On to York St Club, Bingley for the 5th event of the season with 2 more competitions to go before the first in the sequence of 4 Finals throughout the year takes place. With such short races a few early exits could prove fatal in the quest for a Top 48 spot with so many contenders battling it out as a total of 118 players entered today’s competition.
ROUND 1
Lyndon Baxter 3-0 James Cathcart Robert Turpin 3-1 Pat Meeson Antony Moss 3-1 Mally Welsh Olly Smith 3-2 Leah Wiltshire Andy Cox 3-2 Nick Preston Andy McGovern 3-0 Maisey Livermore Cam Hinchcliffe 3-2 Daz Holdsworth Lewis Pride 3-2 Michelle Binns Rob Sharp 3-2 Tom Gurran Matthew Hoyle 3-2 Kris Namnieks Jonathan Hewitt 3-1 Lee Bugden Derek Lumley 3-1 Mark Daley Andy Ward 3-2 Lynne Horne Pete Riley 3-1 Sam Van Der Reiden Dale Everett 3-0 Steve Fowler Garry Thompson 3-0 Steve Booth Arron Holdstock 3-2 Joe Osgothorpe Mark Pigott 3-2 Wayne Butterworth Michael Tyler 3-1 Colin Burkett Brendan Marren 3-0 Mark Hanslip Richard Scott 3-2 Laura Tye Dave Peasgood 3-2 Richard Yates John Clifford 3-0 Peter Baker Louise Simmonds 3-1 Adam Dixon Stuart Palethorpe 3-0 James Neal Ronnie Roberts 3-1 Karl Nixon Tom Lishman 3-0 James Storey Tony Darlow 3-0 Richard Fox Craig Nelmes 3-0 Josh Loader Dave Wilson 3-1 Steve Blower Darrel Bainbridge 3-0 Chris Wood James Barton 3-1 Trevor Tye Robin Towler 3-0 Matt Poulter Pete Neary 3-2 Mick Hayward Dave Calvert 3-2 David Lammie Jason Szamakowicz 3-2 Ian Falkingham Steve Kelly 3-0 Scott Wheatcroft Mark Reynoldson 3-0 James Ashcroft Simon Hopkins 3-0 Maison Wilson Jason Stockings 3-0 Michael Wilson Steve Jones 3-0 Owen Brierley Craig Fisher 3-1 Kai Haddock Trevor Holtby 3-0 Kevin Cardus Mandy McKenzie 3-0 Marcus Foster Sam Hastings 3-0 Ginny Whittaker Craig Maddox 3-1 Michael Townend Danny Roberts 3-0 Simon Hall Gary Cathcart 3-0 Rick Hudson Neil Sidebottom 3-2 David Shaw Steve Hattersley 3-0 Tracey Gledhill Jack Infield 3-0 Richard Osgerby Les Delderfield 3-0 Kate Livermore Rob Holroyd 3-1 Josh Loader Luke Cathcart 3-2 Giffy Khaosoi
Very few surprises from the opening round games as pretty much all the favourites progressed through. The biggest casualty to fall probably David Lammie but no real shock going out to Dave Calvert in a tough early draw. Hard work for Halifax veteran Olly Smith as he was taken to a decider by Leah Wiltshire who seems to have been around the darts scene for years but amazingly still only 17 years old. Strapping young Rugby Union player Lewis Pride also having his work cut to get past Bradford’s Michelle Binns as this one also went the distance, while Giffy Khaosoi would probably have been most pundits favourite to beat Yeadon’s Luke Cathcart on current form but the former Youth star held firm to win another close game 3-2. A win too for Shipley’s Jason Stockings who has remodelled his throwing style and now landing the darts much straighter and firmer into the board and with more practice and confidence gained from winning games could be a threat again like he was in his Yorkshire Youth days.
