West Lothian Dart's News.

Jims Darts Diary

webassets/updated2.gif

BENTSWOOD OPEN
Saturday 25th February
£250 guaranteed prize fund
£5 entry 12.30 register toe the ocky 1pm
You have to be in it to win it!

FORTH COMING ATTRACTIONS THAT IS IF YOU ARE A DART PLAYER OF COURSE.
Saturday 21st January Scottish Mixed Pairs Final Bannockburn
Saturday 28th January Murray Bar Open Grand Final
Sunday 29th January West Lothian county match away to Borders venue Kelso
Saturday 4th February Crown Inn Bo'Ness Open Darts Competition 12.30 registration Toe the ocky 1pm
£5 entry £500 in the prize fund
Saturday the 4th February Super League doubles at Breich social club 1.30 for 2pm
Saturday the 4th February Wiremill social club Mussleburgh Open Singles.
Saturday 11th February West Lothian county home to Ayrshire Breich Social Club
Saturday 18th February Scottish Open Singles Normandy Hotel Renfrew Glasgow
(entries into S.D.A. by the 31st January)
Sunday 19th February Scottish Open Pairs competition Normandy Hotel Renfrew Glasgow
(enter on the Saturday 19th Feb)
Monday 20th February Ted Hankey & Gary Robson exhibition East Calder Doo Club
(sold out)
Saturday 3rd March West Lothian county match away to Lanarkshire
Sunday the 11th March The Lanarkshire Open Darts Championship Airdrie working mens club
11 am for 12 noon toe the ocky
Prize fund is £750 first prize for the men's winner and £200 first prize for the Ladies winner. £4.50 entry if pre-paid £6 on the day
Saturday 31st March West Lothian county home to West Ayrshire

WEST LOTHIAN V BORDERS at KELSO 29th January
Bus Times
Armadale 8.50. Whitburn 9.00. Breich 9.05. Lizzie Bryce round about 9.15. Black Bull Mid Calder 9.25. Grove East Calder 9.30.
Dont be late folks as it is a wee bit down the road to Kelso British Legion.
See you there.

EXHIBITION NIGHT
Looks like this is now a sell out with the last few tickets going out to night to Ross Colqhuon.
So please all you dart players out there who have said you want tickets PLEASE make sure your money for them is with your team captain's-delegates for the next meeting.
Next meeting is the first Wednesday of the month that being February the 1st at the Tower Bar in Craigshill. Now if there are tickets returned or people who have asked for them but not paid. These tickets will go on sale to the general public. This was discussed at a meeting many months ago and all teams agreed to it. So if you are coming to this exhibition night PLEASE give your ticket money to your team delegate for the meeting. If this exhibition is like others that we have run it should be a cracker so please if you have asked for tickets and have now decided you don't want to come let us know so we can offer them to people who may not have had the opportunity of getting them!
Thank -you
Jim Mitchell Chairman/Treasurer
W.C.D.D.L.

W.C.D.D.L.
Proudly present
Twice B.D.O. Champion of the world 2000 & 2009
The Count
Mr Ted Hankey

Ted Hankey - two-time World Champion, darts most compelling character and the only player
in the game to throw from the dark side of the oche.

Known as 'The Count', this darting vampire is repulsed by garlic, crucifixes ...... and dart fans
who don't pay him due respect.

He is immune to conventional means of attack, so unless you have a wooden stake at your disposal,
your boos and shrieks of disenchantment are wasted!

Also partnering up with the man from the dark side
we welcome back a man who has entertained us quite royaly twice before
the one and only and the reighning English Open champion for 2011
Mr Gary Robson
Known as Robbo
On one of our leagues first moves into the exhibition circuit Gary came up by car from Newcastle in
extreme weather conditions. To put people in the picture
roads were closed all across west lothian some parts of the county were quite simply impassable
and roads were closed off to the rest of the world on that night.
But Robbo the entertainer that he is
drove up from the south to entertain us with a fantastic exhibition of arrow throwing on the night.
Along with Scottish international and twice Scottish master champion Alec Lister.
So Monday the 20th February day after the Scottish open
these two gentlemen of the ockey will be in exhibition
at the East Calder Doo Club.
Tickets will go on sale later in the year and I do believe they will go like hot cakes
as this season the league will be advertising in the West Lothian Courier
so team captains please let your players know!
When released the tickets will be on a first come first sold basis!!!

