29^th Dec, Falkirk the place to be as a small Posse from West Lothian made the road trip to the Players Lounge for an open singles, Jamie Banks, Stephan Colthart, Gary Christie, William Borland and Mitchell, two players making it to the quarter finals was the best we had to report from our travelling posse, Mitchell and Borland the two culprits both losing 3-4 at that stage, some top scores came by way of our leagues mascot the Melman giraffe! Gary Christie firing in 1x180 and very unlucky not to have more as twice all three of his darts fell out the treble twenty as the boards were slightly hard (the old saying as hard as a lady of the nights heart comes to mind) he also fired in 2x17 darters along with 18&19 dart games and finishes off 119 and 96 game shots, William Borland with 3x180’s 1x171 and 110 game shot as well as 14 & 19 darters, Jim Mitchell with 1x180 and a 90 game shot and 14 & 18 darters,

 

28^th Dec, The ex-service men’s club open singles competition saw two of the local leagues elder statesmen take a wee road trip to Peebles and it saw Wullie Wilson of the Grand Central Railroaders infamy make it to the last 16 before bowing out of the competition, Another even older league player yes Stevie Duncan of the Almondale Pirates was allowed out with his carer (Wullie) and he went one round further before taking his turn at board marking Stevie going out in the quarter finals, sounds like a good day out was had by both players.

 

28^th Dec, Well the West Lothian Posse headed North taking the old lonesome trail over the great river Forth and bypassing the Ochil’s and then up the well trodden path to Glenrothes in the Kingdom of Fife  to the brand new C.I.S.W.O. club for the Christmas Cup competition and a singles event after wards. So with two teams entering the Cup competition it saw the Westie’s which were a mixture of old and young John Somerville-Jamie Banks- Moonshine Charlie-Callum Wilkinson, they won their first match 4-2 before bowing out 2-4 in the next, The Jacobites had Jim Mitchell-Graeme Bird-Andrew Davidson-William Borland in it, however they lost out 3-4 to Alan Small and the Cowdenbeath renegades in a 7 leg thriller which went down the wire to the 1001 leg which saw the Jacobites recording a dart average of 81.99 a throw but the opposition were superb with a 90.99 dart average. Some scores from the travelling Posse on the day saw William Borland firing in 2x180’s along with an 18 darter and a 90 game shot, John Somerville 1x177, Jim Mitchell 18&20 darters and a 90 game shot, Graeme Bird a superb 12 darter plus a brace of 17 dart games and a tidy maximum 180, Andrew Davidson 1x180 and 2x18 dart games, However in the doubles matches it saw Callum Wilkinson & Jamie Banks fire in a 23 dart 701 leg for a 91.47 per throw dart average,  William Borland & Andrew Davidson went even better with a 19 dart 701 game for an 110.68 per throw average.

Winning team were, Cowdenbeath select team of Jimmy Gay, Brendon Donnelly, Stewart Rattary, Dayle Morgan.

As for the Competition on Boxing day held in the Commercial Inn at West Calder not one scrap of information has been sent by the organisers so sadly I cant report on it, I was told by William Borland that he won it beating William Harraughty in the final,  would have been nice to get a report so could have sent to Courier for next weeks publication  but think time might have now run out! Shame because I really do believe that Credit should be given where credit is due! For all the players who fired in the big scores etc always good to report on how well players are doing. But I really do need the organisers to help with these matters.

 

15^th Dec, Bathgate’s last official competition of this year saw a good turn out for the open draw Christmas Doubles all players are put into a draw and doubles pairings are done at random! The event final saw Graeme Bird & Jim Kennedy  these players from Kirknewton InnKeepers and the Corrie Bar, just edging out the pairing of Mick Burke & Billy Meikle from the Corrie bar and Coppies bar, Final score was a very close 4-3 victory for Graeme and Jim, once again many thanks to the league sponsor Coppies Bar in Armadale and the committee of the Bathgate league for running this tournament, Have a Merry Christmas one and all.

 HAD TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!

13^TH Dec, And the Posse , headed into the Murrayfield sports bar for the finals of the Edinburgh Darts Association major League Singles competition, and what a night Perhaps the best darts I have ever witnessed in my 40 plus years of playing the sport, Forget the television matches this was raw naked darts at its very best and the man from East Calder who has had a magnificent season William Borland was in the form of his life, after just losing out in the standings as Order of Merit winner to Andrew Davidson after 12 months as match play and competitions points were rounded up, guess who was toeing the ocky against him in the grand finale, yes William Borland and Andrew Davidson went toe to toe, and what a superb match without any doubt the finest match play darts I have ever seen that has not been on television, William winning 3 sets to 0 and each set being the best of 5x501, it saw William rattle in a superb 95+ dart average which in real dart playing terms means he never took more than 16 deadly arrows and to give you a feel of how he played during the nights action on the ocky here are his stats!  11-11-12-13-13-14-16-16-18 and 8 maximum 180’s and a 1x171 along with 84-115-121 game shots, So the Edinburgh Darts Association League Singles Champion for 2017 is William Borland of East Calder, and lets not forget a superb opponent in Andy Davidson who has been showing the league how to play proper darts since the beginning of the league by being the most consistent player in the league and winning the Edinburgh Darts Association Order of Merit League table and the Platinum League Titles.

