The Dog at the England Open Darts
Headed to Selsey and Bunn Leisure White Sands Caravan Park for the England Open on weekend of 23rd/24th with the hope of filling my 11 ranking box of the year for Lakeside.
There were also up for grabs Zuderduim Masters points for the Dutch Tv tournement qualification.
The warm up is the Early Bird competition played on the Friday after a 1st rd win I played good friend Steve Hartley from Herts or Buzz as we know him.
It was a drafty affair as with the friday weather conditions made the Maqueed playing area more like a F1 wind tunnel, which didn’t help either of us.
I was fortunate to squeeze through this one although the 3-0 scoreline suggested differently. That bought me to a last 32 clash with Deta Headman. On the bull up there was nothing between us I felt the gentlemanly thing was to give the lady the throw if there was a doubt. Deta thundered in a 140 1st throw it made me think I’d changed my mind.
Deta took 1st leg in 14 darts when i was sat on 66 after 12. After 2 missed darts at 40 in the 2nd leg Deta poked a 120 to go 2-0 up. I shoot out 56 to win leg 3 and then miss 2 at 40 with Deta hitting 40 for a 76 shot out to go 3-1 up.I win 4th leg against darts to go 3-2. The next leg i start with 100 and Deta hit a 180. Deta missed a 114 shot fo 115 dart leg. I miss 2 at 24 for an 84 shot out and a crowd 4 deep saw Deta hit tops to beat me 4-2.
She had already beaten Ewan Hislop 4-1 in the previous round, Well done to Deta. I really enjoyed the game.
So I’ve taken a bit of banter via text from Red Dragon team mate Scotty "Too Hotty" Waites. I cant believe he did that with me knowing that he thought he was in the earlybird comp when he arrived but found that he had entered the Money in Money out via the online entries by mistake. With the money in money out being cheaper to enter, I believe it was the tight Yorkshireman inside comming to the fore !!!!!
The ranking England Open next morning early rounds saw me play London^s Micheal Artiss and Berkshire^s Terry Little with me winning both matches 3-0. Then next a more difficult match against Hampshire^s Martin Harper. At 2-0 up i missed tops to win. Martin stole and then put in a 15 dart leg to hold throw to go 2-2. A good last leg of 14 saw me go through 3-2.
My group final I played Dorset team mate Terry Prowse. He has been my county selector for last couple years so with him stepping down from the post I knew it was ok to beat him. I did 3-0 but always tough playing matesat these bigger events. Another Mate in Doug Harwood from Surrey next and a 3-1 win. We now down to last 16 and England International teamate Dave Pallet^s dad Ian, last time Ian played me I got thumped 3-1 after i did a 13 dart 1st leg at Welsh Classic a couple of years back. It thankfully did not happen again. I eased past 3-0 with Ian not getting his best game out.
My quarter final with Wesley Harms was going ok at 3-3 on the live stream tv lane. We had both won legs we should have lost so pretty even. In last leg I was called over the Microphone from top desk to go play my 1st round pairs match. This total lack of organisation at the wrong moment in a quarter final game in a category A tournament and caused me to lose concentration, and lost the leg, so I bowed out at last 8 for 2nd year in a row.
Not the 1st time EDO darts has done this to me. Last year in England singles they awarded my last 8 match with Gary Robson to him when the score at 3-3 also. We had been told incorrectly best of 7 but was actually best of 5. Although we had not bulled up for deciding leg they still awarded it. So im hoping next EDO darts last 8 will be 3rd time lucky with no mistakes.
With the live stream being on the internet with comentry i got i chance to co commentate with Bobby George, Trina Gulliver and Richard Ashdown. Bobby getting plugs in for his fishing lakes and his son Richie^s sponsorship of some dart company called Red Dragon !!!! Really enjoyed it as did both Mens and Ladies finals. Anastasia Dobrobislova beating Deta Hedman in a fantastic 4-3 final with a last leg 121 shot against the darts for a 12 dart leg to be crowned England Open ladies Champion. Wesley Harms took a 6-1 win over a surprise finalist and friend Tony Broughton from the Isle of Wight to be crowned Champion to follow hiw Swiss Open titke win 3 week ago.
Next week its on to Granite City Open in Aberdeen and an overnight stay at George Hall as im traveling with Richie George.
Signing out Scotty dog.