In a dramatic ending to the WADC Winmau Championship North season, Natalie Gilbert pipped Vicky Pruim by a single point to finish second in the standings, guaranteeing her a place at the ADC Global Championship later this year as a result of a title win in the final event of the campaign in Middlesbrough.
Gilbert started the weekend in top spot, but had slipped to third at the start of play on the final day, and her chances looked slim of taking a top two berth as she was upset by Sarah Roberts in a 4-3 loss in the last 16 of Event 11.
That event win was taken by Steph Clarke, who made it a pair of titles for the weekend, and four overall this season with a sublime comeback win against Vicky Pruim in the final.
After whitewashing Sonia Glendinning, Clarke edged to a 4-3 win against Jade Gill, having been 3-0 behind at one point, and after defeating Rebecca Allen 5-2, Clarke made the final with a 5-3 success over Eleanor Cairns.
Pruim started with a comeback of her own, rallying from 3-1 down to Debbie Dexter to advance, and the Swede then dropped just one leg in wins over Louise Johnson and Sarah Roberts, and an 84.39 average was enough for a place in the final, and a 5-3 win against Kim Holden.
In the final, Pruim dominated early on, leading 4-1, but just as she looked destined for the title, Clarke produced a 160 finish that turned the tide, and she backed that up with 72 and 68 checkouts to sensationally level, with Pruim missing match darts for a 5-3 win.
The decider saw Clarke prevail, with Pruim’s scoring letting her down at the vital moment, allowing ‘The Swan’ to swoop to yet another £500 first prize.
In the end, a single win would have secured Pruim a Global Championship place, but she was beaten in her opening match by Rebecca Allen, opening the door for Gilbert to rekindle her chances of glory, and she grabbed that with both hands, defeating Clarke 5-3 in the Event 12 finale.
Wins over Louise Johnson and Jane Hawtin took Gilbert into the last eight, where a 5-3 win against Angela Kirkwood took her two wins away from the title. A comfortable 5-2 success against Rebecca Allen made that one win from glory.
Table-topper Clarke stood in her way, and she dropped two legs in making the quarter finals against Lauryn Salter (4-0), Lainey Webb (4-0) and Lily Blanthorn (4-2). Jo Oldershaw was defeated 5-2 in the last eight, and Liz Humphries was no match for her in the final four, with Clarke a 5-1 winner.
Gilbert went 3-1 up in the final with a 74 finish, but Clarke levelled with a 101 checkout, only for a 57 finish to put Gilbert back in front, and she completed the job to take the win, the title, and the coveted ADC Global Championship place.
The top eight in the standings gained places at the Grand Finals, and joining Gilbert, Clarke and Pruim, were Kim Holden, Angela Kirkwood, Eleanor Cairns, Lauryn Salter and Kirsty Hutchinson.
The Finals take place in November.
–ENDS–
