Tel: 01202 433360 Mobile: 07885 372308 Official Shirt Sponsor The White Heather PH Exhibition at Wool British Legion I had a real fun time playing 16 different people, Dave Shaw and Sonny Maybe put on a great effort, by having a pink background with black dogs on it for the board to sit on, also putting on a raffle with loads of signed merchandise. Really pleased that I hit seven 180’s on the night. Thanks to Wayne Maybe for chalking most of the night, and Nigel Harris for giving him a break during the evening. I had a go at the M.C job during the 9 darts challenge, which the highest score with 9 darts, took on the brand new winmau blade 3 match board, signed by me, which was won by “yam yam.” Yeah that’s what I thought! Thanks to Mark Porter for coming down after the Blandford beer festival, meaning he was ready for the festivities of the dart exhibition, and thanks to Matt Yarrow for being my M.C to the no stars on the evening. I love doing these with Matt because we’re getting better and better at them as we go. Last County Match of the Year – Dorset v Middlesex  Really tough weekend knowing that we needed to win to stay up in division 1, unfortunately we came out at the wrong end of a 19-17 result, meaning Dorset were relegated down to division 2. Tough one to take and I felt worse about this than when I lost at the Lakeside. It took me 4 or 5 days to get over it. We weren’t relegated because of this one game, it was because of our overall performance this season, and I found myself a couple of times this season way in front, and not able to hit a double to win the game, so I know that I didn’t help the cause either. On the bright side, we will meet some old friends from division 2, and make some new ones I’m sure! Hopefully we can bounce straight back. Welsh Open 2010 The Welsh Open has always been very kind to me in the past. I beat Martin Phillips last year and got to the last 8 of the pairs the year before that with John Jukes. I played really well and had a good run to the last 64 and came up against Dutch youngster Brian de Hoog. Keep your eye out for this guy, as he’s got the game and we’ll see more of him if he finds the sponsors I would imagine. I scraped by him in a tight game, which he led most of the way. I was relieved to get by him in this one, to get me into the ranking points. I then played Toon Greebe in the last 32 but unfortunately missed darts at doubles and saw me 3-0 down before I knew it. I got back to 3-2 and had one dart at double top to go 3-3 and missed and Toon took out a 78 shot to win the game 4-2. I left Wales with another box filled with 14 points, a jump up the ranking table so I was really happy. Dutch Pentathlon The Dutch Pentathlon is an invited competition with 20 of the top guys there playing each other over the day. There are 24 different games with special games included, 1001 leg, 2001 leg, halve it, shanghi, and round the board on doubles with a maximum of 42 darts. At the end of the day I came out 6th which I was very pleased with, Tony O’Shea was the overall winner from Willy van de Weil in second, Ted Hankey in third, John Walton in fourth and Steve West in fifth. Myself and John boy Walton shared the highest shot of the day with a 161, bagging me €50. It’s really good to be playing in these, with all the guys together having a little more fun as we’re not all playing for ranking points. To finish above Darryl Fitton, Remco van Eijden, Steve Bunting, Brian Woods, Alan Norris and Steve Douglas, you come away from there with a whole load of confidence about how your playing. I hope I did enough to get an invite back next year.  Scottish Open 2010 This year the Scottish Open was a lot different. The sheer quantity of the entries the year before, which was I’m told was just shy of 1600 entries, in 2 sessions was far too many. So the Scottish Darts Association decided to put the men’s singles this year over 4 sessions. Morning and afternoon sessions on Friday and Saturday was what was going to happen. But with the draw only going up 2 weeks before it meant those of us who had to fly in had to travel on the Thursday. To get the cheap flights we had to book so early that we had no idea when we were going to play. There was also the extra night in the hotel expense and to be honest we probably should have stayed for the Sunday night as well thus making 4 nights. So from 2 – 4 night stay does not take a brain surgeonto see the costs for accommodation were double the previous years as were spending money