West Calder & District Darts League
Monday 23 January
The venue was the East Calder Homing Society Club Langton Road East Calder venue for the Monday nights darts tournaments in this league.
This week it saw the top players in the area come together to try and win one of the leagues hardest competitions the 301 double start competition. This is the old fashioned way of playing darts it was well established way before the new more often seen game of 501 straight start we see now on the television came into being.
On the night no fewer than 57 of the league’s top arrow throwers took to the ocky to try and claim the title. After some terrific battles it saw the quarter finalists line up like this
Ross Burnside (Paraffin Lamp Ruffnecks Livingston) 0 -3 Davie Nisbet (Volunteer Highwaymen Uphall)
Colin Robertson (Volunteer Highway Men Uphall) 3-1 Joe Devlin (Tower Bar Knights Craigshill)
Gordon Bruce (Paraffin Lamp Brigands Livingston) 3-2 Jim Mitchell (Paraffin Lamp Brigands Livingston)
Saun Robertson (Harrysmuir Warriors Ladywell) 3-1 Bob Hall (McMillan’s Highlanders Deans)
Into the semi finals it saw Saun Robertson get the better of defending champion Gordon Bruce by a score of 3 games to 1.And the other semi final saw Colin Robertson take out his team mate Davie Nisbet by the same score line of 3 games to 1 as well.
So the Grand Finale was a family affair with uncle and nephew going head to head to see who would take the crown of 301 champion for 2012. Well I am afraid to say the young pretender will have to wait for another year as the old seasoned head of one of the area’s top protagonists Colin Robertson took the title with some excellent arrows final score was Colin 4 Saun 1. Well played to both players who did what no one else did. The secret they hit more doubles than anyone else.
Well played the family Robertson.
Now some statistics of the evening’s entertainment goes like this.
New player in the league Robert Hutchison from the Paraffin Lamp Ruffnecks taking out an excellent 118 game shot. Sandy the Candy Man Coulter from Knightsridge finishing on a 92 game shot.
Three players taking out an 82 finish were Bob Hall who at 80 years shows that age is no barrier in this sport. West Lothian county player Stevie Scott of the Doo Club Flyer's a man who I admire very much for his imitation beard he keeps appearing with! and of course Saun Robertson of the Harrysmuir Warriors a man who who came south from the highlands a few seasons ago and rumour has it that the farmers back home in Wick were starting to get a bit bothered as they were starting to think it was not just their daughters they had to worry about I wonder why they call him Sheep! were also on target with 82 finishes as well. The Mighty Quinn otherwise known as Jimmy Quinn of Harthill was finishing in style with cracking 96 take out. Colin Robertson the man they call the Marshall who likes to keep everyone in line by showing who is the law on the dartboard in this area was showing why he is such a deadly shooter with 2 x 114 finishes and a 104 take out as well. But top finish on the night went to Jim Be – Bad Mitchell who does not think there should be any law west of the Calder’s was finishing in style with a classic 152 take out 60-60-32.
Quick games and remember quick games are games finished in 12 darts or under which means you must have a plus 25+ dart average to get a mention and we start with Polbeth Young Gun Kyle Gilmour finishing with 10 & 11 dart games. Colin Robertson 2 x10 & 2 x 12 Dart games. Davie the Hit- Man Aitken from Polbeth a cracking 9 darter. Jim Mitchell 11 darts and 2 x 12 dart games. Gordon Bruce 9 darter followed by 2x12 dart games. But fastest recorded this week was the man from Knightsridge Davie Nisbet with a excellent 8 dart game via 160-99-42 finish excellent shooting in any league. A special mention also to a player and who was the defending champion Gordon Bruce in not one but two excellent 160 starts in the same match.

BANNOCK ROUND UP (Saturday 21st January)
The Scottish mixed pairs event panned out like this. Graeme and Denise Bird from East Calder going out in the last 64 score of 3 legs to 2 against. Also going out in the last 64 was Jim Johnson and Karen Whyte a Whitburn and Breich combination 3 legs to 1. John Charleston and Jan Legget from Uphall won their first match 3 legs to 1. But then bowed out in the last 32 with some silly missed doubles 1 leg to 3. Arron Edwards and Mary Walker of Greenrigg won 3 legs 2 in their first round match but then went down in the last 32 by 3 legs to 2. Congratulations must go to Gary Stone and Susanna Young who won the final from Lanarkshire.

