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NEWS - October 2007

News from Around the Country

All Systems Go in Killarney

Andrew Spillane pictured with former

World Champion Dennis Priestly

The stage is now set in the Gleneagle Hotel and INEC for one of the biggest darts events ever to be staged in this country.

The Killarney Darts Festival will be held over the weekend of November 2nd/3rd/4th. and bumper entries have been received for all competitions on the programme.

The main event is the John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic on Sunday and with the current World Champion, Raymond van Barneveld, and the recently crowned World Grand Prix Champion, James Wade, in the line-up this is certainly going to be a competition to remember.

Most of the top professional players have entered the Pro Tour event and they will be joined by more than a hundred Irish players who are willing to take their chances against the best in the world. A special qualifying competition is being held on Friday night for Irish players from which 32 players will go through to Sunday’s Finals.

Andrew Spillane with top Irish-Ranked player

Mick McGowan

300 players will be competing in the Gleneagle Irish Masters on Saturday while on Sunday the Silver Dart Ladies’ Singles and the Bronze Dart Youths’ Singles will be staged.

Entries for the Ladies’ and Youths’ competitions will be accepted at the venue up to 4.00pm on Saturday, November 3rd.

Shane Takes Top Prize in Round Robin

Shane O’Connor took the first prize of € 1,500 in the Annual Round Robin competition at the Kilkenny Darts Festival in the Springhill Court Hotel.

Eighty players competed on the day and they were divided into sixteen groups of five and played off on a Round Robin basis.

The competition went like clockwork throughout the afternoon due to the hard work put in by Joe Coyne and his organising committee.

At the semi-final stage Shane O’Connor defeated John Elder 6-3 while Patrick Keane defeated John Ward 6-2. O’Connor clinched the title with a 6-4 victory over Keane in the final.

Pictured right is Joe Coyne presenting the winner’s

cheque to Shane O’Connor

Doubles winners James Broderick and Mark Barnicoat

A very enjoyable Blind Draw Doubles was also organised at the Festival and the winners were James Broderick and Mark Barnicoat who defeated Roy Bailie and Luke Kelly in the final.

It was a unique experience for Luke who was making his stage debut in a darts event.

Note: The Killarney Darts Festival will be featured on TV3 Ireland AM on Tuesday next, 30th October, 7.30am-9am

Round One to the Kingdom

Sean Marshall (pictured right) from Kerry won Round One of the 2008 Bruce Betting Ireland Players’ Championship when he defeated the legendary Jack McKenna from Kildare 6-2 in the final at the Springhill Court Hotel in Kilkenny.

A record entry of 125 players entered the competition and it produced some of the best darts seen in the country for a long time.

In the top half of the draw Marshall eliminated Irish International, Steve McDonnell, in the last sixteen and the Tramore Autumn Champion, Damien O’Driscoll, in the quarter-finals while McKenna defeated John Elder and Patrick Keane to set-up a semi-final clash with Benny Grace.

Sean Marshall defeated Cork County player, Johnny Donovan, 6-1 in the first semi on stage while Jack McKenna came from behind to defeat Benny Grace 6-5 in an epic encounter.

This latter match seemed to have taken it’s toll on Jack, however, and he was unable to reach the same heights in the final as Sean powered his way to a 6-2 victory.

The winner took home a cheque for €1,000 while the total prize money on the day was in excess of €3,000.

“Rocket” Powers His Way to Victory in Youths’ Championship

(Photo - Ryan Courtney on the right with Jason Hahessy)

Ryan ‘The Rocket’ Courtney from Cork defeated newcomer Jason Hahessy (Tipperary) 3-1 in the final of Round One of the 2008 Ireland Youths’ Championship in Kilkenny.

In the semi-finals Ryan defeated David Colcannon (Roscommon) while Jason eliminated the 2007 runner-up, Sean McArdle from Dublin.

Click here for full results.

World Grand Prix Champion Signs up for Killarney

James Wade with Andrew Spillane

Immediately after his success in the final of the Sky Bet World Grand Prix Championship in Dublin James Wade was signed up by Andrew Spillane to compete in the Killarney Darts Festival on the first weekend in November.

The runner-up Terry Jenkins has also entered for the two main events in the Kingdom and they will be joined by a host of the top professional players in what should be a terrific weekend of darts.

The Pro Tour event on the Sunday is confined to PDPA members and Irish residents while the Irish players may compete for a lesser fee in a special qualifying competition on the Friday night from 32 Irish players will qualify to go through to the Pro Tour.