Us other ordinary mortals on the night had a few mentions of note, Graham Bird 2x180’s and a1x171 along with 2x16 and a 15 dart game, Rab Dick with 1x180 and games finished in 19 & 20 arrows and a tidy 84 game shot, Mitchell 18&19 darters and a solitary maximum 180. Excellent venue for dart players who take the game seriously also for those wishing to start their darting careers I would certainly recommend the Murrayfield Sports Bar in Auld Reekie, the committee like many committee’s work tirelessly to try and strive to make every competition and league night better than the last, their hard work does not go unnoticed well done.

 

11th Dec, Couple of shot's of note just arrived as I have been away (I know further the better) some may think, here are a couple of stats from Last Mondays night action which were missed!

William Millar 110 game sot for the Innkeepers of Kirknewton, Gerry Hughes with a 100 take out from couple weeks ago for the Grand Central, Ryan Jack with another rock solid game shot off 82, Sandy Coulter with a maximum 180 and a tidy 19 darter for the Highlanders of Pumpherston, Last but not least the Womble of Dechmont yes Christmas is that time of the year that Uncle Penfold comes out to play Martin Deegan with a 20 darter, all will be added next time I do the league tables for fast games etc! Cheers.

 

9^th Dec, When West meets East in the Inter-town League, With Christmas fast  approaching there were a few absentees from the teams with pressie shopping to be done! But the standard was absolutely superb as the players who were there certainly lit up the chalk boards! It saw the East take a 2-1 lead in the doubles matches, but back came the West taking the triples match and the score was West 3 East 2, Then to the singles games and after all the chalk dust had settled it saw the West come away with a hard fought 12-11 victory, some tremendous games saw Maximum 180’s fired in by Dougie Hogg and Allan Gardner for the West and Kevin Murphy firing in a 180 for the East, Fastest game of the day went to Allan Gardner with a superb 14 darter, High check outs came from Travis Chandler with 84 & 91game shots, HOWEVER without a shadow of doubt Stevie Morrans from the East team had the shot of the day a fabulous 170 game shot the Big Fish as the t.v. pundits call it he also had a more sedate 83 take out.

 

9^th Dec, The West Lothian Inter-Town League was back in action with the North hosting the South at the Cawburn Sports  bar in Pumpherston, With the format being 3xdoubles each worth 1 point, then a triples worth 2 points and then 9 singles matches each worth 3 points a total of 32 points up for grabs,

The first doubles saw Gillian Mitchell & Wullie Wilson v Jamie Banks & Gordon Bruce and it was the visitors who took the point, as they did in the next two matches with Mick Burke & Jimmy Johnston edging out Frank Crook & Rex Brady , the visitors then extended their winning streak with Colin Hamilton & Craig Jack getting the better of Stephan Colthart & Andy Pagget so after the doubles a clean sweep for the South team and a 3-0 lead, the triples also went their way with William Harraughty –Callum Wilkinson- John Grant edging out Jim Mitchell-Andy Thomson-Rex Brady to go 5-0 in front and it did not end there as it saw the singles matches up next and the results went like this.

Christopher Mitchell 0-2 William Harraughty, Jim Mitchell 2-0 John Grant, Grant Lyle 2-0 Jimmy Johnston, so at last the home side had some points on the board and perhaps a fight back was on the cards, 6-8 the score on the door, However Stevie Duncan then lost to Callum Wilkinson and the gap had opened up again, Rex Brady then took to the ocky winning over Craig Jack, Points now standing at 9-11, Andy Thomson lost out to the evergreen Gordon Bruce so once again the visitors were moving even further towards the magic number of 17 points which would secure the win, John Sandison for the home side then beat Jamie Banks and now the score was 12-14, and the last two matches would be decisive in where the win would go! Martin Deegan then lost to Mick Burke who put the visitors over the winning line score 12-17, However the last player for the North section Graham Borland secured a win over Colin Hamilton and the final result saw only 2 points separate these two teams final result remembering every point counts in the league tables North 15 South 17, Other top scores from the match ups saw, Gordon (THE) Bruce & Jamie Banks jnr with a 25 dart 601 doubles match for a 24.04dartaverage, Jimmy Johnston & Mick Burke with 22 dart 601 doubles for a 27.31 dart average, Callum Wilkinson with a 20 darter, Mick Burke with a 20 darter also in the singles, couple of top finishes with Gordon Bruce firing out on the bulls eye via 3-20-bull! Also John Sandison with a different take on 67 left via 17 double 10 double 15! HOWEVER Man of the Match has to go to Rex (Cool Hand) Brady with a two games finished in 16&20 darts for a 27.83 dart average and maximum 180 also in the mix.

