JULY 2009

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31st July 2009

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

It will be an emotionally charged Entertainer this Saturday as the 4^th Andover Youth Open which has been renamed the Jamie ‘G’ memorial welcomes young darters from 6 counties and a host of special guests.

Sadly one player who will not be there is the Academy’s Conner Bevis who will be on holiday. However Conner and his foster parents who live in Southampton made a telling contribution to the event long before the big day. 

 Travelling to the Lyndhurst Club in early July to take part in a Darryl Fitton and Tony O’Shea exhibition they approached the stars and organisers to tell them about Jamie ‘G’, his event and charity. By the end of the evening the matchboard had been auctioned and bucket passed round and an amazing £250 had been raised; congratulations Conner, Sue and Dave, what a fantastic effort.

Most of the seniors will be on show with a good sprinkling of juniors who will be in attendance to help in the day’s running for it will be the usual round robin format in the early stages until a knockout phase takes over in the second half.

Dave Dempsey the Transplus Classic referee is travelling up from Kent to give his services free of charge as are Jamie’s favourite players Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis and Colin ‘the Wizard’ Osborne who will be making their way from the Midlands.

There will be a host of talented youngsters aiming to win the coveted titles which are currently held by academy players; Sean White has won the last two men’s events and no other young lady can lay claim for Charlotte Burgess will be going for a fourth consecutive title.

Doors will open at 10.30 with players toeing the oche at 11.45 and the finals and presentations around 6pm.

It will no doubt be a full house on the day but spectators are warmly invited to support the town’s youngsters, welcome a remarkable family in Ivan, Jacqui and Tommy and to honour the Academy’s little superstar who is still so sorely missed.

Nb; The Academy is holding their annual fun-day at New St FC on Sunday at 12.30. Everyone is welcome for an afternoon of fun and games including a bar-b-que, penalty shoot out, tug of war, rounders and of course a game of darts!!

Invitation Summer League – week 6.

Team Knock-Out – Preliminaries.

Merlin Magicians 18: Merlin Young Guns 8.

Pairs: 4-2. Singles: John Gaffney, Glen Kynaston and Colin Denyer 3-2, Colin Pimm 5-0.

Merlin Mingers 17: Royal Oak 9.

Pairs: 4-2. Singles: Mingers: Dan Read and Kevin Ede 4-1, Ivor Andrews 3-2. Oak: Paul Davis 3-2.

Summer Grand Prix:

The re-vamped New St. FC played host to Week 8 and in doing so has provided another valuable venue for the town’s darting calendar. The main bar has now been extended to cater for 5 boards and excellent playing facilities. The night was jointly won by Adam Major and Arron Monk who with 5 wins each shared £85. A further 8 players on 4 wins apiece shared £16 and 3^rd place from 34 entrants. Fastest leg so far this season is Glen Dawkins’ 22 darter and Eddie Edmondson still holds the top checkout of 158. The Grand Prix reverts back to the Entertainer this week and players are reminded to register by 8pm for the randomly drawn 5 legs of 801. Entry fee £3.   Summer Grand Prix Tables

Moses Wheeler Darts-Athlon:

Entries are being taken for the 4^th Moses Wheeler Darts-Athlon to be held at the Entertainer on Saturday 29^th August. The format includes rounds of traditional pub games such as shanghai, halve-it, bullseyes and round the board on doubles as well as 501 singles. With over £400 in prize money to be won the first 40 entrants only will be accepted for this event at a cost of £10 per player.

24th July

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

Representatives of the Academy had the privilege and honour to be in Nottingham last week for the Unicorn 2010 product launch of nearly 300 new products and the induction of Arron Monk into Team Unicorn.

It was a gathering of the world’s greatest darts team with world champions Taylor, van Barneveld, Part, Anderson and Dobromyslova and other household names such as Wade, Hamilton, Lewis, Manley, Jenkins and Osborne. Add an array of upcoming talent destined for fame and glory and a pinch commentary cognoscente in Sid Waddell, Stuart Pyke and Russ Bray, it was indeed a darting who’s who.   MORE YOUTH NEWS HER

The fourth Andover Youth Open which has been renamed the Jamie Gentleman Memorial trophy takes place at the Entertainer on Saturday 1^st August. It promises to be a great day with Jamie’s favourite players Adrian Lewis and Colin Osborne making the presentations and proud parents Jacqui and Ivan and brother Tommy making special appearances. Prizes include World Championship tickets donated by the PDC and entries are still being taken at £3 per player with eligibility being 20 years of age as of January 1^st this year.