The Irish Masters Championship on the Saturday is open to all darts players over 16 years of age.
Entries for the Masters and the Pro Tour must be in before 4.00pm on Thursday, October 25th., and intending participants are reminded that entries will not be accepted after this time. No telephone entries ! ! !
There will be Open singles competitions for Ladies and Youths on the Sunday and final entries for these competitions will be accepted at the Gleneagle Hotel up to 4.00pm on Saturday, November 3rd.
Please note that a Strict Dress Code will apply to all players in all competitions at the weekend and that any player not adhering to this rule will not be allowed to participate.

The Time Schedule at the weekend is as follows :-

Friday (Qualifiers): Check-in between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. Starting at 7.00pm Sharp.

Saturday (Masters): Check-in between 10.30am and 11.30am. Starting at 12 noon Sharp.

Sunday (3 Events): Check-in between 10.30am and 11.30am. Starting at 12 noon Sharp.

Players must personally check-in at the control desk and latecomers will not be allowed to participate.

Cork Double at Tramore Festival

Noreen O’Shea (O’Shea’s Hotel) with Damien O’Driscoll and Sharon Buckley.

The 20th. Annual Tramore Autumn Festival was an outstanding success with bumper entries at all events at O’Shea’s Hotel.

Cork players recorded a double victory in the Singles competitions on the final day of the Festival with Damien O’Driscoll defeating Gerry Healy (Dublin) 5-2 in the final.

Sharon Buckley defeated her Cork team-mate Kay O’Carroll 4-3 in the Ladies’ final.

On the Friday night Alan Delaney (Wicklow) teamed up with Nicola Lawlor (Carlow) to win the Open Draw Doubles competition while on Saturday the Wexford pairing of Jason Cullen and Martina Scallon defeated Jimmy Murray and Sharon Carkrey (Dublin) to take the Mixed Pairs title.

The Tramore ‘Player of the Year’ Awards were presented to Sharon O’Brien (Kildare) and Jason Cullen (Wexford) in recognition of their consistency at the three Tramore Festivals during the year.
The next event at O’Shea’s Hotel will be the Winter Gala on January 12th/ 13th. and this will incorporate Round Three of the 2008 Ireland Players’ Championship.

Click here for Tramore results.

SkyBet World Grand Prix CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE NEWS FROM THE SKY BET TOURNAMENT

View the Pictures taken by Chris Sargeant from The World Grand Prix held at the CityWest Hotel, Dublin HERE

Wade Claims SkyBet World Grand Prix

JAMES WADE picked up his second major title inside three months with a 6-3 victory over Terry Jenkins in the SkyBet World Grand Prix final.

The left-hander from Aldershot followed up July's Stan James World Matchplay triumph in Blackpool with another outstanding display to claim the Dublin title.

Wade, who wins £50,000 for his success, took a 3-0 lead before holding off Jenkins' fightback to reel off three successive sets for the win.

"It's fantastic," said Wade. "The World Matchplay was brilliant and I have to admit I got a bit emotional with this.

"I had tears in my eyes and it means so much to me." MORE

Sunday 14 October
Final
7.30pm Terry Jenkins 3-6 James Wade

Saturday 13 October
Semi-Finals
7.00pm John Part 3-5 Terry Jenkins
9.00pm Raymond van Barneveld 1-5 James Wade

Thursday

Former world number one Lloyd set the tone with a 152 checkout and raced through the first two sets without dropping a leg. Although Tabern broke his duck by winning the seventh leg of the match, it was Lloyd who closed out the result by taking the third set 3-2 on legs. MORE

SkyBet World Grand Prix
Second Round - Thursday
James Wade 3-1 Alex Roy
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Alan Tabern
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Roland Scholten

MARK DUDBRIDGE won a dramatic final-leg shoot-out against Andy Jenkins to move into the last eight of the SkyBet World Grand Prix in a five-set thriller.

Over an hour of battle saw the pair locked as they entered the fifth leg of the fifth set - fighting over one leg for a place in the quarter-finals.

Jenkins landed his opening double at the first attempt and had a healthy head start as Dudbridge missed his first nine darts to got off the mark. MORE

Blue Square UK Open Irish Regional Final Results

RESULTS from the Blue Square UK Open Irish Regional Final, being held at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on Sunday afternoon. Where 'Barney triumphed yet again with an 8-2 win over his opponent Kevin McDine

more news and full results...

