From the King's Head to...the King's Head!
The darting week got underway last Friday at our new home – The Kings Head at Horsebridge as opposed to the King's Head, South Road, Hailsham.
The place was completely unrecognisable from the last time that it was open. A huge effort by its new owners has completely transformed the place – even down to changing where the dartboard is situated. All I can say is that the new throw is one of the best I've played on – and there have been a few!
Our match against the Grenadier went well, and we came away with a 7-2 win. Getting the darts out of the way meant that it was time to sample the food – the best I've ever had at a darts match, and more on show than I've seen at some weddings I've been to!
No darts at the weekend, I went to a racetrack in Leicestershire and did a track day. It was an early start, as we got there at 9.15am. I had received a present from my wife for my birthday, which involved wrestling a 500bhp Hummer around the track. I like any fast car or bike, but love Hummers just for looking mean! Anyway I decided that I'd book another car to drive whilst there, and chose the Lambourghini Gallado – this was going to be fun.
First up was the Lambo. It was quick and held the road like no other. As I've done a few track days I even managed to overtake a couple of cars. Then it was on to the Hummer – like getting in a truck. Out we went, and soon I was bearing down on the rear of an Audi R8.
I had to ease off into the first corner, but my instructor then said "You can overtake if you want." I'm glad I wasn't driving the 90k supercar that got blown away by a three-ton truck that handled like a trawler! To top that, the next lap I overtook a Lamborghini – somebody was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. A superb day out.
On Tuesday we had finals night for the Harvey League, and Captain Sheebo was looking forward to picking up the league winners' cup at the end of the evening. Prior to this were the other semis and finals for singles and pairs, etc. Captain Sheebo and Dan James made it through to the final of the pairs for us, and they went on to win with some impressive finishing from our skipper.
The Sylvia Hearsey Cup was won by Tony Cox…success at last in a Hailsham singles competition.
In the ladies' singles it was M Cooper from the Kings Head Horsebridge that emerged as winner against Liz Pope. The Runt in Tun were winners in the triples competition – hard for them not to be really, as both finalists came from there!
I was in the men's singles. I didn't play that well in my semi against Richard Harwood, struggling to get the double away was my problem.
At one leg all, Richard got away before me, and I trailed all the way to the finish. Luckily for me he missed his outshot, and I was confident of taking out 68 to win…until I hit a 5 with my first dart! I hit the big 13, and left the bullseye, one dart left, and luckily for me it went smack in the centre.
Dan was beaten by Todd Rainsley in his semi, and the final was between Todd and myself. I won the first leg, and Todd the second. He won the toss for the decider, and got away. We got to a finish, and fortunately I hit it first. Todd played well on the night, and with a bit more experience will be one to watch out for.
The presentations went ahead, and your very own Sports Editor Brian Pollard, was ecstatic to win his first darts trophy – he cuddled it from the moment he got it! It has been a good season, and great to see some new players coming through.
This weekend I'm off to Ireland again, this time to Killarney for more PDC Players Championships. I'm beginning to get very familiar with airport departure lounges, I'm going to start a campaign to have dart boards put up in them so that there is something to do whilst you wait.
See below for last week's edition of Diary which didn't make it onto the website:
Last Friday we arrived in Dublin for our weekend Pro-Tour events at the Citywest Hotel. Friday was a sort of settling in and relax kind of day…or it was meant to be! Our hotel was allegedly a 15 minute walk from the Citywest, so my wife Kris, Adrian Gray and I headed off to the venue to have a look around.
Having walked for around an hour and a half, and still no sign of the Citywest (only small… about 1,300 rooms and a brand new event centre), we came to the conclusion that Adrian would be relieved of his map-reading duties, and I took over. Easy, we flagged down a taxi, and we were there in five minutes.
What a fantastic venue, although not completed fully, the event hall where this week's World Grand Prix has been taking place, was absolutely huge. Next year will be fantastic when it is all completed.
The only downside of the trip was having to fund this building by paying around 6 a pint. I'm glad I don't drink when I'm playing!
Anyway, Saturday's darts saw me drawn against Dave Ladley, a guy with a fair bit of experience, and who has played in the World Championships before. I didn't settle into my true rhythm early on, and found myself 3-0 down before I started to hit my 'A' game.
I lost the match 6-3, but I'm convinced that if I'd got going a bit quicker, I would have had opportunities to win the match. Fair play to Dave though, he took his chances when it mattered, and that I think was down to experience.
Woke up on Sunday, and my throwing arm was in some kind of spasm, it was quite painful, and so I worked on freeing it up a bit more than practicing, and it soon sorted itself out.
I was drawn against yet another good player with plenty of experience. Wayne Atwood was Sunday's opponent, and he is a player that always seems to do quite well in the Pro Tour events. His 75th position in the world rankings is evidence of that.
Again I managed to fall 3-0 behind, although today I was playing much better, but unfortunately so was Wayne.
I started the fourth leg with a 180 and a 140 and finished the leg in 11 darts. I quickly followed up with two more legs, and we were 3-3. I had a shot at the bull to go ahead but Wayne then went out on 116.
The match was set at 5-4 in Wayne's favour and I had a shot at 121 to pull level. I missed the bull and put my third dart in the 25, so near yet so far, as Wayne stepped up and took the match. It was a great match to play in, and all the legs were in 15 darts or less.
This week's winners were Adrian Lewis, and Phil Taylor, and they look in ominous form going through the World Grand Prix this week.
All that was left to do then was to silence all the Liverpool fans in the hotel bar. Good old Chelsea, back on top of the league.
Back home again, and on to Wednesday night, where a number of us including Adrian Gray, Shayne Burgess, and, of course, Captain Sheebo are going to play in a singles league. This week was signing on week, followed by a knockout competition. I played well all night with wins against Captain Sheebo, Shayne Burgess and Mark Card without dropping a leg. I met Adrian in the final, and he edged the final 3-2. A good night of practice.
We play our first home game of the season in the Cracker League this Friday, The Kings Head, Horsebridge our new home, and it is re-opening after a major refit this Friday, October 9.
We're really looking forward to this, as the family of one of our team are the new owners. Let's hope we get off to a winning start.
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 24 May 2012
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