ANDOVER INVITATION DARTS

Roger Smith of Transplus with Dennis Smith		Flapper Parfett with Cliff Lazarenko

5^th Transplus Andover Invitation Darts Classic

The town’s most valuable darts event ever takes place at the Entertainer at the weekend with nearly £5000 in prize money and trophies being contested by a field of 64 players.

Local businesses have once again dug deep to back this most prestigious of competitions which has now become a highlight on the darting calendar.

Local logistics experts Transplus are again the main sponsors but another fourteen companies have boosted the prize fund which allows the winners purse to be raised to £1500.

Andover Invitation Darts wish to extend their most sincere thanks to: Ability Associates, Andover Fork Truck Services, BTLS Hayley, EPC with Us, Hampshire Executive Cars, International Furniture, JB Motors, JM White Plastering, Ken White Distribution, Leigh Williams, S Samways Electrical, South West Taverns, Scott Beck Paving and Landscaping, TC Baxter Builders and West Portway MOT for their continued support which is sustaining growth from grass roots level to that of the professional circuit.

Last year’s champion Dennis Smith is returning to defend his title but will face a strong challenge from previous winners Mark Walsh and Andy Jenkins plus six more PDC television stars.

Making up the list of invitees are The ‘Fen Tiger’ Peter Evison, Diamond Dave Askew, local hero Colin Monk, this year’s runner up in the World Championships Kirk Shepherd and the legendary Cliff Lazarenko. Local lads, Jamie Kelling, Arron Monk, Ben Simpson and Sean White are cutting their teeth on the PDC circuit this year and Sam Rooney, Mick Savvery, and Aaron Turner are now established performers there.

In addition to the before mentioned is an array of BDO county stars that include Hampshire’s Kevin Ede, Nillson Pritchard, Jason Cook, Mark Haskett and Danny Ballard, Berkshire’s Dan Woodcraft, Surrey’s John Brine and Wiltshire’s Paul Cook and the talented maverick Johnny Haines.

Andover’s main challenge is expected to come from Jeff White, Mark Thorne and Ali MacDonald but there are many more local players that have performed admirably in Classic ranking events this year that are capable of producing upsets and could well contest the latter stages of what promises to be an intriguing 5^th Andover Classic.

21 year-old Kirk Shepherd (pictured right), runner-up in the Ladbroke.com World Championships, will be making his Transplus debut.     As a member of Team Unicorn, the 500-1 outsider, who captured thenation's imagination, will be a big hit - especially with the youngsters at the Town's Academy.

Full list of Competitors

Ivor Andrews, Dave Askew, Ron Atwill, Chris Bailey, Peter Bailey, Darren Barnes, Gary Brant, John Brine, Paul Britten, Charlotte Burgess, Dan Clayton, Jason Cook, Paul Cook, Adam Dallimore, Danny Ballard, Billy Day, Nigel Day, Andy Deavall, Colin Denyer, Kevin Ede, Eddie Edmondson, Paul Evison, Richie Ford, John Gaffney, Craig Griffiths, Johnny Haines, Mark Haskett, Dale Headech, Linton Hickman, Martin Hitchins, Sean Howerd, Andy Jenkins, Gary Johnson, Jamie Kelling, Cliff Lazarenko, Trevor Lewis, Peter Lisle, Ali MacDonald, Arron Monk, Colin Monk, Ian Nicholson, Flapper Parfett, Dave Parker, Paul Parry, Gary Penwarden, Nillson Pritchard, Mick Raynsford, Paul Reidy, Sam Rooney, Mick Savvery, Gary Scratchley, Kirk Shepherd, Dennis Simpson, Steve Turner, Tom Stewart, Gary Thorne, Mark Thorne, Aaron Turner, Mark Walsh, Dickie White, Jeff White, Sean White and Dan Woodcraft.

Prize Money:

Champion: £1500, Runner Up: £750, Semi Finalists £350, Quarter Finalists £150, Last 16: £75, Highest Check Out £350, Academy achievement awards £80.

Invitation Winter League

Week18

With just three rounds of league matches remaining, Wolves look set to retain their title after increasing their lead at the top to 18 points. The battle for runners up spot is far closer as only six points separate Wyke Down, Boro Porkys and Merlin Mercenaries in fourth.     MORE

Micky Collins Memorial Classic Ranking Singles Sponsored by the Pub Group Ltd

2letwithus Gary Wooltorton		Peter Johnson of BTLS Hayley

The final Classic ranking event before this year’s Transplus Classic was yet another sell-out and another triumph for Gary Scratchley.

In a top class final Scratchley defeated Reading’s Dan Woodcraft (£100), to collect the £200 winner’s prize and trophy from Micky’s widow Totty.

The semi finalists were Chute’s Chris Bailey (£50), who despite checkout’s of 110 and 120 was unable to match Woodcraft’s scoring power and Kevin Ede (£50), who’s two maximums and ten ton plus scores was not enough to dislodge the eventual winner.

The final witnessed a further six one-eighties and 22 scores of a hundred or more in a closely contested affair.

Gary Hiscock and three more Andover league players in Ali MacDonald, John Gaffney and Darren Barnes collected £25 each for a last eight berth while Arron Monk shrugged off his England disappointment to collect the best academy award with team-mate Charlotte Burgess receiving the best lady prize.

5^th Transplus Andover Invitation Darts Classic

With the Transplus Classic barely a week away the organisers are delighted to confirm that local residential lettings and property experts ‘2 Let with Us’ and BTLS Hayley the largest independent provider of engineering supplies will again be sponsoring this year’s Classic.

Pictured are Gary Wooltorton and Peter Johnson who have respectively backed the successful John Taylor and Sharron Bale mixed pairs tournaments this season.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

Arron Monk who was due to represent England versus the Rest of Europe this weekend at Lakeside was incredibly de-selected by the B.D.O. In an amazing about turn it is understood that his crime is to play in the PDC as well as the BDO and for that he is unwelcome in their ranks. The Academy is awaiting a full explanation.

Back at the Academy, Molly Dawkins won the first junior darts-athlon from Harry Lawton  ...........MORE

Invitation Winter League

Week17

WOLVES 16: MERLIN MERCENARIES 10.

Pairs 2-4: Singles Winners Wolves: Vince Tipple and Jeff White both (4-1), Mark Thorne and Ali MacDonald both (3-2).    MORE

Sad time for Arron Monk  - see link here

18th March

Roger Smith of Transplus with Jeff White of J.M. White Plastering.

5^th Transplus Andover Invitation Darts Classic

Andover Invitation Darts and title sponsors Transplus are delighted to announce that there will be a significant increase in prize money for this year’s competition. Details will be released over the next fortnight along with the professionals lined up to take part in the event that is now widely talked about on the professional circuit. 

Top local darter Jeff White with his company J.M. White Plastering is also backing the event for a second successive year. 

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

Top performers at last week’s Academy sessions were Jordan Edmonds and Kelly Paine in the juniors.   MORE

Invitation Winter League

After round 16 of the league only 15 points separate the top four teams. MORE

P.D.C.

Three more young and ambitious Andover darters have embarked on the arduous road to professionalism by joining the PDC and have made any early impact. Sean White, Arron Monk and Dennis Simpson were in action at Brentwood last weekend for the Blue Square regionals. Each acquitted themselves well and made good progress through the early rounds gaining priceless experience. White and Simpson eventually lost 1-5 to ‘Premier League’ Peter Manley and Terry Jenkins respectively. Monk lasted a round further before succumbing to Holland’s Vincent van de Voort but not before pocketing £100 winnings.

Micky Collins Memorial Classic Ranking Singles Sponsored by the Pub Group Ltd

Only a handful of places remain for the second Micky Collins singles taking place at the Entertainer on Saturday 22^nd March. The competition is the last before this year’s April Classic and with an entry fee of £5 players wishing to enter should do so before Wednesday 19^th. There is £200 for the winner and over £500 in prize money being paid out to the last 8, last year’s winner was Kevin Ede who defeated Andover’s Jeff White in an exciting final.

5^th Transplus Andover Invitation Darts Classic

Andover Invitation Darts are delighted to announce that Transplus will again be the title sponsors of this year’s Classic. The local UK parcel and pallet distribution experts are continuing to help raise the profile of Andover darts on a national scale and are synonymous with sporting sponsorship. Hampshire Executive Cars will also be sponsoring this years Classic.

 Proprietor Paul Parry is sponsor of the highly successful Colin Monk singles and the Classic is very proud and honoured to have such a reputable company involved with the event.

Unicorn Darts Youth Academy

Round one of this year’s Darts-athlon discipline saw an excellent level of commitment and performance.

In the ladies section, Chelsea Newman 35 points, is the overall leader by one from Sam Pike and Mel Oakley.   MORE

Invitation Winter League

Individual tables are lead by Jeff White in the legs won and tons tables on 58 and 161 respectively. Mark Thorne still holds the fastest leg with an 11 darter. Darren Barnes 161 checkout is still top as is Kevin Ede in the 180 charts with 14.  MORE

North Hants Super League

Andover dominated the North Hants knock outs last Sunday as the town’s ‘A’ side beat the ‘B’ in the team knock out final. Arron Monk reached yet another singles final this time losing out.  

Micky Collins Memorial Classic Ranking Singles Sponsored by the Pub Group Ltd

Entries are now being accepted for the second Micky Collins singles in memory of a dear friend of Andover darts. The competition, the last before this year’s Classic takes place at the Entertainer on Saturday 22^nd March with an entry fee of £5. With £200 for the winner and over £500 in prize money being paid out to the last 8, last year’s winner was Kevin Ede who overcame Jeff White in the closest of finals.