 

WEST	LOTHIAN	INTER	TOWN	LEAGUE	Scores
Sections	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Points
North	2	1	1	0	38
South	2	2	0	0	34
West	2	2	0	0	27
East	2	0	2	0	20

 

6^th Dec, Once again the Posse hit the trail heading into Auld Reekie for a night of darting action at the Murrayfield Sports bar for an Edinburgh Darts Association singles competition, with this being a two week competition and eight places up for grabs for the finals next week it saw Graeme Bird, William Borland and Jim Mitchell all claim a place in grand finals next week, on the night it saw Bird firing in 2x180’s along with 3 fast legs finished in 18-18-17 arrows, Borland with a tidy 106 game shot and a 15 darter followed by a brace of 16 darters, Mitchell 1x171 & 1x180 and 2x20 darters and 17 &19 dart games.

 

1^st Dec, Yes the Christmas month is upon us and the Bathgate Friday night league matches had a couple of crackers to entertain us!

Old Wine Store in Shott’s hosted the Coppies (B) from Armadale and it went down the wire with both teams having chances to close out the win however it was the Old Wine who took the match by the tightest of score lines 5-4, top shot of the night saw Stewart Whyte rattling the red lipstick with a superb maximum 180.

Coppies Bar (A) put out the welcome mat for the Corrie Bar in Armadale and once again a match that was left to the last double to see who would claim the points and it was the visitors who took the last match to claim an exciting victory, Coppies 4-5 Corrie Bar.

Fauldhouse saw a home Darby with the teams of Lammies (A) v Lammies (B) and the B team swept to victory with a 9-0 whitewash, which had Stewart Russell firing in a 17 darter, team mate John Brogan with 18 & 20 dart games and a rock solid 87 game shot, Alan Gardner with a maximum 180 all for the B team.

Town on the hill where the Innkeepers from the Kirknewton Inn play had the task of hosting Big ‘ G’ McMillan’s Cross Tavern team from Whitburn cross and with so many current or former county players in the mix this was always going to be a tough match for either side,

First blood went to W Borland with a brace of 18 darters over Big G McMillan, Graeme Bird then came from 0-1 down to take the game against Ian Stevenson with an excellent 20 darter to put the home side 2-0 up, John Gardiner then toed the ocky against William Harraughty and once John took the first leg it spurred Will I Am into over drive and the next two legs went to the Cross T man with a brace of 21 dart games, so 2-1 the score line, then a battle of the James’s and it was Mitchell who took the match with a tidy 16 dart game winning  2-0 over Johnston, so 3-1 for the home side, Paul Weir and Graham Borland then toed the ocky and it saw a tight match which had chances for both players to finish and it was Graham Borland who claimed the point though Paul Weir did record the only maximum 180 of the nights play, so to the last singles and the match on a knife edge 3-2 to the home side, Rex Brady and Callum Wilkinson then went to war and in a cracking match up which once again went down the wire only doubling the difference between these two battle hardened men of the ocky and it saw the Innkeepers 4-2 up after the singles with Brady winning 2-1, and now three doubles to see who would claim the points on offer! Borland & Bird 2-0 Harraughty & Borland so the points were taken by the home side which is just as well as the Cross T took the next two doubles with, Weir & Gardiner 1-2 Stevenson & Johnston, Mitchell & Brady 1-2 Wilkinson & McMillan, Perhaps shot of the night was Callum Wilkinson’s set up shot for his doubles partner a superb 156 via 60-60-36 to leave 16 which Big ‘G’ then took out.  

 

Championship League,

Murray bar Crofters 2-7 Grand Central Railroaders

Doo Club Fanciers 0-9 Kirknewton Barkeepers

Commercial Inn 2-7 Doo Club Flyers,

Grand Central Steamers 5-4 Deans B.C. Golden Oldies.

 

Match Reports from the Championship League,

Polbeth Murray bar Crofters put out the welcome mat to the Championship league leaders who were undefeated in the league so far this season and still are the visiting Railroaders winning 2-7 to remain the only undefeated team in the two Monday night leagues,

East Calder Doo Club Fanciers the only all Ladies team in the league losing out 0-9 from the wee town on the hill Kirknewton Barkeepers,

East Calder’s Doo Club Flyers in second place in the Championship league kept the pressure on the league leaders with a 7-2 win over the Commercial Inn Juniors from West Calder,

 

Results Premier League,

Central bar Rebels 3-6 Volunteer Highway Men

Stirrup Stane Wanderers 5-4 Kirknewton Innkeepers

Almondale Pirates 5-4 Loganlea Colliers

Cawburn Highlanders 7-2 Stirrup Stane Indians,

 

Match Reports from the Premier League,

The Central bar Rebels from West Calder hosted the travelling Volunteer Highway Men from Uphall and it was the visitors who took the points with a fine 3-6 win over the home side,

Last season Premier league champions from Craigshill the Stirrup Stane  Wanderers taking the points on offer with a fighting 5-4 win over the Kirknewton Innkeepers looks like this match went down the wire as have many matches this season,

Almondale Pirates from Craigshill firing out a broadside and sinking the Loganlea Colliers 5-4,

Pumpherston’s team the Cawburn Highlanders facing off against the Stirrup Stane Indians who were the two teams who were promoted last season to the Premier league and it was the Highlanders who came away with a resounding 7-2 victory taking the scalps of the Indians.

