The Red Dragon Doubles cup returned in an expanded event in Aylesbury, and it would be former professional James Richardson and Carl Batchelor that reigned supreme at Bradmoor Farm.
2024’s event saw a much more closed feel, but with this years version an open tournament, it threw up several eye-catching combinations, with over 160 pairings on the start line.
Welsh pair Kurt Parry and Mike Huntley were expected to do well, but fell at the last 32 stage, and Neil Duff and Gary Stone departed a round later, with Ireland’s Alan Richards and Dylan Dowling winning their meeting 4-1.
Richardson and Batchelor had never previously played as part of a pairing together, but they performed admirably, beginning with a 4-1 win before taking out David Pallett and Riley Emery in the last 64. After seeing off Owen Maiden and Dan Hands, the duo then survived a thriller, taking a 4-3 win against Kevin McDine and Geoff Murray, to reach the quarter finals. Murray had taken out 170 earlier in the event, and finished 167 during this clash in an impressive showing.
The two averaged over 88 in making the last four in a 4-1 success over Shane Hayward and Sean Fisher, and a nervy 4-3 win was required for them to reach the final, eliminating Jack Aldridge and Ryan O’Connor, which clinched them a shot at glory against Danny Trueman and Scott Robertson.
The Scots started with a trio of 4-2 wins, before putting former PDC mainstay Terry Jenkins and his partner Clive Burgess out in the last 16 in a 4-1 win. After downing young prospects Ben Townley and Patrik Williams, the two impressed in making the final, averaging over 88 in defeating Dowling and Richards in a whitewash.
The final was full of quality, with Trueman and Robertson going off like a rocket, 11 and 13-darters were included as they went 3-1 in front.
Nerves played a part in the end as they couldn’t close out a famous win, allowing Richardson to find the winning double to confirm victory, the trophy, and a £1,500 first prize for the new-look team.
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