LONDON’S Tricia Wright won the 2006 Women’s Desert Classic darts title after overcoming Marilyn Popp from Camden, Delaware, 6-1 in the final, then admitted that had the American hit her doubles the outcome would have been much closer.
Wright won five legs up with the help of three 140s, but Marilyn Popp, the American number two, who had struck a couple of 140s herself, had missed darts at the double in each of these legs. She hit another 140 in winning the sixth leg but, despite striking two 180s in the next leg, she failed again to finish matters off.
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Tricia Wright, with a 64.48 average, took it and with it the title and £2,400 main prize. It is likely that the English woman would have won, nevertheless, and deservedly so. She had beaten former champion Deta Hedman 4-1 in the semi-finals with a 73.44 mean score which included four tons and three 140s.
Marilyn Popp had got the better of Portsmouth’s Sally Smith at the same stage, coming from 3-1 down to pip the Hampshire lady by the odd leg in seven.
Sally Smith hit a 180 in taking the third leg, while Marilyn Popp recorded ten three-figure scores. Forty two had entered the competition but reigning champion Trina Gulliver was not among them.
Tricia Wright and Marilyn Popp were presented with their awards by Peter Manley, Chairman of the PDPA and a former Desert Classic men’s champion.
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Women’s Desert Classic Darts 2006
PRIZE MONEY
Ladies’ Singles:
1 (£2,400) Tricia Wright
2 (£1,200) Marilyn Popp (USA)
3-4 (£600) Deta Hedman, Sally Smith
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Report: John Gwynne in Darts World Magazine (Issue 405) August 2006
Images: PDC
Page Graphic – DartsWorld Ltd