 

25^th Nov, saw the Scottish Inter-counties taking place and quite a few local Monday night players in action, William Borland keeping his superb form going with his third win from three in the Men’s (A) team, as did John Charleston and Jim Mitchell also in the men’s (A) both with 3 wins from 3, Armadale’s Mick Burke with 2 wins from 3 outings, But it is East Calder’s top Lady county players Denise Bird who leads the way with four matches played and four win’s to her credit so far this inter county season.

 

22^nd Nov, Mixed results from the Murrayfield Sports bar in Edinburgh with three players in the quarter finals it saw. Jim Mitchell losing out in the quarter finals, Graeme Bird in the Semi Finals and William Borland having to settle for runners up place, some decent scores on the night, with William Borland 4x180’s and games finished in 11-12-2x15-18 darts and a cracking 143 game shot, Graeme Bird with a brace of maximums and a 15 darter, Mitchell 1 solitary maximum and a tidy 16 darter, Rab Dick who was playing in a flyer was on target with 5 sub 20 dart games and 2 x180’ and a superb 177 set up along with a 96 take out.

 

West Calder & District Darts League 301 Singles Champion for 2017 is Jim (Old Man) Mitchell from the Volunteer Highway Men in Uphall, R/Up Stuart (the Wizard) Russell from the Logan Lea Colliers in Addiewell.

 

17^th Nov, Action from the Bathgate league on Friday night saw some of the leagues top players flexing their biceps on the ocky with excellent thrown arrows, James Graham leading the field with a cracking 15 darter and an excellent 90 take out, Stewart Russell also with a 15 darter and a maximum 180,  Mick Burke 17 dart game and a 97 game shot, Another Armadale player firing in a good match was Scott Baillie with an 18 darter and a maximum 180,  S Lindsay shot, Possibly the fastest league match reported has to go to Whitburn’s dart ace Callum Wilkinson firing in 2x18 dart games along with a maximum 180 and a 89 plus a 116 game shot, other top finishes went to Andy Fallon jnr with a 78 take out, Anal McDonald rock solid 72 game shot. Once again a special mention to Armadale’s Mick Burke this time teaming up with another young gun of the ocky Scott Baillie firing in 14 & 18 dart doubles matches, Mick one of the counties elder statesmen of the ocky is certainly having an excellent influence on the up and coming stars of the future which can only be good for darts in the area.

 

15^th Nov, The West Lothian Posse made their way to auld Reekie and their weekly showdown at the Murrayfield Sports bar for an Open competition, and there were mixed results, the tournament was run as a best of 9x501 however the match had to be won by two clear legs so if the match went into over time and the score reached 6-6 then a sudden death decider would be played, and that is what happened to Kieran Bird just losing out in a 13 leg thriller 6-7, Rab Dick also losing out by the score line of 4-6 though he did fire in a maximum 180 and 14 & 20 darters he certainly did not go down without a fight, William Borland qualified for the grand finals next week with 6 games finished in under 20 arrows with 13-17-17-18-18-19 dart a maximum 180 and a 95 game shot, Graeme Bird winning his last match 6-4 to progress to next week final with a maximum 180 and17 & 18 darters, Jim Mitchell also making the finals with 4x180’s a game shots of 136-95-87 and game finished in 14-16-3x18 -20 darts.

So with three players in the quarter finals hopefully one of them will be bringing the championship back to the county!

 

 

WEST	LOTHIAN	INTER	TOWN	LEAGUE	Scores
Sections	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Points
North	1	1	0	0	23
South	1	0	1	0	17
West	1	1	0	0	15
East	1	0	1	0	9

 

	West Section	Match score	South Section	West Points	South Points
Doubles 3x601	J Bank & G Bruce	1-2	A Fallon &  D Hogg	0	1
Doubles 3x601	J Johnston & C Hamilton	2-1	A McDonald & K McMahon	1	0
Doubles 3x601	M Burke & R Jack	2-0	S McDonald & R McDonald	1	0
Triples 3x701	C Wilkinson, W Harraughty J Somerville	1-2	J Graham A Gardener T Challenger	0	2
Singles 3x501	William Harraughty	2-0	Kevin  McMahon	3	0
Singles 3x501	Jamie Banks jnr	2-0	Alan Gardener	3	0
Singles 3x501	Ryan Jack	0-2	Spencer McDonald	0	3
Singles 3x501	Colin Hamilton	1-2	Dougie Hogg	0	3
Singles 3x501	Mick Burke	2-0	Alan McDonald	3	0
Singles 3x501	Callum Wilkinson	1-2	Jim Graham	0	3
Singles 3x501	Gordon Bruce	2-0	Andy Fallon snr	3	0
Singles 3x501	John Somerville	2-1	Andy Fallon jnr	3	0
Singles 3x501	Jim Johnston	1-2	Ricky McDonald	0	3
	Final		Score
				17	15