MURRAY BAR QUALIFIER( 21st January)
Murray Qualfier's
With the last two places up for grabs it saw Davie Disco Aitken of West Calder and Harthills top marksman Jim Quinn take the honours of joining the last 16 players standing in the grand final.
First quarter final match up saw Saun Robertson take the first game only for double trouble to set in and the man from Harthill who is known on the circuit as Jim the Mighty Quinn take the next three legs and go through to the final. Next up saw John Brett take the early advantage in going 2 legs clear but his opponent Lorne Mitch Mitchell claimed the next 2 and we had an even match up with a final game decider. This was claimed by John Brett and and into the final he went.
First semi final saw Davie Disco Aitken the man with the dancing feet from West Calder up against a former English county player Big Bob Carroll Bob missed chances in the first leg of this match up and Disco was quick of the mark and took the advantage and claimed the match by 3 games to 0 knocking in a nice 18 darter and a maximum 180 along the way. Final place was up for grabs and it saw local Polbeth darts-man John Mr 170 Brett up against one of the players who represents the county in the Scottish Inter counties league Jim Quinn Jim made no mistakes and a 3 games to 0 win saw the man from Harthill claim the last place in the grand final line up.
Well played to all who took part remember if you ain't in it you cant win it!

WEEK END STARTING (Friday the 21 st January)
The venue was Wee Alec’s bar in Fauldhouse who were host to the Bathgate British legion team in the Friday night darts league. The British were trying to storm the Bastille of brave hearts from Fauldhouse in the shape of former county players Jocky McLaren and Dougie Hogg also in the Wee Alecs team was a former Bathgate singles champion Spencer McDonald along with rising county star Jimmy Johnston of Whitburn. The home team had the advantage of a very good spirited crowd of onlookers who gave it their all in support of the home team. But were very courteous in giving the British Legion the very best of order when they were at the ocky. After the singles it saw the home team hold a very healthy advantage with a score line of 4 games to 2. The Legion however did pull the first doubles match back to bring the overall score to within one match at 4 games to 3 for Wee Alec’s. Unfortunately that was as far as the visitors got as the home team then claimed the next two matches to take a deserved winning score line of 6 games to 3 and two very valuable points and it also saw them keep the pressure on league leaders Coppie’s Bar from Armadale who are yet unbeaten in the league on a Friday night.
RILEY'S WINTER SINGLES.
Saturday it saw a travelling band of West Lothian darters off to the big smoke otherwise known as Auld Reekie for the Riley Snooker and Darts centre Winter Singles at Jocks Lodge in Edinburgh.
Auld Reekie being a quaint Scottish name for our capitol city just a wee bit of information for our readers with a bit of southern blood in their veins!
With over £500 up for grabs there were some top arrow throwers in attendance.
Players making it through to play in this prestige’s tournament were Chris Forsyth who bowed out 2 games to 3 in the early rounds. Davie Nisbet went through 3 games to 1 in the early rounds before going out 2 games to 3 to former Scottish Internationals John Donaldson from Falkirk in his next match. Gordon Bruce also went down fighting in the early rounds 1 game to 3 (to Davie Nisbet). John Rooney was on target early doors recording a fine 3 – 0 win in the first round before double trouble set in and a 3 games to 1 loss then ensued. Jim Mitchell made it through to the money stages at the quarter final round where he found himself 3-0 down a fighting come back saw the match at all square 3 games all but it was not to be and Mitchell then took a seat losing 4 games to 3. However Colin Robertson of Uphall was in scintillating form all day and glided through each round with consummate ease right up until the grand final. This was a match played over 9 x 501 and it saw the match go all the way to the wire before Raymond Hunter of Edinburgh (who is with out a doubt a very classy act he throws his arrows fast but he also hits what he throws for) and that is a very dangerous combination indeed just ask the players he put to bed on the day! Raymond claimed the final game by the tightest of score lines 5 games to 4. A good account was given by the West Lothian contingent on the day but with so many good players in attendance it was always a hard one to win congratulations and commiserations to Colin Robertson on terrific days darts always next year?