costs.So the cost is upped and as it turned out the entries were down.The problem is there is not enough space for enough boards to play the tournament off with the numbers of people so it had to be this way.Now many entered and hoped they were drawn on the Saturday as they could not get the Friday off. This meant if you were drawn on the Friday sessions you were at an advantage as entrants were never going to turn up. This was what happened and the Friday days play finished earlier than expected. For me I was wishing to be drawn any session but the Saturday afternoon. I had a wedding to go to in Glasgow. My sister an Law Tina ‘s friend  Fran was to tie the knot. With it falling on the same weekend it was all going perfect. Tina and Carley would fly up day after me on Friday and we could all have a malt whiskey  together Saturday afternoon /evening. While at the Dutch open someone had broken the news to me that id been drawn on the Saturday afternoon. With my 1st match at 3:30pm. Just what I didn’t want so no wedding for me.Roy Brown id flown up with had been drawn on Friday afternoon for 3:00pm match. At breakfast on Friday morniing Mick and Chris Savory were on the table next to us. The other direction was Martin Atkins and Steve O Donnell. We got chatting and ended up borrowing Mick’s Dart mate. It’s a free standing board that you put up in your room for practice. So we could have that from 11am. Roy and Steve had a couple of throws on it before they left at 12 to read for the Normandy Hotel where the Open is played. There was a free transfer shuttle bus from 1 hotel to the other. We were staying in the sister Hotel the Erskin Bridge as the Normandy was full. Atkins and I had a couple of hours practice from 12 till 2 then went out for food at the local Morrisons. We ended up with more bottles of beer than food. When we got back to Martins room he had a call from Ross Smith andhe came over for a practice. I decided to go watch Roy so went to get the shuttle bus only to find that it had stopped till 5pm . So went back to to room and had a kip. Text Roy to say are you still in as will come over and he said I am still in but only the bar downstairs. I went down there, We watched the live Eastenders with no sound had a bar meal and headed back up to the room just after 10pm. I called Sharon and said we had seen Eatenders live and she said what an ending but I never thought Stacey was Archies Killer. Well nor did I as with no sound we just thought that Bradley was !!!!!! At breakfast on Saturday morning Mick thanked martin and I for smashing up the treble 20 in his brand new Blade 3 board. I had haggis for the second time and loved it. I had plenty of time to get ready for afternoon session. We headed off around 12. I was in group 49. I started with a 4-1 win which is good to settle the nerves. Next 2 matches I missed nothing beating both Drew Ogg and Tam Dymond 4-0. In the other half of the group Welshman Mark Salmon and Scotland’s Stuart Rattray were heading for a meeting in the semi final clash. It was I good match where Stuart was a very impressive 4-0 winner. Salmo had missed a couple of darts at a double in 1 leg  but seldom have I see players do that to him. I knew I had a tough one. It did not help I pulled out the Red ball so would throw 2nd. 1st 2 legs went with darts which were a 17 and 16. I broke in the next to go 2-1 up but Stuart broke back and held his throw to go 3-2 up. I held my throw with a 15 darter for 3-3. Stu hit the bull and I a 25 so his start. 40 away and I followed with a 180. He went 100 and I went 140 and after 40 followed by 85 i ended up on 56 after 12 darts and Stuart was on 76 after 12. Stuart missed a dart at tops and I Poked the 56 with 2 darts for a 14 dart leg against. That meant I won my group and points. I was in last 64 and would have to return the next day (Sunday) for the singles to start again at 1pm . Roy and I were in the pairs as well to start at10am. It was back to the hotel to change and have a meal in the restaurant and head off to bed around 10:30pm I called sister in Law Tina at the Wedding and spoke to he happy bride Fran. Wished her well and apologised for not being able to make it.Next morning we up and down early for breakfast and more haggis which I now have on my favourite food list. We changed and caught the 1st bus having had to pack and check out of the hotel too. We were in group 8 and played in a small room separate to the main hall with 8 boards. Roy and I had won group 8 beating Steve