 

10^th Nov, Some other top scores from the matches over the week–end had Maximum 180’s being recorded by Mick Burke, William Harraughty, John Somerville, Ricky McDonald and Stevie Brown, Top Finishing came by way of Mick Burke with a superb 142 take out and Gordon Bruce with a brace of good finishes 114 & 76 take outs, Scott Baillie 87 game shot, Fast games had Colin Hamilton 16 darter, Scott Baillie with 19 & 20 darts, Mick Burk once again showing his talent on the ocky with 18 & 20 darters.

Other snippets of information from the last week on the ocky had Graeme Bird firing in 1x180 & 1x177 scores and games finished in 15-15-16-17-19 dart games, William Borland with 2x174 & 2x180’s, 110 game shot and 9 sub 20 dart games 4 of them being 16 darters rock solid dart playing, Mitchell 2x180’s and games finished in 17-17-18 darts a wee 80 game shot.

 

10^TH Nov, Saw action from the Bathgate Friday night league and the team scores went like this,

 Old Wine (Shott’s) 4-5 Corrie Bar (Armadale)

Coppies A (Armadale) 4-5 Cross Tavern (Whitburn)

Lammies B (Fauldhouse) 1-8 Kirknewton Innkeepers (Kirknewton)

Glen Mavis B.C. (Bathgate) 5-4 Coppies B (Armadale)

 

8^th Nov, News from the Posse’s excursion to the Murrayfield Sports bar for their last league matches of the season, and one of the few times that Rab Dick from Kirknewton had a loss! However he went down fighting rattling in 122 & 96 game shots and a tidy 19 darter, Graeme Bird with an 8-4 win, Jim Mitchell with a 8-6 victory, William Borland also winning nothing unusual there them and with an 8-5 win.

 

6^th Nov, AND NOW THERE WAS ONLY ONE!

The Grand Central Railroaders are now the only undefeated team in the leagues two divisions, so can they continue or has commentators curse about to strike! And looks like this is going to be a very tight league season for a lot of teams as to say the leader board is congested might be an understatement! After week six of the season there is usually a front runner but this season everyone seems to be taking points of everyone else, makes for good reporting keep it up (web master & chief reporter)

 

Results and players scores all received on time think the Match secretary has almost fainted! Here are your results,

 

Premier League, Stirrup Stane Wanderers 1-8 Logan Lea Colliers,  Almondale Pirates 5-4 Cawburn Highlanders, Commercial Nomads 5-4 Volunteer Highway Men, Central bar Rebels 6-3 Stirrup Stane Indians.

Championship League, Grand Central Steamers 3-6 Doo Club Flyers, Tower bar Knights 6-3 Deans B.C. Golden Oldies, Doo Club Fanciers 0-9 Grand Central Railroaders, Murray bar Crofters 5-4 Commercial Juniors.

 

Players on target with top scores etc saw, Maximum hitters being Paul Weir from the Flyers, Jamie Fleming from the Nomads, Jim Mitchell of the Highway Men, Andy Thomson for the Railroaders,

Fast games saw the Rebellious ones from West Calder leading the scores with Scott Baker firing in 15 & 18 darters, Andy Thomson with a 15 darter for the Railroaders, Mitchell of the Highway Men 17 & 19 darters, Ben Hart from the Murray bar Crofters with an 18 dart game, as was Ryan Little for the Rebels of West Calder, Peter Hastings and John Sandison both firing in 19 darter’s, Highlanders player John Kirk with a rock solid 20 dart game, as did Craig Jack for the Crofters also finishing in 20 arrows,

Top finishes recorded for the night had, Rebels player C Watt with a 75 take out, John Sandison with 76 game shot, Pirates player M Brody with a 79 take out, Scott Baker 82 game shot, TOP FINISH from the nights action goes to Ryan Little from the Central bar Rebels with a with a cracking 118 kill shot.   

Two top doubles matches saw, From the Croft in Polbeth we had Ben Hart & Ryan Jack firing in a 18 darter for the Murray bar Crofters, and from the Rebel stronghold in West Calder it had Martin Balfour & Scott Baker also with an 18 dart doubles match.

County averages for our local Monday night players, if you see a name missing drop me a line and they will be added, (T.Y.)

