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17th November 2009
Stunning weekend for Andover’s Darting Academy
The last week
has been arguably of the most outstanding in the
Academy’s short but remarkable history with records and
standards reaching all time highs. Last Wednesday
welcomed Russ Bray, the world’s leading match referee to
the Academy together with Unicorn’s dynamic player
co-ordinator Roisin O’Shea. A splendid turnout from the
youngsters who not only looked immaculate in their
uniforms, were 100% in their professional attitude and
their talent left a huge impression on Sky’s number one
adjudicator who is already planning his return.
Friday night saw
the Grand Slam of Darts qualifier in Scotland with three
Academy players, Adam Major, Sean White and Arron Monk
making the long trip north and their collective efforts
were nothing short of incredible.
This events
attracts every top professional outside of the top 30
who had qualified either by rank or title chasing one
place for the ITV November spectacular.
  Adam
Major was unfortunate to draw ex world champion Dennis
Priestly in the first round. Major gave a good account
of himself despite the ‘menace’ hitting form and will be
all the better for the experience.
Sean White,
Unicorn’s second Generation 180 winner has of late been
suffering a series of injuries to his throwing hand but
weeks of frustration were blown away along with his
early round opposition. White was in brilliant form with
four-nil wins over Wayne Moulds and Jamie McGougan and
didn’t finish there. In the next round the towering
plasterer had by far his most impressive win to date
when defeating former world champion Jelle Klassen in
the deciding leg. White was to exit 2-4 in the next
round his efforts having taken its toll but it was a
magnificent performance against a world star, which
underlines his massive potential and firmly nails any
doubts about his ability.
Incredibly this
was If this was enough Arron Monk was to produce the
most memorable run of victories before a heart breaking
defeat in the final itself.
Monk’s natural
ability and mental strength took him past five vastly
experienced opponents who have all played in the world
championships. First up Unicorn tablemate and in form
Wes Newton was defeated 4-3 before comfortably seeing
off Paul Williams 4-1 in the next. Wayne Atwood one of
the most consistent PDC floor players was despatched in
another last leg thriller then ‘Superman’ Matt Clark of
Kent was defeated 4-2. Incredibly Monk was now in the
semi final and against Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones who
is enjoying his form and television exposure. Again
Arron held his nerve to register a magnificent 4-3 win.
In the final,
the nineteen year-old were to meet Steve ‘Magic’ Maish
who too was in blistering form all day. Agonisingly it
was one game too many with his opponent’s crucial three
maximums were the crucial factor in another game of the
highest quality.
Next day,
Saturday, it was the Scottish players championships and
more experience to be gained. Sean disappointingly went
down 6-4 to Matt Jackson but Arron destroyed ‘Aussie’
number 1, Paul Nicholson six legs to two before bowing
out to a resurgent Roland Scholten 6-3. No doubt the
efforts of the previous day had taken its toll but not
before giving a massive boost to their collective
confidences and a wonderful endorsement to the Academy
and all it stands for.
Sunday and the
annual darts marathon at the Entertainer where players,
mums and dads and the coaching staff get together in an
effort to raise the necessary funds to get the academy
to the PDC world championships in December. It was a
fitting end to a fantastic weekend as well over 50
players took to the oche and in 501 minutes 563 games of
501 were played. The players had smashed their own
record by over 100 games but it was the wonderful family
atmosphere that made it so special which epitomises the
spirit of the academy.
A remarkable
weekend from a remarkable group of youngsters that the
town can be rightly proud of! |
