Brean proves a howling success for Wolfie
The 2010 BDO International Open at Pontin’s, Brean Sands was a huge success - with some 1500 BDO players, families and friends filling the popular Somerset park for the annual feast of great darts – men, women and youth – and the tremendous Pontin’s hospitality over three days.
Once again, the weather was warm and sunny on the outside and the darts and performances were exciting inside the venue.
Among the many outstanding highlights was the performance of 15 year-old Matt Dicken of the West Midlands, who stormed to the Quarter-Finals of the Men’s Singles by taking the scalp of Ted Hankey in the last 16 – despite the fact that Ted hit an effortless
9-Darter in their match.
Matt’s next big stage will be in Germany, where he will be representing England in the WDF Europe Cup Youth.
Gracious in defeat, The Count, whilst delighted with his
9-Darter, he was also full of praise for the youngster: “What can you say? He’s typical of the talent that the BDO throws up every year. If he carries on like this he’ll be a world champion one day. He’s certainly one for the future and there are lots more where he came from!
“The lad played brilliantly all day and this will have been a great experience for him.”
As if to prove Ted’s point about the BDO’s young talent, before the stage finals awards were made to the BDO’s Players of The Year:
Zoe Jones of Worcestershire received the Girls Award and Jamie Lewis of Pembrokeshire collected the Boys Award to take their place as outstanding talents of the future.
The stage finals were of course the highlight of the weekend, but they started on a sad note when stage host Martin Fitzmaurice led a wonderfully observed 2-minutes silence for the BDO’s Mick Getty.
The full house of fans, players and families observed an impeccable silence that was a credit to all those present.
The first of the Men’s Quarter-Finals pitted the defending Champion Tony O’Shea (Cheshire) against the always dangerous and laid back talents of Yorkshire’s Garry Thompson, who hit a brace of 180’s on his way to a 2-1 victory after a third set tie-break.
There was a repeat in the Scott Mitchell (Dorset) Martin Adams (Cambs) match. Both hit 180’s as Scott won the 1st set, only to see Martin level the scoreline and then take the match 2-1 after a third set tie-break.
The brave run of 15 year-old Matt Dicken (W.Mids) was brought to a halt by the in-form Gary Robson (Cheshire) who recorded a 31.44 single dart average in his 2-0 victory over the youngster.
Not surprisingly, the youngster received a round of appreciative applause led by Gary as he left the stage.
But, as if to prove that the highest averages don’t always win matches, the impressive Stuart Kellett (the third Cheshire player in the Quarter Finals) lost 2-0 to Mark Barilli (E.Renfrews) with the highest single dart average of the Quarter-Finals: 32.38.
In the first of the Semi-Finals, Garry Thompson won the opening set, despite the fact that Martin Adams had an 11-dart second leg. It was a tightly contested match against two experienced players, with Wolfie coming out the eventual 3-2 winner.
And the pattern was repeated in the second Semi-Final, with the consistently high-scoring Gary Robson emerging a 3-2 winner over Scotland’s Mark Barilli.
The final was a fitting hard-fought contest for the packed audience to enjoy, and they gave best of order as two of darts’ favourite sons put on a match fit for the finale of a great weekend of darts.
In the first set Gary broke Martin’s throw in the very 1st leg, but Wolfie broke back immediately and then held serve to win the all-important 1st set. Then there was a repeat (but in reverse) to open the 2nd set as Martin broke Gary in the 1st leg, but then in the 2nd leg with the help of a well-timed 180, Gary hit a 13-darter to break straight back – only to see Martin check out on 116 to take the next leg and go 2-0 up in sets.
The trend continued in the next with Gary breaking Martin’s throw in the opening leg, only to see Martin break back immediately and then hold his own serve to make the score 3-0 in sets.
On paper it might have looked like a stroll in the park, but in reality this was a nip and tuck battle between two great in-form players, that took a twist when Gary won the 4th set to make it 3-1.
However, Martin was relentlessly consistent (as he had been all day) and he won the 5th Set and the 2010 International Open title with a 4-1 scoreline.
The Women’s Singles final was also an epic battle between two of the most successful players in women’s darts – Deta Hedman (Oxfordshire) and Julie Gore (Pembrokeshire) who have won just about every top title between them.
Deta’s Quarter-Final against Trina Gulliver could have been her final, with both at times having no luck on the doubles, but it went all the way, with Deta eventually winning 3-2 and putting the defending Champion out.
Meanwhile in her Quarter-Final, Julie Gore beat Russia’s Irina Armstrong 3-0 to march into a Semi-Final against Claire Ball (Lincs) who she beat 3-1 to go into the final.
In her Semi-Final, Deta took on another in-form Welsh lady, Rhian Edwards (Glamorgan) for another tightly contested 3-2 victory.
Julie hit a 180 on her way to a 3-0 victory over Deta in the final and both were warmly applauded for producing a day of first-class darts for the ladies.
Finally, in the Youth Singles final, Joe Croft (son of Oliver and grandson of Olly) reached his first ever major darts final and put in a creditable performance despite eventually losing 3-0 to Nick Kenny of Gwent
Just like Matt Dicken earlier in the day, both Nick and Joe are excellent prospects for the future.
MEN’S SINGLES
Q/FINALS
GARRY THOMPSON (Yorks) 2-1 TONY O’SHEA (Cheshire)
SCOTT MITCHELL (Dorset) 1-2 MARTIN ADAMS (Cambs)
GARY ROBSON (Cheshire) 2-0 MATT DICKEN (W.Mids)
STUART KELLETT (Cheshire) 0-2 MARK BARILLI (Renfrews)
SEMI-FINALS:
MARTIN ADAMS 3-2 GARRY THOMPSON
GARY ROBSON 3-2 MARK BARILLI
FINAL:
MARTIN ADAMS 4-1 GARY ROBSON
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Q/FINALS
DETA HEDMAN (Oxfordshire) 3-2 TRINA GULLIVER (Warks)
ZOE JONES (Worcs) 0-3 RHIAN EDWARDS (Glam)
CLAIRE BALL (Lincs) 3-1 SUE BRAZELL (Som)
IRINA ARMSTRONG (Russ) 0-3 JULIE GORE (Pembrokes)
SEMI-FINALS:
DETA HEDMAN 3-2 RHIAN EDWARDS
CLAIRE BALL 1-3 JULIE GORE
FINAL:
JULIE GORE 3-0 DETA HEDMAN
YOUTH SINGLES FINAL:
NICK KENNY (Gwent) 3-0 JOE CROFT (London)
MIXED PAIRS FINAL:
DARRYL FITTON & LORRAINEFARLAM 3
JAMIE LEWIS & JULIE GORE 1
MIXED TRIPLES FINAL:
STUART KELLETT/BEVMARTIN/JOSH TUNNICLIFFE 2
PAUL HARVEY/JAY FOREMAN/CHRISTINE READHEAD 0