The finals and presentation night for the 2016-17 Season were held at Marden Residents Association on

Friday 2nd June 2017 with the following results:

TKO Plate Final (Best of 5 x 1001 - Double Start)

Marden Club B 3 – 2 Phoenix Tap B

This was the Tap B’s first time in a final and they took a while to settle with Marden B taking leg. Tap B pulled level in

leg 2 but this spurred Marden onto better scoring throughout and they took legs 3 and 4 comfortably to win.

(No prize money in Plate)

Plate Champions (Mattie Richardson) Marden Club Plate Runner Up (Lee Robinson) Phoenix Tap B

Main TKO Final (Best of 5x 1001 - Double Start)

Red Lion B 3 – 2 Whitley Lodge SC-A

The Earsdon lads were blown away in legs 1 and 2 as The Lodge scored at will (180 - Tommy Norton L1) and looked

nailed on to defend the title. Leg 3 was closer with George Edger hitting a ton to leave 32 and Robbie Parker hitting

85 to leave 40 but it then descended into a doubles shambles (at this level) from both sides as each team had 15

missed darts to take the leg with Davey Porritt eventually grabbing the opportunity when it was presented.

The response from both sides was excellent and leg 4 saw George Edger off with a 120 and Robbie with a 100 and

the standard was maintained with the Chris Matthews hitting a 180 but even with that the Lion slightly edged the

scoring and George Edger took out a 108 to take it to the deciding leg. Geordie definitely had the bit between his

teeth and in leg 5 got off with a 105, Robbie answered with 80 and we were away. The difference was a whisker

coming down with the Lion just hitting that odd 20 with the last dart when the lodge were hitting 15 and this gave

the slight advantage to Michael Wood with the first double opportunity on 32 which he took out cleanly to take the

win.

This game epitomised how simultaneously mad and exciting this sport is and as a consequence meant The Lion B

were unbeaten in all Team games (league or competition) throughout the entire season.

Winners £40.00 - Losers £20.00

TKO Champions (Kevin Timmons) Red Lion B TKO Runner Up (Stevie Thompson) WLSC-B

Doubles Semi Finals (Best of 5 x 801 - Double Start)

Ian Gleeson & Michael Wood beat Alan Middlemiss & Gary Wilson 3 - 0

Chris Matthews & Robbie Parker beat Connor Jones & Greg Falcus 3 - 0

A valiant effort by Connor, playing on his own due to Greg not being able to attend saw him hit a 180 in leg 1 to

remind his opponents that he was there but realistically he held zero chance of beating Robbie and Chris who won in

straight legs.

Ian and Michael won a sluggish first leg with only Gary scoring well then, they all settled in leg 2. Gleeo missed a 164-

bull finish by the width of the wire and Michael tidied up with the Monkseaton Arms lads sitting on 145.

Leg 3 saw both Alan and Gary coming back into it but a 180 from Michael was the telling shot that led to the win in

straight legs.

Losers £10.00

Doubles Final (Best of 5 x 801 - Double Start)

Chris Matthews & Robbie Parker beat Ian Gleeson & Michael Wood 3 - 1

A good standard throughout saw Chris & Robbie come through to defend their doubles crown and record a hat trick

of titles. They outscored the Red Lion lads in legs 1 and 2, leg 3 was much tighter with Michael taking out a 105 finish

and leg 4 saw Robbie wire a 132 finish after hitting the two bulls. Chris wrapped it up in his next visit to close out a

good game.

Winners £40.00, Losers £20.00

3 x Doubles Champions - Chris Matthews Robbie Parker Runners Up - Ian Gleeson & Michael Wood

Singles Semi Finals (Best of 5 x 501 - Double Start)

Paul Hodge beat John Purcell 3 - 1

Tommy Charlton beat Connor Jones 3 - 0

The first match saw John settle the soonest to take leg 1. Leg 2 saw both take a couple of visits to get away and Paul

edged that one to draw level. John immediately bounced back with his best leg to 2-1 up. Paul picked up the

gauntlet and a superbly timed 140 left him 32 which he took out to force the deciding leg. As ever it was a tight affair

coming down and Paul took advantage of a visit without a treble by John to lead down to the double top which he

split and then took the double 10 to go through.

The second match was prescient with Tommy simply on fire and Connor struggled to answer. We can’t be sure if the

Doubles match previously had affected Connor but in any event, he would have needed to find his best possible

darts to stop the Tynemouth Titan. Leg 1 saw Tommy scoring heavily to take it, in leg 2 he blasted in a 16 darter and

in leg 3 he took out in 18 darts with a 116 finish. A superb display by any measure.