Douglas and John Henderson (with a lovely 101 shot by Roy for 3-1) along the way before 1pm when the singles was to start. I had Alan Norris. Alan had beat me last time we played 4-1. I had the start and at 2-2 all had gone with throw. Alan broke me in the 5th and I broke back in the 6th. So at 3-3 it was bull up with me to throw 1st and hitting the bull and Alan a 25. I threw 140,60 100,100. So with a lead hit 5,60 and missed 36 on the inside. Alan Missed tops for a 145 and I took the double 9 in 2 for a 17 dart leg. Alan was not happy as id had 4 matches in the pairs to his 1 and felt I had an unfair advantage. This sometimes happens and has happened to me so I understood how he felt. In last 32 I was to play Dennis De Klose of Holland. This was a strange match as I lost 4-2 and had 3 darts at a double every leg of the 6. I was disappointed but its strange to say but its harder to accept loosing missing 1 dart at a double as a few missed means you did not deserve it..Roy and I then had a 3 hour wait till our next pairs match We had gone cold since our 3-2 win with Roy shooting out 80 by going 5,25 bull to save us. We played Murray and Simpson from Grampion, Kellet and Cairney from Cheshire and Micheal van der Horst an Ron Meulencamp from Holland all with same result of 3-1 to reach the Final. We would be back on that stage where the memories were still freshfrom our win up there in 2008. We were to play L Drummond and C Lewis of Wales. They themselves had had a memorable day taking scalps of Gary Robson and Craig Baxter plus Alan Norris and Steve West in a very tight semi Final. I did not want Roy and I to be there next. We won the start and won the 1st leg but not convincingly but I shot out 62. They took the 2nd easily as Roy nor I hit a treble all leg. The 3rd went our way in the shape of a ton score from Roy and an 85 shot out with 2 darts from me. The 4th we were against the darts and the pressure all on the Welshman to hold their throw. We had 83 let which I shot out in 2 again to take the title for the 2nd time in 3 years. Again we had to have the Trophies early and head to the Airport pronto. Back to the wedding people and on Sunday evening when we flew home with my sister in law blonde Tina and her friend Carley. Carley is also blonde and kinda not as totally dopey as Tina. Now we got on the plane and Roy and I sit together in row 7. Now Tina had told me her and Carley were same side in row 12 and they would throw stuff at us. Now when I turned around to see them, Tina was sat in row 21 and Carley in 12.. I thought no more of it till a passenger complained to the stewardess that some one had taken her seat. So the whole plane watched as they head back to row 21. Yes Tina the Blonde had only taken Friday’s ticket from her pocket read seat 21b and sat in it, instead of Sundays ticket home which was seat 12c. So Carley and Tina sat back together consumed wine and giggled nearly till we landed. When we had landed and the plane shut down, I jumped up as did the girls still laughing at the seat number on the strip by the overhead lockers. I turned round and shouted back do you ever stop!!!!. The guy stood 2 rows back thought I was talking to him and said sorry to me and he didn’t mean to upset me. That was funny. I did not explain to the man or apologise so whoever you where if your reading this “im very sorry mate”  Ha Ha. Dutch Open 2010 As people who know me know this is probably my favourite tournament of the year. This was my third visit to the Dutch Open and I just love that there are so many good players here in the biggest field of the year. It is run so well and The Dutch guys just come out from all over to support the National open which is great. Our journey started at silly o clock in the morning on thurs 4th Feb with John and Tracey Parrack collecting Shaz (wife) and I to head on our 3 hour drive to Stanstead  Airport for a 35 min flight to Eindhoven. We jump in a taxi in Holland to head to the Konningshoff Hotel which is Home of the Dutch Open. We arrive and check in to hotel. We head off to get our VIP passes. John and Tracey had them this year too so we were all together with the Sterdarts crowd headed by Anita and Hans the shop owners. Roy and Gill Brown . The Hogans, Gibbo ,Nixy, Ramon and Marlie are all there too. The pairs start on the Thursday at 2pm. Paul Carter and I play together in this one. We had a tough group but got through playing some good 701 legs. In the group final we played our mates Alan Norris and Steve