Milestones; Academy membership rose to 124 last week and 7 of the 9 players in the Invitation League match between the Young Guns and the Mingers were Academy players.

Invitation Summer League – week 5.

Group ‘A’

Boro Brigade 13: Merlin Magicians 13.

Pairs: 2-4. Singles: Boro: Paul Parry and Steve Cox 4-1. Magic: Colin Pimm 4-1, John Gaffney 3-2.

Porkys Piemen 14: Lardicake 12.

Pairs: 2-4. Singles: Porkys: Peter Bailey, Chris Bailey 4-1 and Trevor James 3-2. Lardi: Steve Barnes 4-1.

Group ‘B’

Royal Oak 11: Merlin Wizards 15.

Pairs: 2-4. Singles: Oak: Peter Hainer, Dave Belbin and Paul Davis 3-2. Wizards: Dennis Simpson 5-0.

Merlin Young Guns 9: Merlin Mingers 17.

Pairs: 1-5. Singles: Young Guns: Steve Turner & Gary Thorne 3-2. Mingers: Kevin Ede 5-0 & Ivor Andrews 3-2.

This week’s heavy hitters:

Tons:  13: Chris Bailey. 10: Peter Bailey, Jamie Kelling, Dennis Simpson and John Gaffney.

180’s: 1: Ray Perry, Trevor James.

Highest Check-Out: 134: Dennis Simpson

Summer Grand Prix:

Week 7 was jointly won by Gary ‘Stoneface’ Brant and Glen Dawkins both winning all five legs. Week 8 tonight at the Entertainer and players are reminded to register by 8pm for the randomly drawn 5 legs of 801. Entry fee £3.

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Moses Wheeler Darts-Athlon:

Entries are still being taken for the 4^th Moses Wheeler Darts-Athlon to be held at the Entertainer on Saturday 29^th August. The format includes rounds of traditional pub games such as shanghai, halve-it, bullseyes and round the board on doubles as well as 501 singles. With over £400 in prize money to be won the first 40 entrants only will be accepted for this event at a cost of £10 per player.

17th July

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

The first ever Saturday Junior Academy Event sponsored by Unicorn was held at the Entertainer and proved a great hit as a darts-athlon produced semi finalists for the most successful under 14 boys and girls. It was nearly a full turnout of Academy’s juniors who were tested to the full for over three hours before the semis took to the stage for a 301 knock out format.     MORE YOUTH NEWS HER

Invitation Summer-Winter League – week 4.

Group ‘A’

Lardicake 18: Boro Brigade 8.

Pairs: 5-1. Singles: Lardi: Ray Perry & Steve Barnes 5-0. Boro: Paul Savage 4-1 and Steve Cox 3-2.

Wolves 10: Porkys Piemen 16.

Pairs: 3-3. Singles: Wolves: Andy Deavall 3-2. Porkys: Chris Bailey 5-0, Peter Bailey and Trevor James 3-2.

Group ‘B’

New Street 20: Merlin Young Guns 6.

Pairs: 4-2. Singles: New St; Jeff White 5-0, and Mark Thorne 4-1 and Paul Reidy 3-2.

Merlin Mingers 18: Royal Oak 8.

Pairs: 3-3. Singles: Mingers: Kevin Ede 5-0, Dan Read 4-1, Ivor Andrews and Conner Bevis 3-2.

This week’s heavy hitters:

Fastest Leg: 14: Arron Monk, 15: Dan Read, Peter Bailey.

Tons:  13: Arron Monk. 12: Kevin Ede, 10: Paul Reidy, Mark Thorne, Jeff White, Adam Dallimore & Peter Bailey.

180’s: 1: Adam Major, Graham Howard, Arron Monk, Ray Tyson, Dan Read & Kevin Ede.

Highest Check-Out: 120: Jeff White

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Individual Tables:

Most legs Won: Arron Monk 15, Mark Thorne 14, Paul Reidy 13.

Tons Table: Arron Monk 47, Jeff White 37, Paul Reidy 36.

Fastest leg: Arron Monk and Peter Bailer 12 darts.

Maximums: Kevin Ede 6, Dennis Simpson 5, Gary Thorne 4.

Highest Shot Out: Dan Read 158, Dominic Ware 157.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

Congratulations the nine academy players who are the most recent members of the Unicorn 180 Club and to the players of the month for May. Gavin Howard and Samantha Pike are award winners for the seniors and Ryan Rowe and Ellie May for the juniors.

May also excelled on the Lets TRAIN darts board averaging over 87% as did Charlie Deavall who has been making excellent early progress. It was predominantly a pairs evening last week   more

 Invitation Summer League:

Group ‘A’

Merlin Magicians 14: Lardicake 12.