Losers £10.00

Singles Final (Best of 5 x 501 - Double Start)

Tommy Charlton beat Paul Hodge 3 - 0

What a final – Tommy was straight out the traps and took leg 1 in 21 darts which stunned Paul a touch and he

struggled to get a double away in leg 2. Tommy just bounced on and was sitting on 116 after 12 darts. Paul was

improving but Tommy took the double. Leg 3 was an absolute belter and saw Paul get away clean and with some

excellent scoring was on 161 after 9, 62 after 12 and needing double top after 15 darts. He didn’t get the chance

though as Tommy had closed the gap enough to smash in a 111 checkout to take the title amidst a huge roar from

the room. Sometimes momentum and a touch of magic can visit players and wraps around them in games. We

witnessed that last night with Tommy who just seemed destined to win it. Paul Hodge is a class man and the manner

in which he accepted his defeat is a shining example to everyone playing this game.

Winner £40.00, Loser £20.00

Singles Champion - Tommy Charlton Singles Runner Up – Paul Hodge

Three Top Lads – Paul Hodge, Tommy Charlton, Gunnar Hosie

Individual Awards

Highest Checkout (164) George Edger

Most 180 Scores (8 from 23 played) Chris Matthews

Most Ton Plus Scores - Four players this year made it into the 90’s, Paul Hodge on 91, Greg Falcus on 96 and both

Robbie Parker and Chris Matthews on 99, however in a tie situation we look at the number of games played and

having played four games fewer the award goes to Robbie Parker.

Most Ton Plus Checkouts – (with 2 each) Kev Jones wins as he did his in only 15 games played.

Kev Jones – 15 / Dave Raine – 16 / John Purcell – 19 / Ian Gleeson – 19 / Karl Forman – 20 / Tommy Norton - 22

Alan Middlemiss – 23 / Jonathon Russell – 23 / Peter Russell – 23

Shortest Leg 501 - Pushed by Ian Gleeson, Paul Hodge and Gordon Fitzgibbon on 14 darts he took the award in the

second game of the season with a 13-dart leg - Chris Matthews (never mind shortest leg, check out those legs)

Most Singles Wins

100% Record of games played and games won with 21 – the quiet man himself Mark Stephenson

Mark was unavailable for a photograph

Most Improved Player - This has been difficult this season as so many of the largest shifts in stats are as a result of

those guys who joined this year and played really well, examples being Phil Christie and Christian Hollier of Tap B and

Jonathon Russell and Adam O’Hare of Monkseaton Arms however it has to be seen from a perspective of

improvement from the season before so here are your most improved players,

Dave Raine, Berkeley Tavern – Quietly getting better all the time.

Gary Wallace, Victoria – started like a steam train but fell away slightly.

Adam Taylor Christianson, Monkseaton Arms – Excellent season at the head of certainly the most improved team in

the league.

Joe Simpson, WLSCB – moved teams and improved across the board as a result.

3rd Place - Mark Fenton, WLSCA – getting more games in and proving he can still do it when selected.

RU - Simon Malpass, Victoria – settled now and proving how hard he is to beat week in, week out.

This year’s winner has proved his quality within in a settled and supportive team and has consistently delivered

points. Additionally, having made it through to a major competition semi-final/final here tonight.

Moved from 47th last season to 14th place this time around your winner is

Gary Wilson, Monkseaton Arms

MIP 2016-17 - Gary Wilson

Hall of Fame Inductees

This year we are introducing a new award to establish a league “Hall of Fame”

Each year individuals will be inducted into it for their “General Contribution” to the league over a period of time,

however they will ideally still be active players as the intent is not to award anything posthumously.

The numbers in any given year can change depending upon those who have been nominated by the membership.

The committee will adjudicate on the nominations and award those they consider to be most appropriate and

deserving.

In this inaugural year however the following three have been chosen independently by your league Secretary:

The first name in the hall of fame goes to a guy who has made the league an integral part of his life for as long as he

has been able to throw a dart. A former committee member for many years and up to only recently still someone

you would want to avoid in the draw. Mostly though he is being recognised for the way in which he has always

played the game, which is with a massive smile on his face - Mr Maurice Cook.

Hall of Fame 2017 - Maurice Cook (right)

Secondly – a guy who for the last 40 years has epitomised the very meaning of the word competitive. Despite having

the ability to play in any league he likes he has remained loyal to this one. A proper darts player, a gentleman and

still a fierce competitor into his sixties (as most ably demonstrated in the TKO earlier) has built him the following

record.