West. We have been beaten by them last time out so we wanted this match . Which we duly did 3-1. We did a 17 dart last leg which off a 701 is pretty impressive. We won through another couple of matches then come against pairing of Toone Grebe and Joseph Schenck. Both PDC players but they don’t play in the singles trying to get BDO points so I don’t mind that. I think this is good from the Dutch and other nations with Opens should follow their lead. Back to the game and we won it 3-1 playing great. You have to against these guys or you are off home. Before we know it we are in the last 8 needing a win V Scott Waites and Gary Thompson the Yorkshire lads to get through to the staged semi finals streamed live on the net. The opening leg was a tough but we lost it against the darts. We held our own leg to go 1-1 and then lost the 3rd to go 2-1 down. Waites as always knows when to hit a 180 and hit it at the death of the 4th leg. I missed 151 on tops to take it down the last and Gary shot out to take the  match 3-1. That hurt and it was the 4th time them 2 had turned me over in the pairs with various partners and its now starting to get on my nerves. That aside last 8 out of 1600 pairs meant our little county was put back on the map. It was a late finish so its food and bed as I was drawn in the Friday singles. The Singles started for me on the Friday and the other half of the field play on the Saturday as there are so many entered. It was 3000 to be exact. I had a tough Group again with Wilco Vermulen in it. I expected it to be us in the final. It was looking that way until at 2-2 Wilco on tops his opponent shot 161 to steal the match. I knew that was probably his final and that’s how it turned out to be. I beat him 3-0. Now when you have won your group you then have to win one more game to get points. This is usually a tough game and mine was. I had Gary Thompson who had beaten me the day before. The 1st 2 legs I could not live with Gary and he sped to a 2-0 lead. I won the 3rd and then stole the 4th with a 140,140 start. So it was up to the bull and I hit it to win the start and I went 140,140,100 with the darts ant that is difficult to beat if your throwing 2nd. So I closed the leg out for a 3-2 win. I won my next match 3-0 so on to 12 ranking points and last 16 on the day. I them played Dutch player Danny van der Kooy. He did 11 dart leg in the 1st and I won the next 3 in 13 16 and 15 darts to go through 3-1. so now in last 8 on the day and 14 ranking points. Patrick Loos was my opponent in the last game and a win would take me to the staged quarter finals  on Sunday. We went round to the filmed boards. It just was not to be. Lost 1st leg sat on tops when Patrick shot out and 2nd leg 2 missed darts at tops and my fate was sealed in the 3rd by a 15 dart leg. The Dutch fans went mad in the stands and I was left to lick my wounds. 14 points and I was well happy but another lesson learned and large bit of experience taken in. Friday evening and its Stuupke bar time. We always try to go to this bar which is on the outskirts of Veldhoven. It has 3 dart boards but Friday night is party night in there. A small little L shaped bar crams in 70 people. The Dj is the owner and his decks are built into the bar so he can still pull pints between tracks. They love the dart players to go there. They have pictures of players revolve on a big screen from past years. We went with the Sterdarts Dutch based Gang.  They put names up on the blackboard of the guys who visit that year and top of the shop on the list was Scotty “too Hotty” Wade. Ha ha we had a good laugh at that. Scotty came in saw it and rubbed it off. Then on his way out of the toilets Mike a Sterdarts guy said watch this. He asked Scotty had he seen him on tv which Scott replied “yes” so mike turned to his friend to say “I told you he played table tennis for England” !!!!! Scotty did not know where to put his face. I had turned away and could not stop Giggling. On our way out we were waiting for a taxi we had ordered and Veronica (Mrs Hendo to you)  was outside stood in the doorway while 2 lads who were well over 30 trying to get in to the bar. She acted as security and asked them for ID in her Scottish accent. The 1st Guy got his out to prove his an he was 34 so she let him in. She stopped the second guy and did the same. We were wetting ourselves. It was so funny. We jumped in a taxi John, Tracey, Shaz Me and Ross Mongomery and headed for the nearest Kebab shop on the way back. It was a good night that