COLIN MONK CLASSIC RANKING SINGLES 2008

Colin Monk Classic Ranking Competition

Gary Scratchley of Devizes seen above pictured with Paul Parry (Hampshire Executive Cars)

Gary Scratchley defeated Andover’s Arron Monk 5-2 (right) in the final of the 2008 Colin Monk Classic Ranking singles at the Entertainer last Saturday.

Scratchley was good value for his second ranking title averaging nearly 29 a dart but Arron (26.46) will be encouraged by his overall performance despite missing 4 darts at a double in what turned out to be the deciding leg.

Scratchley beat Mark Cox (pictured below) in the semi final by the same score averaging 30.47 and 31.50 respectively in a cracking game while Monk had beaten Andover super league team mate Dennis Simpson (also pictured below)  without dropping a leg.

Both finalists had tough board finals, Monk beating his super league captain Jeff White whilst Hampshire ‘A’ Jason Cook will rue missed doubles that should have seen him contesting the staged finals.

Cox had amongst others beaten Eddie Edmondson, Mark Thorne and Johnny Haines.   Simpson’s conquests included Dave Long, Darren Barnes and Vince Tipple.

An excellent day’s darts included some impressive performances including Jeff White’s 4 maximums that were needed to see off Roy Lowe,

 Edmondson’s defeat of Hampshire’s Kevin Ede and Wiltshire’s Martin Richell and Lenita March’s never-say-die performance against the talented Jamie Kelling.

 Eleven Academy players took part gaining more match practice against experienced opposition and are all coming to terms with a longer format, an early start and conquering their nerves.

Charlotte Burgess, Samantha and Christine Pike showed great composure and potential for their tender years continually pitching up against vastly experienced opponents in a male dominated sport.

Dominic Ware lost a deciding leg against Mick Raynsford, 13 year old Billy Day, James Daley, Dan Barnes, Gary Thorne are all on the verge of making the break through to the next level while Unicorn’s newest recruit Sean White had a rare off day. Most pleasing on the day was Karl Brooks’ first ever Classic ranking win, the first of many we all hope.

Andover players contested 9 of the last 16 places, 4 of the last 8 with 2 making the semi finals of a very respectable field of 64.

Winner Gary Scratchley (Devizes) £200:

Runner up Arron Monk (Andover) £100:

Dennis Simpson	Mark Cox

Semi Finalists Dennis Simpson (Andover), Mark Cox (Wiltshire) both £50

Quarter Finalists, Jeff White (Andover), Jason Cook (Southampton) Eddie Edmondson (Andover), Dave Long (Southampton) all £25 each.

Best Lady, Lenita March and Charlotte Burgess (£20 shared)

Best Academy, Arron Monk £20.