Players hitting the big scores on the day were Colin Robertson 2x180. Jim Mitchell 1x180.Davie Nisbet 1x180
Colin Robertson finishing on 76 + 108 +132 take outs.
Quick games by Gordon Bruce 18 dart game. John Rooney 15 & 19 dart games. Jim Mitchell 2x16 darters 1x 17 dart games. Colin Robertson 11 darts scored by 140-140-140-81 game shot also the fastest recorded game of the day. Colin also knocked in 1x14. 1x15. 3x16. 1x17.3x18. 1x19 dart games throughout the day.

Good competition and well played to all the West Lothian players who braved the trip to the Big Smoke.

MONDAY NIGHT RESULTS (16th January)
Reigning league champions the Volunteer Highway Men had no sympathy for former champions of the league McMillan Highlanders putting them to the sword by 6 games to 0 in the singles. Though truth be told had a few doubles chances been taken the score could have read 3 games apiece after the singles matches were finished but it was not to be! The Highlanders did take 2 of the three pairs matches but to little to late so the score for this match up was a 7 game to 2 win for the defending league champions the Volunteer Highway Men. Top scores from the night came from
the man they call the Marshall Colin Robertson finishing in 17&20 darts plus a maximum 180 as well. Also on fire was the man the bookies fear John Betfred Rooney with not-one but 2 x 18 dart games.For the visiting team of McMillan's Matt the Stylish one Purdie was on target with a 180 maximum to add to his tally of top shots for the league tables.

Tower Bar Knights of Craigshill return to winning way's with a tight 5 games to 4 victory over the Murray Bar Nomads from Polbeth
Top games coming from Kyle Gilmour nice 18 dart game Davie Aitken the Polbeth Hit Man finishing in 20 darts. For the home team John Grant was on the maximum 180 trail. Top doubles match came from the visiting team with Kyle Gilmour and Disco Aitken going out in 20 darts.

Paraffin Lamp Ruffnecks secured a hart faught victory over the Murray Bar Y.T. With the match all square after the singles at 3 games each it saw the final double being hit from the travelling Ruffnecks player the Candy Man Sandy Coulter to give them a hard earned 2 points. Top score coming from the man they call Killer Scott Cameron off the Ruffnecks knocking in a maximum 180 top shooting from Scott the Killer Cameron.

Paraffin Lamp Brigands took the points when they hosted another top team in the shape of the Doo Club Flyers with a score line of 7 games to 2.
Top games and scores by way off Gordon THE Bruce 115 & 92 game shots.Marvelous Lee Holland nice 17 darter.Mitchell 15 darter and top doubles game saw Gordon THE Bruce & Marvellous Lee Holland finishing in 17 & 18 dart games.
Almondale Social Club home of the Pirates hosted the Murray Bar Strollers this week. First game on was Chris Cameron who played Alan Wilsonotherwise known as ZOKO with Alan winning 2-0. Next up was John Tannock who played Big Davy Cluness with John taking first leg but back came Davy making it 1-1 only for John to take the next leg and a fine 2 games to 1 win. Scott Begleythen took to the ocky up against Ian Rae shooting for the double it saw Scott take his chances and winning 2 games to 0 with a fine 86 game shot in the second leg. Ian Carmichael was up against one of the leagues few players to have finished a maximum 170 game shot and it saw John Brett take this match 2 games 0. Deans resident Pheasant Plucker Stevie Duncan then took centre stage up against the Quiet Man Brian Mairs and Brian let his darts do the talking and this match went by the score line of 2 games to 0 in favour of the Quiet Man. Next up saw Derek Carmicheal up against an inform Gary Finlayson who with some heavy scoring took the match 2 games to 0. The doubles saw Stevie and John make a game of it at 1-1 against Alan Wilson and Davy Clunessit was all looking good for the home team the Pirates until Alan knocked in one of his trade mark maximum 180's 2-1 to the Murray final score in this match up. Once agin it saw the next match go 2 games to 1 for the visitiors with Ian Rae and John Brett getting the better of Scott Begly and Derek Carmicheal . Final match up of the evening saw Gary Finlaysonabd long time doubles partner Brian Mairs take the final game with a 2 games to 0 win over Davy Smith and Scott Bryson. Final score on the door 7 games to 2 win for the visiting Strollers.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS?
Some big movers in the high checkouts page as well as the maximums table and fast games league tables. Now there are a lot of players who I don't have information for so if you ply your darting skills in this area and you play in a league a competition open's etc. Send the details in and they will be added. Cheers
Jim