 

Player	County	A /B	Games Pl	Won	Lost	Dart Ave	Dynamic Dart Ave
William Borland	East  Stirlingshire	A	2	2	0	28.93	30.93
Jim Mitchell	East  Stirlingshire	A	2	2	0	23.19	25.19
Graeme Bird	East  Stirlingshire	A	1	0	1	23.04	23.04
Mick Burke	Lanarkshire	A	2	1	1	21.48	22.48
John Charleston	Lothian’s	A	1	1	0	20.44	21.44
Jamie Banks	West Lothian	A	2	1	1	19.34	20.34
Ryan Jack	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	19.32	19.32
Ben Hart	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	18.99	18.99
Roy Anderson	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	18.05	18.05
Calvin Fleming	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	16.10	16.10
Craig Jack	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	15.52	15.52
Denise Bird	East  Stirlingshire	A	1	1	0	12.16	13.16
Player	County	B	Games Pl	Won	Lost	Dart Ave	Dynamic Dart Ave
Scott Baillie	Lanarkshire	B	2	2	0	21.05	23.05
Graeme Bird	East  Stirlingshire	B	1	0	1	21.05	21.05
Kieran Bird	East  Stirlingshire	B	1	0	1	20.46	20.46
Roy Anderson	West Lothian	B	1	0	1	19.39	19.39
Stevie Scott	Lanarkshire	B	1	0	1	18.46	18.46
Craig Jack	West Lothian	B	1	0	1	18.20	18.20
Denise Bird	East  Stirlingshire	B	2	2	0	13.88	15.88
Colin Hamilton	Lothian’s	B	1	0	1	14.86	14.86
Stephan Colthart	West Lothian	B	2	0	2	12.81	12.81

 

4^th Nov, Saturday saw some of the local players in action at county matches in Scotland North section and we had players playing superbly well, but player of the match in the Ladies was East Calder’s Denise Bird with a Lady of the Match performance, also winning 3-0 was Armadale’s Irene McInnes with a 3-0 victory, Michelle McLay just losing out 1-2 in the Ladies (B) also firing out  a superb average was William Borland in the Men’s (A) with a 30 + dart average only Ian Jolly of Angus firing in a higher average!, Kieran Bird losing out 1-3 in the Men’s (B) his winning leg an excellent 105 game shot on the bulls eye, Graeme Bird snr playing in the (A) losing out 2-4 in a tight match where he actually had a higher average than his opponent, Jim Mitchell winning 4-0 in the Men’s (A). And that’s all I have from our local players at the moment, over to you guys for more information can only write about what I know or am told! So send in your info please if you want it on the web.

 

3^rd Nov, Action from the Bathgate Friday night league saw Kirknewton Innkeepers hosting the Old Wine from Shott’s and earning two valuable points with a fighting 6-3 win which was very hard earned, nice to see former county star Arthur Cunningham back out of retirement and playing extremely well, just like riding a bike you never forget!

Coppies (A) did a number on Lammies (A) with an excellent 7-2 victory to be truthful 4-2 after the singles but the doubles was all one way and it saw the home side come away 7-2 victors, some top shooting from this match up with Colin Maxwell firing in a terrific 15 darter followed by two players with 17 dart games Rab Nelson and Andy Pagget Only maximum reported went to Rab Nelson from Coppies.

Lammies 6- 3 Glen Mavis, some top finishing from James Graham (Pelter) from the Fauldhouse crew with a superb 136 take out, maximum 180 hitters on the night were Ricky MacDonald  for Lammie's and Paul McCaig for the Glen Mavis Bowling club.

 

1^st Nov, Round up of the Murrayfield Sports bar weekly show down at the ocky in the Premier league, William Borland with a fine 8-2 victory which included a magnificent 160 game shot and games finished in 13-14-15-2x20 darts and a nice maximum 180 (aren’t they all) Scott Baillie from Armadale winning 8-0 with three sub 20 darters and a rock solid 82 take out, Jim Mitchell with two matches winning both with 8-5 & 8-6 wins which included 109-101- 85 game shots and four games finished in less than 18 darts, Graeme Bird with a fighting 8-5 win 123 & 85 game shots and a maximum 180, Rab Dick in the Gold league 7-2 victory.

 