we wont forget. Next Day John played in the singles and lost 3-1 in the 1st round. He was unlucky as the turning point at 1-1 John shot out on the wrong shot. The Dutch write the throw score on the outside of the chalk board and the 2 scores left in the middle. Johns score was on the far right of the chalk board and he shot it but what he needed was on the inside right of the chalk board. He did not seem to recover from that really. A shame as he had played well enough to get through. Sunday was a watch day so watching all the staged games from the vip room on a big screen. We had a crowd watching the final on Johns lap top in the airport. Its great when that happens. Before we knew it we were home on the plane and in the car on the way back to Dorset. As usual Thanks to Martin and Mickey (AVON PLASTICS) Will Shade (WHITE HEATHER) Gary and Cloey (MOTOR-VATION GARAGE) Simon Hall (RED DRAGON DARTS) without you im not there and my loving family for their support and blessing for doing what we are doing. Antwerp Open 2010 Antwerp Open.I headed to this one with county team mates Eddie White and Lorraine Woodrow with Paul not attending this one. Eddie and Lorraine had not been to anything like this before and were rather excited. So when we headed to the pairs on the Saturday and I had got the wrong start time I thought here we go. It is just going to be one of those weekends. We left disappointed but not despondent. We got back to my hotel and I was convinced I’d lost my wallet and Sharon was home on the phone to the bank to cancel the cards and Eddie came in and found it. So I thought that the weekend was not going to get better. Sunday arrived and we got the right time for the competition so we were doing well to start. Kev Simm was with us in the same hotel so would have blamed him if we had got it wrong. Eddie had got through a couple of matches playing really well but lost I think to a Dutchman with fair bit of support. I was playing at the same time and  Lorraine had to chalk her 1st round walkover. Ed lost out narrowly but enjoyed the experience and I’m sure he will be back to do another. Lorraine walked into 2nd round match with Dutch starlet Sharon Prins. Sharon has come from the youth ranks and settled into the senior comps very well. So I knew Lorraine had a tough game.  She ended up loosing narrowly with a dart at tops to win. So we had a happy Lorraine who had played great. I’d started with 3 tough matches and in my board final played Stephan De Wit. This little guy was a great dart player. He hit 5 180s to my 2 in 6 legs and apart from a missed double he did nothing wrong in the match. He missed a dart at 36 to go 3-3. I won 4-2 and was very relieved to win the group and be in the points. I’m sure I will see this little fella again to. That put me against Tony Oshea. Id played Tony on the circuit before at German Open 2008 and had beaten him 3-0. I won bull up and went into a 3-0 lead with 15,12 and 14 dart legs. Tony the class that he is hit back with a 12 and I finished with a 13 to win 4-1 win. I then went and got a drink and returned to have a practice on the board the quarter final would be played on. Braulio Roncero was my next opponent and he came to me and asked me to get off the board as he had to play Tony Oshea and was I the chalker. I explained I beat Tony and he did not believe me. He asked again was I the chalker. So game started and his friend chalked the match. I got to 3-1 up and the tricks from him and the chalker started. Talking to each other and a few scores that were very dubious to say the very least. I questioned on 140 which had 2 darts that were a mile away from the treble 20 and the duster did not understand me apparently. The game went 3-3 and I missed 2 darts at 40 to go 4-3 and the win. Braulio shot out and I was done. Went to shake hands and was told it was best of 9. So I threw 180 1st throw to go whiched helped me go 4-4. I won the bull up and 12 darts later I had won 5-4 and he could not believe he had lost. Ross Montgomery had same problem with him and the chalker and I lost to him 4-0 in the Belgium open a couple of years back with a similar incident. So we know to look out for it now. Stuart Kellett I played the semi on stage. We were 1st semi Final so no prep time and we were on. I won the bull up and was at 2-2 in the 1st and sat on 40 with the darts and Stuart shot 160 for the set. So next set going with the throw at 2-1 down sat on 32 Stuart shot a ton plus to beat me 2 sets to 0. Stuart ever the gent said he robbed me and I felt he shot out much better so deserved it. Good points for me so really happy. Stuart went on to beat Gino Voss in the final. Stuart looks a cert for auto spot at the Lakeside so keep your eyes open for him as he a top lad aswell. British Internationals. We decided the Kids would come to this and enjoy it just as they did at Lakeside.  We headed up on the Friday and arrived at our hotel. John and Tracey came up too and cant not thank them enough to take the time to come to Bridlington to support me. This was to screened live over the internet so exciting for us as internationals have not been on screen for a few years. Saturday we watched again as we played on the Sunday both games again. Robbie Green and Stephen Bunting the big girls borrowed my spare shirt as they had ordered a size or 6 too small. They are so vain. We played Wales 1st and I had drawn out my old mate Peter Johns. Everybody in Dorset seems to have beaten Peter when we have played Gwent. We were having a good match and it was at 2-2 and we started to respect each other. Peter missed darts to win so nice like I am so did I and then knew Peter would not miss again and he didn’t. I had 26.96 ave and he had 26.56 so nothing in it. Peter went backstage with me and we had a beer and a chat which is what its all about for me. England Beat Wales 8-4 in the match so we still had all to play for with the Scotland Match. I was fortunate to stay in the team for the Scotland game as I had highest loosing average. Steve Douglas the unfortunate player to drop so Andy Beardmore of staffs who had beat me the month before at county got the nod. Flower of Scotland bellowed out by the Jocks is something to see and hear. So as we sing our land of hope and glory and the Assassin gets caught holding the words for about 5 of us to read by the cameraman was quite embarrassing as he screwed the paper up and us !!!!!  I had Steve Ritchie in this one and he was a new cap which I well remember from the year before. Steve had a good game the day before so this was gonna be tough. He flew out the blocks, just as I thought he would. Scoring was incredible and I was just was trying to hang in there. I got to 2-1 up and flew myself in the last leg but after 2 darts at tops missed i’d felt Steve would level. He pressured the shot and I hit the most awkward double 10 with my last dart of my life. I was just so relieved. I won 3-1 with a 29.96 but Steve had a 31 which is just brilliant. It was the point that won the match but you cant think of that when you go up there. England won the British Internationals for the 2nd time in a row. It felt great. You still feel for your mates on the other team. The Ladies won as well making it a double for England. I know Gary Stone of Scotland and Jamie Lewis of Wales as 2 mates who also made their debut this year who played so well. These Gentlemen along with Steve Richie i’m sure will have more of these Internationals to come.  It is strange to watch my son Sam telling England lads how i snored the night before sat round a table with them like he has been there doing it for years.  Its such a family atmosphere there and that’s what I will always love about the Internationals, Scotland, Wales or England it’s a great friendly weekend. German Open – Unfortunately I didn’t make it to the German Open because of the ash cloud from the volcano! Swiss Open First weekend in June saw the Swiss open. 5th of June was also my 40th birthday, and for some unknown reason my sponsors thought it would be nice for me to take my wife! So they paid for her flight and hotel, all jokes aside, thanks to Gary and Cloey at Motor-vation Garage. Eddie White came with me on this one, and his mate Ian Craigie who is currently living in Switzerland. He picked us up from the airport and took us to our hotel, so thanks to Ian for that. As for the darts, they went pretty well all weekend. I had a real tough run in the singles, beating Gaurdenz Coray 3 sets to 0. Then Dutchman Brauillio Roncero 3-0. Scraped over the line again Toon Greebe 3-2, sat at 1-1 in the last set, Toon having had one dart at double top to win the match, I shot a 131 to take the match. In the semi-finals I played Clive Bardon and with him 2 sets to 1 up, came back to win it, 3 sets to 2. In the final I then played young Dutchman Fabian Roosenbrand 3-1 after he’d hit 8 180’s in the match, to my 3. He just couldn’t hit a double. So on my 40th birthday was crowned the Swiss Open Champion for the second year in a row. Many thanks to the lovely Swiss ladies who made me a lovely 40th Birthday cake, which after the final I cut up and players that were still there all got a slice. Unfortunately Eddie White lost in the last 16, 3 sets to 2 to finalist Fabian Roosenbrand. I then celebrated with my birthday meal in McDonalds costing about £28 for 2 happy meals, but I was happy.   