COUNTY MIXED PAIRS QUALIFIERS (Sat 14th Jan)
Players making it to Bannockburn are
From Uphall Jan Leggat & John Charleston. Denise & Graeme Bird representing East Calder. Mary Walker & Arron Edwards Greenrigg and Craigshill partnership and from Whitburn we have Jimmy Johnston and Karen Whyte from Breich representing the county at the Scottish finals. These players will represent West Lothian at Bannockburn on Saturday the 21st January.
We wish them well.

BATHGATE FRIDAY NIGHT LEAGUE (13th January)
Coppies 'A' team turned on the style with an emphatic win over the Bathgate Royal British Legion by the score line of 8 games to 1.
Though it must be said all the matches were close with the majority of games being won by the score line of 2 games to 1.
John Kirk of Addiewell the only winner for the Legion team. Stevie Duncan and John Kirk both recording 19 dart games.

TOP GAME TO START THE NEW YEAR OFF WITH. (9^th January)
Kyle Gilmour of the Murray Bar Nomads has started the league of with a cracking game a superb 12 dart game finishing it off with an excellent check out finishing on the bulls eye for a 129 game shot. Fellow team mate West Lothian county 'A'player Colin Hammy Hamilton was also on target using the bull as well in his combination finish checking an excellent 82 take out on the bulls eye. John Bruton’s Murray Bar Nomads took no prisoners in their first match back after the Christmas break inflicting 9 games to 0 on the Doo Club Fanciers to leap frog the McMillan Highlanders of old Deans Village into third spot in the league table.The Highlanders hosted the league table toppers at the moment Stuart Tait’s team the Paraffin Lamp Brigands this was a close match with some vital doubles missed at strategic times in the match by both teams. It saw the Brigands go away with the points with a score line of 6 games to 3 in favour of the visitors but truth be told this was a close encounter and if the Highlanders had taken the opportunities that they made this match could have gone 5-4 either way! Top games came from Gordon THE Bruce nice 18 darter plus a maximum 180, Marvellous Lee Holland 19 darts and Jim B.B. Mitchell 16 darter. Brian Tosh McIntyre 18 darter, Bruce and Mitchell 19 dart doubles.
Paraffin Lamp Ruffnecks secured a good win against the high flying Pirates of Almondvale with a fine 7 games to 2 victory more news from this match to follow as soon as it gets to me.
Volunteer Highway Men secure a cracking 8 games to 1 win at their new home venue the Volunteer Arms in Uphall when they were hosts to the Harrysmuir Warriors. I hear they had some very boisterous local support from the pub regulars. More news to follow as and when it reaches this site.
Doo Club Flyer's kept their good run of form going with a cracking 8 games to 1 victory over the Tower Bar Knights. Three top games in this match up came from the Ranger Paul Weir knocking in a rock solid 20 darter.Also on target was Stephen Morrans finishing both his winning games in 20 arrows.And not to be left out Colin Blythwas in on the action as well with yet another 20 dart game good shooting from these East Calder Flyer's.
Murray Bar Y.T. finally got their first win of the season and well done to them they came away with a nerve tingling 5 games to 4 victory over the Stirrup Stane Cowboys well done the young team.
Murray Bar Strollers made it a hat trick of fine win's for the Murray bar with a 7 games to 2 victory over another Craigshill team the Stirrup Stane Indians. Top check coming from Brian Mairs with a excellent 93 game shot.

LOCAL PLAYERS SPREADING THEIR WINGS
Playing in the Leith Premier League in Gladstones Bar Leith we have some home grown talent strutting their stuff in the shape and form of
Davie Nisbet clocking out a magnificent 170 game shot. Monday night team mates Chris Forsyth also on target with a superb 150 game shot.
John Rooney was also in on the action with a cracking 140 game shot and not wanting to be left out it saw George Jukebox Thorburn take out a classy 134 finish as well. Excellent checking out from these Monday night players who all play for the Volunteer Highway Men in Uphall.