30^th Oct, Some top class action from the W.C.D.D.L. darts last night, Top scores coming from maximum hitters, Roy Anderson of the Commercial Juniors, John Kirk a two times league singles winner still showing he has the class to fire in the big shot’s for the Highlanders, Stephan Hume from the Doo Club Flyers, Rab Dick from the Inn on the hill Kirknewton all four recording 180’s, just missing out with 140’s were William Borland, Kevin Murphy, Mitchell, Paul Weir, Ian Stevenson, and for the ladies top scorer once again was one of East Calder’s top lady players Daisy Heeps with a 116 score, and their will be others but you need to tell me! Top finish from the night’s action saw Davie Aitken our reigning league singles champion with two top class take outs 127 on the bulls eye and a 112 game shot, also firing in cracking finishes were, Indians player E Dickson with a cracking 111 game shot, Matt Purdie from the Golden Oldies of Deans Bowling Club with 101 game shot, Stevie Scott finishing a rock solid 100 take out, and former county star the man with the jacket Tam Hart finishing with a 99 game shot, Martin Deegan from the Dechmont Hills a  96 finish, Frome the Central bar Rebels Ryan Little 95 take out and team mate Scott Baker with 92 game shot, three players from the Highlanders on target with finishes off,  Sandy Coulter 88, John Kirk 80, Chris Mitchell 73 finish and all three on the Bulls Eye, Innkeepers player C Halliday out on 86 also with a bulls eye finish, Only fast games that have been mentioned are 21 darters surely there are more out there just no one writing them down? And these went to Roy Anderson & Scott Baker, Just in Stevie Scott nice solid 18 darter, Mick Burke one dart better with a 17 dart game, Mitchell 19 dart game, Now through the internet did hear about a cracking 14 darter hit in a friendly match so hats off to Ryan Jack of the Murray bar Crofters excellent shooting, also just a mention another young man who has now moved to Stirling with his new family Lewis Lyle last Saturday firing in a superb 13 darter, against myself giving me just four visits to the ocky super stuff from these new breed of dart players nothing seems to faze them!

Scores from the league last night go like this,

Premier League, Cawburn Highlanders 4-5 Central bar Rebels, Stirrup Stane Indians 1-8 Stirrup Stane Wanderers, Loganlea Colliers 1-8 Commercial Nomads, Volunteer Highway Men 7-2 Kirknewton Innkeepers.

Championship League, Commercial Juniors 8-1 Grand Central Steamers, Doo Club Flyers 9-0 Doo Club Fanciers, Deans B.C. Golden Oldies 4-5 Kirknewton Barkeepers, Grand Central Railroaders 6-3 Tower bar Knights.

Special mention with their first win of the season goes to the leagues newest team the Barkeepers of Kirknewton looking at the score line must have been a terrific tussle, as these Golden Oldies are not to be taken lightly with so many former top players who played counties & super league back in the day in their ranks!

 

29^th Oct, The Poppy appeal held a afternoon of darting excellence in the Royal British Legion in Bathgate, with top stars from the television in attendance which had the likes of Andy (the Viking) Fordham, Tony (Silverback) O’Shea, Darryl ( Dazzler) Fitton, Gary (Pride of the Tyne) Robson, also in attendance was the ten times lady champion of the world Trina (Golden Girl) Gulliver M.B.E., and the one and only Ladies number one player in the world rankings Deta (the Dark Destroyer) Hedman, this event was brought to us by Poppy Scotland, Darts Scotland and of course the Royal British Legion, a super afternoon of darts which raise a tremendous amount of money for a superb cause. And doing the auction was the one and only Mr Andy Goram former star of both football and cricket! On the day there were a few local players who managed to beat the Pro’s and these were, Andy Thomson, Graeme Bird, William Borland and Jim Mitchell. Once again cracking afternoon of darts, and next week Darryl Fitton will be in exhibition at the Masonic club in West Calder (Friday), so if you would like to see one of the top and most popular players on the circuit that’s the place to be, also a bit away but fingers crossed the annual West Calder darts league exhibition will have Deta Hedman & Trina Gulliver in action on the Monday after the Scottish Open (more info to follow!)

 

28^th Oct, Saw a large contingent of West Lothian dart players travel over the Forth to Alva near Stirling for an open singles competition,

The format was in sections so eight boards in action and all players playing five matches to try and get to the K.O. stages, Graeme Bird pl 5 won 5, William Borland pl 5 won 5, Jim Mitchell pl 5 won 4, Callum Wilkinson pl 5 won 3, William Harraughty pl 5 won 3, and so all of the travelling players making it to the K.O. cup rounds, It then saw some casualties fall and only Borland & Mitchell then progressed to the next round, and after that it was only William Borland who flew the flag for the county, and in the grand final he played international player John Goldie, and in a superb final he had to settle for runners up losing out 5-3 in a match which never saw one leg use more than 20 darts! Some statistics  from the days play saw, Callum Wilkinson firing in 2x180’s and games finished in 17 & 3x18 darts along with 110 game shot and a superb 137 take out via 60-57-20, Graeme Bird on target with a 130 game shot a maximum 180 and games finished in 2x16 & 2x18 darts, William Harraughty with 18 & 19 dart games, Jim Mitchell with the fastest recorded game of the day a tidy 12 darter finished in 140-140-140-81 game shot  and game shots of 110 and 81 along with 5 sub 20 darters, William Borland in superb action rattled in 7 maximum scores on the day along with 122 game shot and 14 games finished in 19 darts or less, superb darting from all our local players and well done to all who made the final stages.