Following day Eddie and I paired up, eventually losing in the final to Robert Wagner and Fabian Roosenbrand 3-2.   Brean Sands – British International Open This is one we always do as a family. Most of my Dorset darts family are always there too. We got down late on Friday evening as Katie had an exam. Unfortunate thing was that Pecker Woods was only 2 doors up, so getting wise arse remarks every time he walked past. Saturday morning, played in the mixed 3’s with my kids. Never been so nervous whilst playing darts in all my life. When they leave you a double they expect you to get it! One series of throws, I threw 45, Katie threw 125 and Sam threw 100 and then walked back to me saying, buck your ideas up, or we’ll find a new partner! We got through the 1st round but lost in the second round. Mixed pairs I played with Steph Smee, and we lost in the last 16 to Paul and Caroline Carter, Dorset team mates. In the evening, we headed to Rich Perry’s chalet and the Dorset area to watch England Opening game in the world cup. We know about the Rob Green howler so I won’t go any further on that one, so it was an early night ready for the singles on Sunday. I had London Lewis McGurn 1st round and beat him 3-0. I was down for a bye and due to play an hour later, and somehow then had to play Lewis. Which I feel is a bit out of order and John Hendo had the same, having to play Conan. Second round I then had to play young Dutch star Rico Dera 3-0. I then played slim Steve Moran from Chesire, after him going 1-0 up, I got it back to win 3-1. Next was David Neads, a good darting character, been around a while and always going to be a test for anybody. The Welshman went 2-0 up for which he then had 2 darts at tops to win the match. I was able to come back and win this one 3-2, we all have to play your get out of jail card at some point, and this was probably the one I thought. I then beat Devons Mark Kneebone 3-0 to win my group. Now I had guaranteed points it was time to settle down. Group 5 winner was Jamie Robinson, and I knew I had a tough one against him as he’d just beat Stephen Bunting the game before. He went straight to a 2-0 lead where I played my get out of jail card again to come back and win it 3-2. This took me to the last 8 and the staged finals for the 2nd year in a row. I then had to play Martin “Wolfie” Adams, losing 2-1 with Martin playing his get out of jail card when I had 3 darts at double 9 to win the match.  British Pentathlon The day before the pentathlon I was opening the local village fete, held at my Primary school, less than a mile from where I live. This is the kind of thing that keeps me close to home, and seeing all the local village people and my old primary school friends keeps my feet on the ground. We then headed down to have the usual dinner date with Sally and John Walton. I finished 5th in the Pentathlon, 6 points less than last year, showing the standard had gone up this year, which John boy Walton turned over Martin Adams to win it. It’s a really great day of darts and if you ever get invited, make sure you take up the offer. England Open   I won my first game to Jamie Fuller of Berkshire 3-0, then unfortunately drew Dorset youth captain Carl Beattie who was staying with us in our caravan, beating him 3-0 as well. I then played Alan Bond of Middlesex and narrowly beat him 3-2. I then played a tough, tough opponent and a good friend Mark Cairney beating him 3-0 taking me into a game again Stephen Bunting in the group final. At 2-1 down I had one dart at tops to take it to 2-2, and missed with Steve shooting out on 74, leaving me with a 3-1 exit. Last 32 though and was happy with the points. Also I had a mini-bus load of guys to come down from St-Ives club to watch me. All turned up in pink shirts, thanks for doing that guys, it made it a very special day, and it was lovely to have your support. In the pairs I played with Paul Carter, and we lost in the semi-finals to Ronnie Goodbeer and Mark Harris 3-2. All in all a very good month for me. Picked up a lot of points filling more boxes for me, settling me down a bit, enabling me to just play each game as it comes.