Remembering a very important figure in Sussex darts
I've had almost a whole week without playing darts since my last diary, and have therefore had a weekend of DIY…hmmm, nice, but the bathroom looks great now.
Shame they don't include instructions on Silicon Sealant tubes for how to get the stuff off your hands though!
Back to the darts, I have been asked by a number of people within Sussex Darts and the Superleague whether I would be able to put something in this week's column about the sad passing of one of the county's darting stalwarts – Sussex President Don Smith.
As I did not know Don personally, I think that it is only fitting that one of his close friends from within Sussex Darts, Barry Moody, pays tribute to such an important man within the sport:
Don Smith: 1933-2009
The Sussex County darts fraternity was stunned to hear of the death of the County Organisation's President Don Smith, who passed away in Lewes.
A minute's silence was observed at a packed Roffey Social Club prior to the County Super league play-offs. Don was born in 1933 and he made his mark in the sport of darts in the Seventies when he was a member of the Wealden team which dominated the County Super league for many years.
He was also a key member of the Charcoal Burner, Crawley, side which won the Lord Lonsdale Trophy (The National People's Cup) in Manchester in 1977.
On the Brighton darts scene, Don was a well respected player at the Golden Cross for 10 years and he was the Brighton News of the World Champion in 1978.
In 1974 Don was a founder member of the Sussex Darts Organisation and played his first match in the BICC for the county against Warwickshire in October of that year, eventually holding the team manager's position for many years.
He represented Sussex in more than 80 matches, mainly in the 'A' team, his last at Pembroke in March 1994, and, despite a recent deterioration in health, Don continued to support his beloved County, his last appearance being at Aylesbury for the Buckinghamshire match early this month.
He will be remembered with affection and respect, not for nothing did he have the nickname "God".
As his old Golden Cross team-mate Terry Dyke said of him in a written tribute: "Don had a great sense of humour and was always fun to be with".
Sincere condolences go to his wife Janet in her sad loss.
Barry Moody – Sussex Darts Organisation and Sussex County Superleague.
Meanwhile, Sussex County Superleague held its finals day recently at the Roffey Club.
The results from all of the competitions involving the East Division are as follows:
Division Winners: Lewes.
Team with most Man of Match Awards: Eastbourne Railway Club (15).
Team with most 180s: Pebsham Hollington Oak (39).
Team with most High Finishes: Eastbourne Railway Club (15).
Best Tons Average: Jim Withers (2.75 per leg).
Best Singles Wins: Rod Hawkins (14 in 14).
Best Singles W D Ave: Adrian Gray (42.35).
Best Singles Average: Adrian Gray (28.35).
Highest Finish: Adrian Gray (161).
Best M.O.M Average: Jim Withers (7 from 13).
Best 180 Average: Phil Wanstall (8 from 10). Best Single Game: Adrian Gray (33.40).
Congratulations to all those winners, and also to overall Sussex Champions, Worthing.
Wednesday night saw my return to action in the singles league over in Hastings.
This was some much needed practice prior to heading off to Scotland this weekend, where the Grand Slam qualifiers and two player's championships beckon.
I started the night close to the bottom of the league of 17 players, as I'd missed last week's matches, so two games in hand over the rest was the best way to look at it.
My first match was against Pat Cornish and, despite having a double one nightmare first leg, won 5-0.
This was to be my scoreline for the night, with wins over Ian Lewington and Neil Edwards by the same margin.
So, having caught up one of my matches, I am now nearing the top part of the league.
A fun game at the end of the night was where everyone playing on the night puts their darts on a table, and you throw all the darts at the board, so when my turn had finished I'd scored 866, with the board covered in 36 darts.
So that was my practice for Scotland, and now I'd better get the suitcase ready...just to put the darts in!
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
