Singles League

October saw the eighth season of the Orkney Darts Association’s Single League get underway with a record forty nine players starting the season and by the end of the month 90 of the 96 scheduled games had been contested.

Nowhere was it closer than at the top of League 1 with one game separating the top three players with defending champion Stevie Linklater, Brian Moar and Robbie Stanger all finishing with three wins and one defeat. Stevie and Brian’s leg difference was one better than Robbie’s so Brian pipped Stevie for the top spot by virtue of having scored one more leg.

In League 2 Derek Farmer and Leigh Shearer had three wins apiece to gain promotion to League 1. Leigh’s three wins included a whitewash 9-0 win over Michael Muir Snr. Despite only playing three games Brian Murray finished in third place with two wins and retains his place in League 2 in November.

Martin Peace was the top player in League 3 with four wins out of four although he was pushed all the way by Ben Hogan before eventually winning 9-8. Ben joins Martin in League 2 just edging out Neil Drever on leg difference after both players finished the month with two wins each.

Kenny Gillespie started his first season in the Singles League in style by winning his four games comfortably, losing only eleven legs on the way – a record for League 4. Joining Kenny in League 3 in November is Robert Gatt who finished the month on seven points. David Fitzpatrick, another newcomer to the League, had a great 9-0 win over Craig Moar to finish in third with two wins.

League 5 was very close, going right down to the last game to decide who was promoted and relegated. Stuart Thomson, another newcomer, finished top of the league with four wins including two 9-8 wins over Gary Wilson and John Hamilton. In the last game of the month Gary Wilson played Derek Manson with the winner gaining promotion and the loser being relegated and despite Gary having a 180 and a 106 checkout Derek held out to win 9-7 and move up to League 4. Cammy Scott beat Gary Wilson and John Hamilton to remain in League 5.

In League 6 Matthew Wylie beat Steven Groat 9-8 but it was Steven that finished top of the league on leg difference from Matthew after both players won three games. Elizabeth Irvine beat Shona Gray in the top ladies game to secure third place with two wins.

Olly Bethwaite, Ian Carse, Jean Scott and Ann Sutherland played well to win all their games to finish top of Leagues 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively. Olly had close wins over Neil Twatt and Richie Ballantyne and 118 and 100 checkouts helped him to a 9-8 win over Erlend Lennie. Ian Carse had a 102 checkout in his 9-5 win over Andrew Watson. Jean was on top form winning all her games comfortably including a 9-0 win over Tracey Mathieson and a 9-1 win over Di Rendall which also included a 102 checkout. Ann’s toughest game was against Sarah Petrie which she won 9-8 with the help of a 100 checkout along the way.

Fifteen players scored thirty three 180s in October. It is no surprise that Robbie Stanger had the most with eight closely followed by Stevie Linklater on six. They had three apiece in their game which Stevie won 9-6. Stevie also had three 180s in his 9-2 win over Iain Wilkie and Robbie had three in his 9-2 win over Bruce Moar. Neil Drever had the third most with three.

Twenty players scored thirty ton plus checkouts in the first month of the new season. Stevie Linklater had the most with five. He had 129, 122 and 101 checkouts against Iain Wilkie and 132 and 101 checks against Bruce Moar. Ray Butcher had 121, 116 and 113 checkouts to finish the month with the second most checkouts. Iain Wilkie had an excellent 160 checkout against Stevie Linklater which would be highest most months but not this time. October’s highest checkout was Linda Harcus’s 161 versus Ian Carse. Linda’s consolation for losing the game 7-9 is her 161 is the highest ever checkout by a lady in the Singles League beating Cath Clyde’s 157 versus Ray Findlay from January 2008.

All players are reminded it is the responsibility of both players to organise their games and don’t leave it to the last minute particularly if there is a restriction in dates available to play the games. All players are also reminded to respect not only their opponents but also the players on adjacent boards too. Continued failure to follow these guidelines will lead to elimination from the league.

GBM