Oche Andy says " the size of you i cant believe you throw like a girl " then as i was about to throw he said" at least you dont dress like one". Everyone watching is laughing, i cant throw cause im laughing. Everyone watching was laughing. We lost match in the end but Andy showed he it getting there with his game. Its good to have him and his fun back around BDO again. He will as always be popular wherever he goes. He has new sponsorship from Dutch company Mariflex to join Mariflex Dart Team. Singles was won by Stephen Bunting and the Pairs won by Glen Durrant and Tony Eccles.
The Mariflex Open in Rotterdam was last Weekend and has added bonus of the Dutch Dart Guys against the English Darts Guys. his takes place on the Friday afternoon at Sparta Rotterdam^s training ground. It was on astro turf and that was good as it was snowing and wind chill of -5. Last year it was an 11 a side match. This year it was on a half pitch and 7 a side roll on roll of subs which for most was quite literally. Irishman most will remember from Winmau World masters run last year Paul Brown was England^s star man. Its a bit like England Cricket team being full of South Africans !!!!!Paul was a scorer for us but unfortunately was a bit rusty and missed a hat full. He did level the match at 2-2. It want to penalties. We know how bad England are at penalties and once again it proved to be the case. It had nothing to do with me being goalkeeper, but more how poor our penalties really were. Paul Brown tried the little sneak penalty dink which did not work !!!! So the Dutch team took the honors.
The darts it as back to loosing i the round for the points again for me. At 3-3 and sat on 32 after 12 i managed somehow with 3 darts to do all but hit the double. My opponent was on 40 and hit it 1st dart for a 13 dart against the darts winning leg. The pairs saw Richie and I loose out in the 3rd round and we played 2 guys who just hit everything and out classed us totally.
Its back to county duties this weekend for Dorset and a home match against Gwent. Weekend after is Easter and im looking forward to being home with no darts for a weekend. Spend some time with family. Nice to have down time and recharge the batteries before i head to Fife to do battle for England, against the Welsh and the Scottish in the Home internationals weekend.
After no points at Dutch Open, Scottish Open loosing in round for the points at both. The Isle of man Open a couple weeks ago saw me needing to score ranking points to get back on track. I had 8 of 12 ranking scores needed with 6 months to fill them. So there is no panic setting in just yet. You do tend to check your draw to see if there anyone in it to worry about. I had Jonny Clayton the Welsh international who if we got to each other would be round for the points. It happened that way and i was right to fear the outcome. Jonny flew out the traps and missed 5 darts at a double with me sneaking it. It turned the match on its head, as next leg went to me with the darts so at 2-0 down. In the sprint format we play its a killer to your confidence. Another missed dart to save the match and i hit 40 1st dart to win 3-0. Jonny the nice guy he is chalked for me as it was winners chalk. Shows the good guy he is in defeat. Won Board final against Ricky from Cumbria and then the usual 1=2 hour wait while all boards finish. Last 32 saw me play Red Dragon team mate Martin Atkins. I set off fast winning 1st leg in 13, i then stole 2nd leg so at 2-0 i then hit nothing in the treble 20 region till it was 2 late every leg. Kept leaving a double and Martin Kept shooting whatever he had left. Disappointed but 14 Points and box no9 filled.
The pairs saw Richie George and I progress to last 16 where we met Winmau Duo of Darryl Fitton and Andy Fordham. Best of 3 is even more cut throat and at 1-1 Dazzler throws a dart and it falls from the board. On his return to the Oche Andy says " the size of you i cant believe you throw like a girl " then as i was about to throw he said" at least you dont dress like one". Everyone watching is laughing, i cant throw cause im laughing. Everyone watching was laughing. We lost match in the end but Andy showed he it getting there with his game. Its good to have him and his fun back around BDO again. He will as always be popular wherever he goes. He has new sponsorship from Dutch company Mariflex to join Mariflex Dart Team. Singles was won by Stephen Bunting and the Pairs won by Glen Durrant and Tony Eccles.
The Mariflex Open in Rotterdam was last Weekend and has added bonus of the Dutch Dart Guys against the English Darts Guys. his takes place on the Friday afternoon at Sparta Rotterdam^s training ground. It was on astro turf and that was good as it was snowing and wind chill of -5. Last year it was an 11 a side match. This year it was on a half pitch and 7 a side roll on roll of subs which for most was quite literally. Irishman most will remember from Winmau World masters run last year Paul Brown was England^s star man. Its a bit like England Cricket team being full of South Africans !!!!!Paul was a scorer for us but unfortunately was a bit rusty and missed a hat full. He did level the match at 2-2. It want to penalties. We know how bad England are at penalties and once again it proved to be the case. It had nothing to do with me being goalkeeper, but more how poor our penalties really were. Paul Brown tried the little sneak penalty dink which did not work !!!! So the Dutch team took the honors.
The darts it as back to loosing i the round for the points again for me. At 3-3 and sat on 32 after 12 i managed somehow with 3 darts to do all but hit the double. My opponent was on 40 and hit it 1st dart for a 13 dart against the darts winning leg. The pairs saw Richie and I loose out in the 3rd round and we played 2 guys who just hit everything and out classed us totally.
Its back to county duties this weekend for Dorset and a home match against Gwent. Weekend after is Easter and im looking forward to being home with no darts for a weekend. Spend some time with family. Nice to have down time and recharge the batteries before i head to Fife to do battle for England, against the Welsh and the Scottish in the Home internationals weekend.