ROUND 2
Lyndon Baxter 3-0 Robert Turpin Adam Scott 3-0 Antony Moss Andy Cox 3-2 Olly Smith Andy McGovern 3-2 Cam Hinchcliffe Lewis Pride 3-1 Rob Sharp Jonathan Hewitt 3-0 Matthew Hoyle Andy Ward 3-2 Derek Lumley Dale Everett 3-0 Pete Riley Garry Thompson 3-1 Rick Waite Arron Holdstock 3-0 Ian Holmes Johnny Gardner 3-2 Mark Pigott Michael Tyler 3-2 Alex Pride Brendan Marren 3-0 Richard Scott John Clifford 3-1 Dave Peasgood Stuart Palethorpe 3-1 Louise Simmonds Ronnie Roberts 3-0 Tom Lishman Tony Darlow 3-1 Craig Nelmes Darrel Bainbridge 3-1 Dave Wilson James Barton 3-0 Raymond Long Robin Towler 3-1 Pete Neary Dave Calvert 3-1 Jason Szamakowicz Mick Wiltshire 3-2 Steve Kelly Mark Reynoldson 3-0 Toni Lee Bowstead Simon Hopkins 3-0 Mark Leonard Steve Jones 3-1 Jason Stockings Trevor Holtby 3-0 Craig Fisher Mandy Mc'Kenzie 3-1 Sam Hastings Danny Roberts 3-2 Craig Maddox Gary Cathcart 3-0 Keaton Haddock Steve Hattersley 3-2 Neil Sidebottom Les Delderfield 3-0 Jack Infield Rob Holroyd 3-0 Luke Cathcart
Not been a great start to BDP this year for Pudsey’s Andy Ward but he notched up his best win for a while with a 3-2 win over in form Derek Lumley, the former Durham man superb in SL this year with only 1 defeat all season for Bradford side Red Lion in Div 1 and riding high in the Averages table but coming unstuck early today. Another Red Lion player Andy ‘The Guvnor’ Mc’Govern always capable of pulling off a big result and the former Yorkshire County ace beat an up and coming Yorkshire County star in Cam Hinchcliffe 3-2. Hull ace Trevor Holtby going really well at the moment and accounting for top player Craig Fisher 3-0 on the back of a fine SF showing last time out at White Rose. Lockwood SL player Ronnie Roberts one of a number of young stars coming through from Huddersfield and he showed his class to steamroller Tom Lishman with back to back 180’s to fire in 15 and 13 dart legs in a very impressive 3-0 win.
ROUND 3
Lyndon Baxter 3-0 Antony Moss Andy Mc'Govern 3-2 Andy Cox Jonathan Hewitt 3-0 Lewis Pride Dale Everett 3-2 Andy Ward Garry Thompson 3-1 Arron Holdstock Johnny Gardner 3-0 Michael Tyler Brendan Marren 3-0 John Clifford Ronnie Roberts 3-1 Stuart Palethorpe Tony Darlow 3-0 Darrel Bainbridge Robin Towler 3-1 James Barton Dave Calvert 3-1 Mick Wiltshire Mark Reynoldson 3-0 Simon Hopkins Trevor Holtby 3-1 Steve Jones Danny Roberts 3-1 Mandy McKenzie Gary Cathcart 3-0 Steve Hattersley Les Delderfield 3-0 Rob Holroyd
End of the road for the last lady standing Mandy McKenzie as she went down 3-1 to fast throwing Marsden SL star Danny Roberts in a round of very few upsets as top players Thompson, Hewitt, Darlow, Marren and Delderfield all went through for the loss of only 1 leg between them, while in form players Everett, Holtby, Gardner and Towler also joined them into the last 16. Meanwhile Yeadon legend Gary Cathcart always has a major run at some point during the course of a season and going well after a fine 3-0 victory over Steve Hattersley but facing a clash with nemesis Les Delderfield next as the format goes up to Best of 7 to make the task even harder.
ROUND 4
Lyndon Baxter 4-1 Andy Mc'Govern Dale Everett 4-3 Jonathan Hewitt Garry Thompson 4-0 Johnny Gardner Brendan Marren 4-3 Ronnie Roberts Robin Towler 4-2 Tony Darlow Dave Calvert 4-1 Mark Reynoldson Trevor Holtby 4-3 Danny Roberts Les Delderfield 4-0 Gary Cathcart
Another epic performance from Dale Everett as the tall Bradford ace came from 1-3 down to win a thrilling 4-3 battle against Jonathan Hewitt infront of a large crowd on Board 2. Brendan Marren having to show all his experience to see off the immense talent of Ronnie Roberts, surely just a matter of time before he is challenging in Semi’s and Finals. Learning to fly planes is one of Dave Calvert’s more eccentric hobbies and he can be seen in the skies around Sherburn in Elmet most times on a Wednesday afternoon, today though he was back down to earth and going under the radar after gliding past Mark Reynoldson 4-1, while Trev Holtby really making his mark this season and looking to go one better than last times Semi after edging out Danny Roberts. Robin Towler another player coming to the fore this season with another big scalp as he beat Tony Darlow 4-2 to join Delderfield, Thompson and Baxter in the Last 8.
QUARTER FINALS
Dale Everett 4-0 Lyndon Baxter Garry Thompson 4-1 Brendan Marren Dave Calvert 4-1 Robin Towler Les Delderfield 4-2 Trevor Holtby
Woodbottom SL player Dale Everett one of the form players at BDP of late and making a well deserved Semi after a convincing 4-0 win over Lyndon Baxter who couldn’t follow up his form which included a 156 finish in an earlier round. A week ago Dave Calvert was seen on Facebook jogging around the streets and beaches of Morocco on yet another 5 star holiday, a 5 star performance here too to see off inform Robin Towler 4-1 as his 180 count rose for the day. Garry Thompson concentrating more on local competitions this year rather than the BDO Circuit and will no doubt be contesting Semi’s and Finals with his class and ability as he beat old foe Brendan Marren 4-1, while Les Delderfield clocks up another Semi too after ending another great Trevor Holtby run with a 4-2 victory.
SEMI FINAL 1
Garry Thompson ( 25.59 ) 5-2 ( 23.06 ) Dale Everett
A fairly comfortable win in the end for Garry Thompson without being at his maverick best. The Silsden star raced into a 3-0 lead and then missed 7 darts at doubles to go 4-0 up thus allowing Dale Everett a lifeline back into the game with a 26 darter, the man with his own Double Glazing business from Clayton Heights couldn’t quite find the consistency that he had in previous games and wasn’t hitting enough big scores to really worry Garry who redressed the balance in leg 4 with a 17 darter to go 1 leg away from victory. Credit to Dale though as he threw the best leg of the game to stay alive with a 16 darter as he suddenly found his earlier form and threatened a fightback and had his attempt at a last dart Double 18 gone in on a 81 outshot in the next leg then the match would have become very interesting, as it was ‘The Recliner’ still had to take out 84 for the match which he did with aplomb in 21 darts to seal the win and a place in the Final. The stats man asleep for the opening leg so the averages not altogether true and can only be done from the 2nd leg onwards as are the Ton scores as Garry hit 10 x 100 pluses and 6 x 90’s scores with Dale replying with 10 x 100 pluses and a 97 hit.
SEMI FINAL 2
Dave Calvert ( 28.03 ) 5-3 ( 28.25 ) Les Delderfield
A terrific performance from Dave Calvert to topple Les Delderfield who is so difficult to beat especially over a longer format. Very little in the game as both players matched each other score for score almost as both hit 2 x 180’s, 13 x Ton pluses and 4 x 90’s scores in the game, in the end it all boiled down to doubles with Dave just having the edge and taking his chances especially in the last 2 legs with the score tied at 3-3 at that stage. A cautious start in the beginning as Les took the opener in 20 darts with Dave struggling back on 131 but the E/W Ardsley SL star soon found his range in legs 2 and 3 to fire in a couple of Maximums and was in a strong position to break but let Les off the hook with a couple of missed doubles to trail 1-2. In leg 4 it was Les’s turn to hit a fruitless 180 as Dave levelled up in 17 darts. A slip up from Les in leg 5 as he missed 5 darts at doubles to let Dave in for a 20 dart break but the Shipley stalwart soon redressed the balance with a 100 finish for a brilliant 12 dart leg. The match turned Dave’s way in leg 7 with 2 contrasting visits towards the back end as Les could only muster a 13 followed by a 58 to leave Tops after 18 darts, enough of a chance for Dave to take full advantage with a 140 and a 115 set up to earn himself a shot at Double 16 which he took with a nerveless first dart. A nip and tuck 8th leg went with the advantage of throw with Les’s hopes disappearing after a brave do or die effort at 83 just missed with Dave making no mistake with a Double 4 to clinch a 19 dart notable victory.
FINAL
Garry Thompson ( 26.07 ) 5-3 ( 24.75 ) Dave Calvert
A Final contested by close friends with Dave Calvert always high in the priority list for Garry’s VIP tickets at the TV tournaments. The 2 players joined forces a couple of years ago to win the Antwerp Open Pairs and have enjoyed plenty of individual success since then too with Garry winning The British Open and Dave notching up a long overdue BDP Title. With so much mutual respect between them the Final never really caught fire with Garry’s 17 darter in leg 5 the best of the match to go 3-2 up after earlier 19 and 20 dart legs to take an early 2-0 lead. Just like in his QF game the England International let his opponent back into the game by missing 7 darts at Doubles to go 3-0 up and instead saw the deficit reduced to 2-1 as Dave took advantage with a 20 darter and then evened up the match with another 20 darter. Usually somewhere in a game ‘The Recliner’ will fire in an amazing burst of scoring that sometimes takes the game away from an opponent but this wasn’t the case in this game although he kept it nice and steady with 100 and 90 plus scores to keep the pressure on Dave who was far from his best put managed to pull out a 105 finish to stay with Garry at 3-3 and still in with a great chance of winning. A treble each turn more or less in legs 7 and 8 from The Midway SL star kept him in front as he wrapped up victory with a brace of 18 darters.