Multiple League Champion in various teams, Singles Champion and Runner Up, 2 x Bobby Bourn Champion,

Brian Spowart Summer Cup Champion, Doubles Runner Up, 1 x Leagues Highest Checkout, 1x Leagues Most Singles

wins - Mr George Edger.

Hall of Fame 2017- George Edger

Finally, this year a top, top fellow who does not carry drop of ego but who has a relentless ability to win.

Quite simply he is a seasoned winning machine whose consistent ability to hit high scores and doubles under

pressure, with or without a partner has built him this most enviable of records.

Another multiple League Champion, 2 x Singles Champion, 2 x Double Champion, Bobby Bourn Champion and runner

up, 2 x 3-a-side Champion, Data-Dart Doubles Champion and 2 x World of Darts Singles Runner, 1 x Leagues Highest

Checkout, 1 x leagues Most 180’s and 5 x League Most Singles wins.

Mr Mattie Richardson.

Hall of Fame - Mattie Richardson - 2017

Thanks to Your League Committee

Greg Falcus – website, results and statistics

Gavin Hosie – Domino cards and other competition related matters.

Kevin Timmons – Smooth running of our competitions.

Gunnar Hosie - does more behind the scenes than most of you will ever know or perhaps would credit him for.

Brian Falcus – takes and appreciates all the help he can get from those above.

Final League Places and Prize Monies

13th Place - The Seahorse - £185.00

Wooden spoon winners who had an influx of new players but fell short in the end.

12th Place – Phoenix Tap B - £190.00

An excellent first season with some very good individual performances among a set of lads who have been nothing

but a breath of fresh air to the league.

11th Place – Marden Club A - £195.00

Up one place from last year and struggled a bit with injuries and personnel but looking to bounce on.

10th Place - Berkeley Tavern - £200.00

Despite “Moving Up” in their own venue they have spoiled the most consistent record in the league, 9th for 6 years

running by dropping one place, they do however remain one of the best nights out in terms of banter and welcome.

9th Place – Tynemouth Club – £205.00

Another side dropping one slot from last year. They have their moments but on paper as a team should probably be

higher up the league.

8th Place - Whitley Lodge SC-B - £210.00

A significant change of playing staff saw them drop two places from 6th and another team that on paper should do

better playing under one of the most charismatic skippers in the league.

7th Place – Monkseaton Arms – £215.00

The most improved team in the league with a rise of four places from 11th and just shows what a smaller committed

group of players can do. Watch out for further improvements next season.

6th Place – The Phoenix Tap A – £220.00

A very strong showing to rise one place and would certainly have done more had they not been hampered with a

shortage of players in the run in.

5th Place – The Red Lion A – £225.00

A very poor first half was saved by a much-improved run in to claim 5th amongst a very competitive section of the

table. Despite being frustrated with them for large sections of the season I love them all really.

4th Place – Marden Club B - £240.00

A difficult team to beat who drop one slot and who were hampered all season long with a shortage of players, which

has effected morale as much as points. New signings are in the offing and as a result they will probably come back

stronger than ever.

3rd Place – The Victoria – £250.00

To come from another league and find their feet so quickly in this their second season is testament to both the team

spirit and individual talent they can call upon. To see them claim 3rd Place with several games to go is a fantastic

achievement that they should be justly proud of.

Runners Up – Whitley Lodge SC A – £270.00

This group of players deserve nothing but respect for the challenge they continue to put up in the league. This is the

fourth time in five years they have been second and would in any other era be perennial champions.

Champions – The Red Lion B – £295.00

For the 5th consecutive year which sets a modern record and despite the challenge thrown to them they continue to

meet and beat it in every sense. Unbeaten in all team games (including the TKO tonight), The six regular players in

the top 7 individual places in the league, and in one six game spell from February to April took 70 points from the 72

available indicates they are improving year on year.

(Kevin Timmons pictured below with league trophy)

And Finally

If you have taken any notice of the amounts of prize monies presented tonight you will know that we owe a huge

thank you to Marden Club, Its committee, members and staff for the fantastic support and sponsorship of our

league. They also support the Ladies Darts along with The Tuesday Night League proving they are a vital part of the

sport in the coast area.

The regular volunteer markers without whom the competition nights would not run so smoothly and especially to

Mark Fenton, Andy Cochrane and Craig Williamson on the night.

The biggest thanks of all however go to you the players and supporters of our wonderful game.

We will see you at the Brian Spowart Summer Cup on 7th July.

Other Pictures

Tap B - preparing for their first final Practice Time

Gunnar Hosie “being amusing” Gavin Hosie “being serious” Report by - Brian Falcus 03/06/17