OCTOBER 2009

(See Archived News on Left for previous news items)

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Academy aim for the palace.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy:

Last weekend the Academy coaches held their own fund raising day at the Entertainer. It was the aim to raise funds to get the academy to the world championships at the Alexandra Palace for this year’s PDC event at Christmas so a 10 hour onslaught on bulls-eyes and 25’s was the aim. After battering 8 boards to submission the team 763 bullseyes and 2390 25’s were hit for a total of score of 98025. A sum of £400 has been pledged for the event which is a start towards the required total of £1600. Well done to Elaine Pike, Mark Thorne, Ali MacDonald, Teresa Thorne, Suzanne Dawkins, Colin Pimm and Glen Dawkins for their achievements and a big thanks to Amy Thorne, Craig and Sam Pike, Steve Turner and Gary Thorne for their support on the day.

Invitation Summer League

The summer league presentation league took place this week with the New St club achieving a league and cup double for the second year running.

Results:

League: Winners: New St. 2^nd Wolversdene, 3^rd. Porkys Piemen, 4^th Merlin Mingers, 5^th Merlin Young Guns, 6^th Merlin Magicians, 7^th Lardicake, 8^th Merlin Wizards, 9^th Borough Brigade & Royal Oak. Cup; Winners: New St, 2^nd Porkys.

Singles; winner; Sam Rooney, 2^nd Kevin Ede, 3-4; Arron Monk & Peter Bailey.

Blind Pairs; winners; Peter Bailey & Eddie Edmondson, 2^nd; Chris Bailey & Dan Read.

Tons; winners: Jeff White & Peter Bailey (joint).

180’s; Kevin Ede & Dennis Simpson (joint) 10.

Most wins; Dennis Simpson 37.

Highest check-out; Dennis Simpson 167.

Fastest Leg; Arron Monk, Peter Bailey, Mark Thorne, Ali MacDonald, Steve Barnes all 12 darts.

The League will commence on Tuesday 27^th October, any teams not in possession of their fixture lists by Monday should contact; glen.dawkins@sky.com for an e-mailed copy or phone 01264 358 394..

Academy standards reaching new heights.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy:

Congratulations to 16 year-old Samantha Pike who had a great day at area ‘Railway Club’ play-offs. Sam won the ladies singles and the mixed pairs with Graham Howard. Partnering Mum Elaine came a close second in the ladies pairs but then was part of the winning fours team which also included sister Christine, Chris Newman and Elaine again to qualify for the regional finals.

Back at the Academy it was a pleasure to witness so many excellent performances as the Academy hit top form in another round of the ‘handicap singles’. Josh Lambell again won all 5 games, Craig Pike, Hattie Raynsford, Conner Bevis and Jordan Edmonds were 4 from 5 and Adam Major, Brendon Pedge, Karl Brooks, and Jamie Tarrant all gained three wins.

Dan Read included 116 and 109 checkouts in 21, 24 and 26 dart 701’s. Bevis registered a 24 dart 701and Edmonds a 21 dart 601. Craig Pike hit a 174 set up score while Gary Thorne and Lambell both recorded maximums. In the junior girls singles, Kyla Tobin had her best outing so far with an excellent 5 wins from 6 followed by Molly Dawkins on 4.In the boys Frankie Valance enjoyed 3 wins as did Guy Dixon and newcomer Gordon Mahoney-Wombwell.

This Saturday 17^th the Academy coaches are holding a fund raising event playing on 25 and bullseyes all support is most welcome to raise funds for academy events.

Don Knowles Classic Ranking Singles:

Johnny Haines flanked by Dennis Murrell and John Murray (rt)

Johnny Haines produced another stylish performance to take the Don Knowles classic ranking singles at the Entertainer last Saturday.

Haines came through the ‘board of death’ defeating Hampshire’s Kevin Murrell, classic champions Paul Cook and Paul Hogan to reach the staged finals. Dennis Simpson then fell to the ‘moonraker’ in the semi final before Haines (29.98) overcame another Hampshire star Dennis Murrell (27.01) in a classy final. Andover’s contingent put up a good showing with the in form Simpson impressing again and Steve Barnes and the promising 14 year old Dan Read both reaching the last 8 for the first time.

Above (left) is Steve Barnes (quarter finalist )

Wooten Bassett’s Steve Willard reached another semi final but it was ex lady England international Ann Paget who stole the show in becoming the first lady to reach the last 8 at a singles ranking event. Andover Invitation Darts were delighted to have stalwart sponsor John Murray of JB Motors and West Portway MOT in attendance to witness some exceptional darts and to make the presentations.

Champion: Johnny Haines £200. 2^nd: Dennis Murrell £100. 3-4: Dennis Simpson and Steve Willard £50. 5-8: Dan Read, Paul Hogan, Steve Barnes and Ann Paget £15.

‘Help for Heroes’.

Two Andover players missing from the Don Knowles line up were Sean White and Arron Monk for forsook the opportunity for personal gain to raise money for such a worthy cause. Sean and Arron were at the Wolversdene Club to play their part in the fund-raising day taking on all-comers, well done lads!

Invitation Summer League

The singles and blind pair’s knock-outs were held recently as another successful summer league draws to a conclusion. The singles event was won by Sam Rooney who defeated Kevin Ede in the final with Peter Bailey and Arron Monk losing semi finalists.

 In the pairs Peter Bailey and Eddie Edmondson overcame Chris Bailey and Dan Read in the final with the Jeff White- Arron Monk and Gary Brant-Colin Pimm combinations making the semis.

Important new information for all prospective winter league teams: Tuesday 20^th October: Summer Presentation Night and Winter League AGM.

