County Reports - Derbyshire: The Wizard wins his first title

WITH the beginning of the county season just around the corner, Derbyshire Darts have a bit of travelling to do, with our first Division Two game of the season being away to also newly promoted Oxfordshire.

Derbyshire then have trips to Cleveland, Northumberland and Cumbria. The home games are against Somerset, Merseyside, Berkshire, Norfolk and Co. Durham

THE winners of Derbyshire’s play-offs for this year’s Gold Cup Singles are Lorraine Farlam, who beat Jo Oldershaw in the ladies’ final.

Lorraine teamed up with Jane Densley in the Pairs, and with both having had good darting years they were clear favourites in the final against Dee Fenn and Tracey Johnson.But with Lorraine missing the bull for a 170 finish it was not to be, so Dee and Tracey will be taking the long drive down south to the Lakeside finals.

Joining them will be Alan Evans and Steve Roberts who beat Terry Birch and Daz Hadfield in the Men’s Pairs final. Chris Lacey beat Carl Hatton in the Singles.

LORRAINE FARLAM also won this year’s Ladies’ Super League Singles competition, with Gary Fenn winning the men’s event. Gary also took the Remo Tintin Men’s Singles title this year, beating Paul S. Redfern. Caroline Buckley beat Dee Fenn to take the Ladies’ Singles title. Unfortunately there wasn’t a great turn out so let’s hope there will be next year.

AMBER VALLEY are champions of the Men’s Super League for yet another year, just losing one game from their 14 played. Let’s hope they can continue this form in the Champions Cup.Amber Valley’s 25.652 team average was the best for the year, and Terry Birch achieved a 33.40 to achieve the best individual average of the year.

Garry Bennett (Amber Valley) hit the most 180s with 11, and 160 was the highest finish, which came jointly from Colin Osborne (Hatton) and Chris Lacey (Staverley). Colin Osborne (Hatton) topped the Super League averages with 28.056 and the tons per leg with 1.808. Gary Bennett and Neil Birkin (both Amber Valley) have had a good season, winning all their 12 games played.

It was all down to the last game of the season to see who won the Ladies’ Super League, but Heanor beat Chesterfield to take the top spot.

If anyone wants to play Super League (men or women), then please contact me at redders180@yahoo.co.uk and I will put you in touch with your nearest Super League team. Several teams are looking for extra players, so give it a go!

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WELL DONE to the Northern Youth team who won the Youth Friendship Trophy for the fourth year running. This year the competition was held in Scotland. It is a great weekend and some great darts were played. Also, I have had the privilege of playing in this tournament.

Derbyshire’s only representative this year was Russell Mason, who picked up this year’s Under 12 Player of the Year award at the Derbyshire youth presentation night.

This was Russell’s first year as an Under 21 player and he took five out of seven match awards.The Under 18 Player of the Year award went to Jamie Venning, who has become a regular in the team.

The Under 21 Ladies’ Player of the Year award went to an eight-year-old, Heather Thompson. This is Heather’s first season in the youth team and she has won three of her six games played and included the highest shot out for the ladies with a 65 which she achieved twice.

I know Barry Smith, who runs the youth team as well as the Northern Youth, thinks very highly of her and her 10-year-old brother, James.

The award every youth team player wants to win, the Derbyshire Youth Player of the Year, went to Laura Tye.

Laura has had a great year. She was unbeaten all season and even won her game in the Men’s Under 21 along with many match awards.

Laura is also the county Winmau World Champion and has qualified for this year’s British Teenage Open finals by winning Derbyshire’s play-offs when she beat all the boys.

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DAWN ROUTLEDGE has organised a Charity Singles competition in Ashbourne on Friday, September 1.It is being held at the Empire Ballroom near Sainsburys, with the doors opening at 7pm and the draw at 7.30pm.

It is only £3 to enter with the first prize guaranteed at £100, thanks to a donation by S.D.S. Wager Ltd. The event is in support of the baby units at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.

Please support this great cause. For further details contact Dawn on 01335 370995 or 07814 610633.

I AM also running the Derby Open on August 6 at The Venue, Abbey Street, Derby.You can enter on the day with a minimum of £200 for the winner. For further details of this competition and all Derbyshire’s competitions, just visit www.derbyshiredarts.co.uk