Pairs: 1-5. Singles: Magic: Colin Denyer 3-2, Glen Kynaston & Colin Pimm 4-1. Lardi: Martin Hitchins 3-2.

Boro Brigade 6: Wolversdene 20.

Pairs: 1-5. Singles: Wolves: Sean White 5-0, Arron Monk 4-1, Adam Dallimore & Gary Brant 3-2.

Group ‘B’

Merlin Wizards 10: Merlin Mingers 16.    MORE

 Bob Anderson Senior Memorial Pairs Open:

Finally on another positive note, Steve Barnes partnered Nillson Pritchard to the semi finals of Bob Anderson Snr memorial pairs in Basingstoke and Claire Clackson and Graham Howard who had a great day in the mixed pairs of the England Open losing in the last 64 to England international Martin Atkins and his partner. 

John Taylor Memorial Classic 2 Player Team:

The 5^th John Taylor Memorial Classic ranking 2-player team event was successfully defended by Mick Savvery and Paul Cook at the Entertainer last Saturday.

The Cook/ Savvery combination again proved too strong for many talented pairs on show culminating in their straight sets victory over Wiltshire’s Bob Phillips and Steve Venn. Andover’s top pairing of Jeff White and Mark Thorne were desperately unlucky to lose in the semis against the eventual runners up while Paul Clarkson and Nigel Lamb succumbed to the winners in the other.

Champions: Mick Savvery and Paul Cook £200.

2^nd: Steve Venn and Bob Phillips £100. 3-4: Jeff White and Mark Thorne, Paul Clarkson and Nigel Lamb. 5-8: Tony Clark and Gary Scratchley, Paul Hogan and Kevin Ede, Craig Griffiths and Dan Woodcraft and Trevor Higginson and Chris Angel.

 Summer Grand Prix:

Ali MacDonald topped week 6 of the summer grand prix winning all of his 5 legs of 801 with Bruce Smith and Glen Dawkins tying for second on 4 wins apiece. Peter and Chris Bailey are current joint league leaders with 22 points closely followed by Gary Brant, Ali MacDonald and Eddie Edmondson on 20.

There will be no Grand Prix this evening in support of the winter league a.g.m.

Andover darters shine at the England Open

England Open:

Andover players were out in force last weekend for the annual England Open at Selsey and what an impact they made.

Jeff White reached the last 64 men’s singles losing 3-2 and having had darts doubles to progress. Wiggy’s disappointment was tempered by teaming up with Ron Atwill to reach the quarter finals of the men’s pairs; Arron Monk and Sean White made the last 32.

Charlotte Burgess reached last 16 of the ladies singles before bowing out to the eventual winner Unicorn’s Irina Armstrong of Russia and current no. 2 in the world.

Burgess then partnered Mark Thorne all the way to the last 8 of the mixed pairs again doing Andover proud.

Finally in the youth the Academy’s Daniel Miller was unlucky to lose a last leg decider in the semi finals of the boy’s singles.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

Luke Baird, Ryan Rowe and Kelly Paine all with scores around the 90% mark topped the Lets TRAIN darts exercises last week reaping the benefits of concentration during a very hot session.

It was the final practice rounds of the handicap singles for the seniors before the summer break and Gavin Howard, Steve Turner and Josh Lambell were undefeated with five from five. Howard notched another maximum, Dan Read a 27 dart 701 and Rhys Collins a 21 dart 401.Gary Thorne was 4 from 5 off 601 and 11 year old protégé Nathan Richard returned 3 wins from 5 over 501. The fast improving Nick Chilton had another good night winning 3 as did Hattie Raynsford who was the best lady on the night closely followed by Amanda Paine

Invitation Summer League:

Group ‘A’

Wolversdene 19: Merlin Magicians 7.

Pairs: 5-1. Singles: Wolves: Arron Monk, Adam Dallimore 4-1. Sean White, Andy Deavall 3-2.   MORE

 Summer Grand Prix:   -  

Dennis Simpson and Glen Dawkins shared first prize of £56 after winning all five games, Stuart Eaton, Richard Smith were joint 3^rd with 4 wins. Eddie Edmondson’s 158 check-out helped him join Peter and Chris Bailey at the top of the fastest leg charts on 24. The league fund now stands at £110 and players are reminded to register by 8pm for the randomly drawn 5 legs of 801. Entry fee £3.

Tonight’s round is at the Wolversdene Club players are reminded that anyone selected for the Andover teams at the Worthys will not be eligible for the Grand Prix unless released by their captain.