Turnout is knockout for Bognor league's big night of darts

Some 40 players contested the division-one knockout and the display of the night came from over-60s winner Jim Barnard in the second round.

He and partner Terry Whiffen were behind in the last leg against Bognor Legion team-mates Tony Tucker and Tom O’Sullivan. Whiffen’s previous score left a possible out-shot for Barnard, who took the 167 to stun all present.

But Barnard & Whiffen couldn’t make it to the semi-final, beaten by Dave Owens and Sam Abrehart from the POW Z, previously Whitehorse.

In the other half of the draw, mixed pairs winner Paula Duckett and partner Vince Goddings from Richmond A made it to the semi-finals to meet Wheatsheaf’s Cliff Prior and Matt Bourner. Prior and Bourner just made it through to the final.

After playing two games more than Owens and Abrehart, Prior and Bourner finished it off with the last double to take the title and add it to their trebles title.

The division-two knockout was a quiet affair with only 14 players from three teams. Esme Davis and Gareth Davis met Friary D team-mates Dave Wingate and Karl Wingate in a family contest for the first semi-final, with the father-and-son team of the Wingates managing to get to the final.

The other semi-final saw more Friary D players, John Davis and John Mace, face off against Paul Bizzell and Bob Twaites from POW B. Bizzell and Twaites were just a little too strong for the Friary players. In the final, Bizzell and Twaites beat the Wingates.

The division-three knockout had 44 players taking part. With eight pairs from Chichester Snooker Club taking part, it was almost inevitable at least one would make the semi-finals - but no-one expected all four places would be taken by them. The first semi saw the A team’s Derek Mitchell and Geoff Linfield take on C team duo Mazz Tupper and Mark Hatton, who just lost out. The second semi saw the A team’s Arthur Clark and Brian Laker take on C team pair Adi Linfield and George Knight.

Linfield & Knight made it through as both pairs struggled with their doubles. In the final, it went all the way to the third leg. With both teams stuck on possible finishes, Linfield showed his partner Knight where the double was to take the title.

Tuesday Night Double-in League

Top performance came from the Claremont’s Gary Blackwood, with winning legs of 15 and 16 producing the league’s highest winning match average this season – 32.32.

Other top performances: Chris Gatford (15 darts), Lee Franklin (17 & 24), Richard Ragless (17 & 26), Micky Rowland (19 & 21), Graeme Dutton (19), Dave Owens (20 & 26), Barry Foster (21 & 27), Rob Rice (21), Ricky Clark (21), Kevin Perry (23).

Highest in shots: Dave Mitchell (152), Gary Blackwood (120), Micky Rowland (112), Graeme Dutton (112), Chris Gatford (100), Lee Franklin (100), Harry Annals (100), Barry Foster (120), Joe Osman (120), Alex Norgett (112). Highest finishes: Kevin Perry (132), Ricky Rayner (114). 180s: Chris Gatford, Micky Rowland, Mike Hales, Pete Mitchell.

Division-one leaders Claremont whitewashed Felpham as second-placed Royal Oak won to stay clear in second place. In division two, all three joint leaders lost, with The Cabin and Old Barn suffering heavy defeats and The Lamb narrowly losing by a point.

Results: Div 1 – Chi Snooker A 5 Chi Snooker B 4; Richmond Raiders 2 Royal Oak 7; Felpham Tavern 0 Claremont 9. Div 2: Legionnaires 5 Lamb 4; The Old Barn 2 Richmond A 7; Cabin 0 Chi Snooker C 9.