Due to constraint on fixture dates ALL winter league teams must present Winter League Entry Forms complete with league entry fees at the AGM as the League will commence on Tuesday 27^th October, there will be no exceptions. Entry Forms are now available from the Entertainer or contact glen.dawkins@sky.com for an e-mailed copy.

Jim Dunn Memorial this Sunday.

Don Knowles Classic Ranking Singles:

Stalwart John Murray sponsors the fourth Don Knowles Classic Ranking Singles which takes place at the Entertainer tomorrow. JB Motors and West Portway MOT has been a long term supporter of darts in Andover and John will be on hand to conduct the presentations. Anyone wishing to take up one of the few remaining places should contact Colin Pimm on 07879 490 364.

Format best of 7 legs of 501, entry £5 per person and a winner’s purse of £200.

Hampshire County Darts.

There was a mixed bag of results for Andover players last weekend at Cambridge as the county slumped to a 24-15 defeat. It was a case of costly missed doubles for Charlotte Burgess and Paul Reidy but there were wins for Mark Thorne and Arron Monk. Thorne hit a last leg maximum to win 3-2 and Monk won the fourth leg to claim victory and a well deserved man of the match award.

Ron Atwill, Sam Rooney, Danny Ballard, Danny Smith all suffered defeat but there was a captain’s performance from Kevin Ede who won 3-0.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy:

Keiron Lebrun’s good attitude paid dividends last Wednesday winning all four of his singles. Ryan Rowe, Ryan Morgans won three and a special mention for Frankie Valance the academy’s youngest who won two while Kelly Paine, Charlotte Raynsford and Chloe Baird had a good evenings work in the girls.

In the senior’s 701, Gary Thorne, Adam Major and newcomer Nathan Timmins each enjoyed three wins. Thorne had the fastest leg in 28 darts, Timmins and Thorne both checked out on 72 with the latter hitting a maximum. Josh Lambell continues to show good improvement underlined by another good week in the 501 section. Lambell’s five from five was crowned by an excellent 16 darter which included a 180.

Sam Ellis, Simon Timmins and Dan Miller all won three with Miller closing a tidy 120 game shot.

Group C 501’s had Harriet Raynsford and Sam Pike topping the board with five and three wins respectively. Hattie had the fastest leg, a good 21 darter and young Jamie Tarrant also performed well.

The 401 section had Oli Burgess, Scott Burton Pye and Dean Evans all tying at the top while Abbie Oakley headed the ladies group with three wins closely followed by Christine Pike and Amanda Paine on two.

Invitation Summer League

Important announcement for all prospective winter league teams.

Saturday 17^th October: Summer Presentation Night and Winter League AGM.

Due to constraint on fixture dates ALL winter league teams must present Winter League Entry Forms complete with league entry fees on 17^th October as the League will commence on Tuesday 20^th October, there will be no exceptions. Entry Forms will be available at Blind Pairs competition on 6^th October at the Entertainer or contact glen.dawkins@sky.com for an e-mailed copy.

Jim Dunn Memorial:

The superb new club house facilities at New St provided an idyllic setting for the first Jim Dunn memorial last Sunday day which ended in a win for Andover’s Dennis Simpson. Simpson has been in fine form of late and came through a very strong board to defeat Steve Cox 4-1 in an all-Andover final.

Jim Dunn’s daughter Jo flanked by Dennis Simpson and Steve Cox (right).

On his way to collecting the £200 first prize, Simpson had victories over Hampshire’s Kevin Murrell and Paul Reidy, Glen Dawkins, Craig Griffiths and Arron Monk in a good semi final. Cox overcame Sean White, Graham Howard and Ali MacDonald before defeating Steve Barnes to guarantee a £100 pay day. Kevin Ede, Graham Hardy, Ivor Andrews and Peter Bailey all lost close encounters and a special mention for New St’s Matty Styles and Dave Dunn who both showed great potential.  

Winner: Dennis Simpson £200. 2^nd: Steve Cox £100, 3-4: Arron Monk and Steve Barnes £50. 5-8: Ivor Andrews, Craig Griffiths, Peter Bailey and Ali MacDonald, £20.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy:

There were more upsets and good performances in the Handicap singles last week as the tournament proves to be a great leveller. On board 1 newcomer Nathan Timmins won four from five, board two had Dan Read winning all five while Abi Oakley and Karl Brooks were four from five on boards 3 and 4 respectively. Amanda Paine, Sam Pike, Conner Bevis, Ray Lockington, and Gary Thorne all managed three victories.

There were some good check-outs, Read 110, Simon Timmins 100, Thorne 80, Ray Lockington 74 and maximums came from Read and Bevis. Top performances of the night however came from Gary Thorne who hit 23 and 26 dart 701’s followed by Dan Read’s brace of 30’s over the same distance while the promising Dan Miller checked out in 25 over 601.

Invitation Summer League

The two semi finals of this year’s team knock out provided great viewing for the neutrals as both equally contested matches went down to the last of 26 legs. Porky’s Piemen will now meet New Street after both gained narrow 14-12 wins over the Merlin Mingers and Wolversdene respectively.

Don Knowles Classic Ranking Singles:

Sponsor of Don Knowles event John Murray (right) and Nillson Pritchard 2007 winner

Entries are now being taken for the Don Knowles Classic Ranking Singles sponsored by JB Motors and West Portway MOT. The event takes place at the Entertainer on Saturday 10^th October. Format best of 7 legs of 501, entry £5 per person and a winner’s purse of £200.

Colin Osborne Exhibition:

Tickets are now on sale to see one of darts’ fastest growing stars. Colin Osborne will be at New Street FC on Saturday 5^th December displaying his skills that have taken him to 14^th in the world, runners up spot to Phil Taylor in the UK Open and a 9 darter on the Pro-Tour this year.

Tickets priced at £5 are available from the Club or Mark Thorne on 0779 551 5403.