 

27thOct, Action from the Bathgate Friday night league saw all the top players converge on the league sponsors Coppies bar in Armadale, and the competition was the D Pryde 301 singles which is played over the old fashioned way of double start double finish and a cutthroat format with it being best of 3x301 up until the semi finals, and after more than three hours play we had four players left standing, William Borland, Martin Deegan, Jim Mitchell from the Kirknewton Innkeepers and Alan MacDonald from Lammies bar in Fauldhouse, and it saw William and Alan contest the final, And it was William Borland who added his name to list of champions, once again a good nights action on the dart boards, here are some of the top shots from the night s play, Jim Mitchell 130 & 93 game shots and 2x 9 dart legs remembering it is 301 and a double start, Rab Nelson from Coppies also finishing in style with a cracking 126 on the bulls eye, William Borland 110-109-93 take outs, William Harraughty 94 game shot, Andy Thomson finishing in 12 & 13 darts.

 

Darts snippets from week past!

Scores from the past week or so, Players firing in top scores are, Scott Baillie with game shots of 140-107-87 along with 7 games finished in under 20 darts,  Paul McCaig 100 g.s. Andy Thomson 17 7 21 darters, Mick Burke 17 dart game, John McKie 180, Ben Hart 1 x180, Jim Mitchell 110 & 88 game shots,

21st Oct, Bathgate Friday night league saw the results going like this, Coppies (B) 2-7 Lammies (B)

Glen Mavis 2-7 Corrie Bar, Old Wine 6-3 Coppies (A). 

 

News, Have heard through the darting grape-vine that our ex League Secretary Fin Drummond is not very well, many of you will know Fin from his days in the league committee (26) years, without him there might not even be a darts league as he helped keep it going back in the dark days when publicans were turning their back on darts, so on behalf of the players in the W.C.D.D.L. we wish him well hopefully see him again soon.

 

Player	County	A /B	Games Pl	Won	Lost	Dart Ave	Dynamic Dart Ave
William Borland	East  Stirlingshire	A	3	3	0	29.11	32.11
Jim Mitchell	East  Stirlingshire	A	3	3	0	22.05	25.05
Mick Burke	Lanarkshire	A	3	2	1	21.46	23.46
John Charleston	Lothian’s	A	3	3	0	20.37	23.37
Graeme Bird	East  Stirlingshire	A	2	0	2	22.56	22.56
Jamie Banks	West Lothian	A	3	1	2	20.44	21.44
Ben Hart	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	18.99	18.99
Ryan Jack	West Lothian	A	2	0	2	17.63	17.63
Roy Anderson	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	18.05	18.05
Calvin Fleming	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	16.10	16.10
Denise Bird	East  Stirlingshire	A	2	2	0	13.55	15.55
Craig Jack	West Lothian	A	1	0	1	15.52	15.52
Player	County	B	Games Pl	Won	Lost	Dart Ave	Dynamic Dart Ave
Graeme Bird	East  Stirlingshire	B	1	0	1	21.05	21.05
Kieran Bird	East  Stirlingshire	B	1	0	1	20.46	20.46
Roy Anderson	West Lothian	B	1	0	1	19.39	19.39
Stevie Scott	Lanarkshire	B	1	0	1	18.46	18.46
Craig Jack	West Lothian	B	1	0	1	18.20	18.20
Denise Bird	East  Stirlingshire	B	2	2	0	13.88	15.88
Colin Hamilton	Lothian’s	B	1	0	1	14.86	14.86
Stephan Colthart	West Lothian	B	3	0	3	12.51	12.51

CONGRATULATIONS

 To Gayle & Lewis on the birth of their daughter, looks like a family rail card for the train now!  

Should anyone wish to contact me with information about the web site or a darts competition which may be happening the new e-mail for myself is (mitchell301@yahoo.com) T.Y.

 

16^th Oct, Results from the West Calder & District Darts League

Central bar Rebels 6-3 Almondale Pirates

Stirrup Stane Wanderers 6-3 Cawburn Highlanders

Murray bar Crofters 5-4 Grand Central Steamers

Kirknewton Barkeepers 1-8 Grand Central Railroaders

Kirknewton Innkeepers 5-4 Loganlea Colliers

Doo Club Fanciers 3-6 Commercial Inn Juniors

Tower bar Knights 3-6 Doo Club Flyers

Commercial Inn Nomads 9-0 Stirrup Stane Indians

 

13^th Oct, Bathgate league action and some cracking results, Kirknewton Innkeepers (Kirknewton) 8-1 Glen Mavis B.C. (Bathgate)

Old Wine (Shott’s) 7-2 Lammies bar (B) Fauldhouse

Cross Tavern (Whitburn) 4-5 Lammies bar (A) Fauldhouse

Corrie bar (Armadale) 7-2 Coppies bar (B) Armadale

Only a few special mention at the moment, Paul McCaig and Graeme Bird both with 19 darters, Jim Mitchell with a maximum 180.

 

11^th Oct, The Posse fighting it out at the Murrayfield Sports bar in Auld Reekie saw some excellent match ups, