JIM WILLIAMS TAKES RED DRAGON WELSH INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2015
Jim Williams and Nikki O’Donovan are the 2015 Red Dragon Welsh Individual Champions, Welsh International Williams who hails from Presteigne in Powys captured the Men’s title with a two sets to nil victory over the reigning champion and his Welsh team colleague Wayne Warren in the final, while former Republic of International O’Donovan who now resides in the Rhondda Valley secured the ladies crown, following a 3 legs to 2 verdict over former winner Jan Robbins in the final.
Newly Married Jim who had just missed out on a nine darter earlier in the day, when the final double let him down in his second round match against Richard Langlois (Breconshire) ended the hopes of Wayne Warren of retaining his Red Dragon Welsh Individual title with a convincing final performance taking the opening set in straight legs in 15 and 14 darts, although his Glamorgan opponent won the opening leg in the second set in 19 darts, it was Williams’s day as he won the next two legs in 14 and 15 darts and his first senior Welsh title with a 31.61 average.
Semi-finals saw Williams defeat another member of the Welsh team Mark Layton (Breconshire), clinching his 2 sets to 1 win with a 11 dart leg, with Warren ending the fine run of another local County thrower Andrew Rough with a 2 – 1 result at the Brynamman Rugby Club.
It’s also a new name on the Women’s Red Dragon Welsh Individual winners list this year as Nikki O’Donovan went one better than her partner Wayne Warren in winning the ladies final against Jan Robbins, edging out the Gwent thrower in the deciding leg of the best of five legs final after defeating last years’ winner Rhian Griffiths (Pembrokeshire) by the same scoreline in her last four match. Jan semi-final win came against Rhian Edwards of Glamorgan.
The previous day at the Brynamman Rugby Club Welsh Darts Organisation held the Winmau World Masters 2015 Wales Play-offs, which saw Rhian Griffith (Pembrokeshire) Jacqueline Leggatt (Gwynedd), Keirion Carter (Glamorgan), Glyn Carus (Clwyd), Richard Edwards (Glamorgan) and Richard Langlois (Breconshire) qualify for the World Finals to be held in Hull on 8th to 11th October 2015.