MURRAY BAR OPEN
QUALIFIERS (7th January)
This week saw Knightsridge's Davie Nisbet & Whitburns Micky Rice join the final line up.
Two weeks of qualfying to go who will also be putting their name on the grand final sheet?
Interesting is'nt it.

LEAGUE REPORTS
As each month passes the reports which were on the front page of this web site
will be removed and added to their respective pages which can be found
in the left hand column please click on the relevant page and the news you are looking for hopefully
will be at your finger tips
Jim

PLAYER'S COUNTY AVERAGES ARE NOW ON LINE
ON THE WEST LOTHIAN COUNTY NEWS PAGE.

Brian & James

webassets/Darts.jpg

Bathgate Friday night Doubles Champions

ALWAYS REMEMBER THE SITE QUOTE
A day without laughter
is a day wasted!

PICTURES OF OLDEN DAY'S!
Thanks to readers of this site I have been given some old photographs of
bygone days, To those readers who have donated their memories can I say a big thank-you.
Now f there is anyone else out there who may have some old team photo's or a story they
would like to tell please get in touch and we will if possible get them published if you so wish.
Nice to look back and see what has happened in the past dont you think!

Monday night team from the Livingston dart league

Some still trying to play to-day

NEW GABBY CABBY RANT/REPORT JUST IN
HOT OFF THE PRESS
Check out the View from Inside the Cab page!

Champions of the past

Can you put names to faces!

SOME PAST CHAMPIONS OF THE BATHGATE FRIDAY NIGHT LEAGUE
A who's who of West Lothian players!

1992 Scott Gallacher, 1993 Mick Kerr, 1994 Dougie Malloy, 1995 David Ross,
1996  Frankie McDonald, 1997 Colin Jefferson, 1998 Davie Nisbet,
1999 Ian Grierson, 2000 Peter Cameron, 2001 Derek Colligan,
2002 Stuart Tinto, 2003 Willie Glen, 2004  Alex Nicol,
2005  Jim McMillan, 2006  Stevie Duncan, 2007  Tam Gilmour,
2008  Jim Mitchell, 2009  Billy Meikle, 2010  Jimmy Woods,
2011    Dougie Hogg

(Thanks to Scott Gallacher for suppling the information much appreciated)
Jim

CHECK OUT THE DART STORIES AND GOSSIP PAGE
Some new well old paper reviews in there thanks to
Stuart Tait , Gordon Bruce and Jimmy MacMillan for the memories!

WEBSITE COMMENTS
Please keep the comments coming always nice to know that people take the time to write
in the guest book. One writer has asked what or how much
Jim Mitchell gets paid!
If only this web site is paid for by Jim Mitchell all the expense for running the site
is met out of the pocket of yours truly.
Time spent each week updating is roughly three to four hours sometimes more depending
what is happening around the county.
Of course reports are sent in by other dart players and I do try
to mention as many players as possible.
But if the information doesn't get to me there is not a lot that can be done about it.
Now should the writer in the guest book wish to help either financially or by
giving of their time in sending in reports that would be very helpful indeed.
All help in keeping this web site updated is gratefully received.
Look forward to hearing from you sooner rather than later.
Jim Mitchell
web master & owner
of this site.

ARCHIVES
As my one and only reader you may have noticed that a date has started to appear
beside each new entry.
The reason for this I have added a new page deleting a couple of obsolete
pages that I had hoped people from around the area would help fill unfortunately
some people darts players don't want to share information!
So as each month now passes into history the items will be taken from the main page and added
to the Archives.
This way should a reader (you see I know there is at least two of you!) wish to have a look back
to see who was doing what to whom?
It will be there for their eyes only!
I am also looking for pictures from the past or present that may be of interest to the darting fraternity.
Should you have pictures of past champions or championship winning teams
or maybe an exhibition you were at and would like to share them.
Please send them in and another
rogues gallery can be started
look forward to looking at them!
Hope this makes sense at my age i am easily confused?

Jim Mitchell can be reached by email
bebadmitchell@blueyonder.co.uk

bebadmitchell@blueyonder.co.uk

Enter supporting content here