PHIL TAYLOR defeated James Wade in straight sets to win the Irish Players Championship at the CityWest Hotel in Dublin on Saturday.

Taylor warmed up for the SkyBet World Grand Prix in the best possible fashion with some fine darts to take the £5,000 PDC Pro Tour title.

He dropped just one leg in the final against Wade, with some clinical finishing leaving the world number three with no reply. more news and full results

Barney Signs Up for Killarney

Andrew Spillane with Raymond van Barneveld

2007 Ladbrokes.com World Champion is heading for Killarney to compete in the inaugural Killarney Darts Festival at the Gleneagle Hotel and INEC on the first weekend in November.

Barney leads the way to the Kingdom and he will be followed by a host of the top professional players in the world who will be competing for a prize fund of almost € 50,000.

Intending participants are reminded that the closing date of October 18th. is drawing closer and that no entries will be accepted after that date.

Entries will be accepted at two major events over the coming weekend at the City West Hotel in Dublin and at the Tramore Autumn Festival in O’Shea’s Hotel.

Jacko's latest newspaper write-up ... HERE

INDO - - What a Liberty !

Apparently, members of the INDO Executive are making a rare trip across the Shannon next weekend to chair a meeting of delegates from the various leagues in Cork.

According to an INDO bulletin on RTE’s Aertel the purpose of the meeting is to set up a Cork County Board that is “ acceptable to all darts players in the county “. What a joke ! ! !

Of the five leagues (15 delegates) that have kept the Cork County Board afloat for the past eight years three delegates were suspended at a recent E.G.M. because they would not adhere to the Board’s rules and two others have rarely attended meetings.

Now, it must be a “very closely-guarded secret” in the West or maybe it is just a “mere coincidence” that the Tramore Autumn Festival is on next weekend and that the remaining ten delegates on the Board will be making their annual trip to the Sunny South East and unable to represent their members at this hastily-arranged meeting. How is this acceptable to all darts players in the county?

The Cork County Board Constitution, which was endorsed and ratified by the INDO, stipulates that at least 14 days notice must be given to affiliated leagues - yet, no formal invitation was received by any league and the INDO notice appeared on Aertel and a local newspaper only nine days prior to the meeting.

But, why should anyone be surprised at this INDO initiative ?
Are they not the same INDO that have arranged their AGM for the past few years on the second weekend in January which, again, by mere coincidence is the date for the Tramore Winter Gala ?

Is somebody scared of being asked awkward questions at these meetings ?
Are they not the same INDO that regularly struggle to get 32 men to turn up to their “ National Rankings “ events and who criticize others that show some initiative in organising good competitions with decent prize money ?

Are they not the same INDO that organised a ‘Mickey Mouse’ competition (sorry Walt) up in Mohill on the same day as the Sky Bet Irish Qualifiers and denied their own members a golden opportunity of appearing on Sky Sports TV in a world event?
And, now the question is, who will be allowed to attend this meeting in Cork on October 6th ?

Will the suspended delegates be allowed to attend and has an invitation been extended to people who have not been seen or heard of on the county scene for years ?

Has somebody been offered a Junior Portfolio on the new Board or will some ‘Phantom’ League make an appearance on the day?

Maybe the INDO should stick to what it does best - organising “Jolly Boys’ Outings” to Mohill ! (Sorry Delboy)

McDonagh Wins in Galway

The Peter McMahon Memorial Singles attracted a bumper crowd to the Menlo Park Hotel in Galway on Sunday and three very entertaining competitions were organised on the day.

The Men’s Singles was won by Tom McDonagh who defeated Mayo county player, Padraig Hester, in an exciting match.

The Ladies’ Singles was won by Ces Lally while Martin Heneghan won the Youths’ Singles.

Congratulations to Pat Brennan on a super event !

O’Connor Captures Tommy O’Reilly Memorial

128 players competed in the inaugural Tommy O’Reilly Memorial Singles at St. Anne’s GAA Club in Tallaght, Dublin, also on Sunday and victory went to Shane O’Connor (right) who defeated Sky Bet Qualifier, Jacko Barry, 6-3 in the final.

The beaten semi-finalists were Ali Powell and Mark Howard.

Well done to Tommy O’Reilly Jnr. and all of the gang in South Dublin.

‘Jacko’ Goes One Step Further.

Jacko's newspaper write-up ... HERE

Pictured right is Tim Reynolds {Sky Bet) and James Keogh {Meath).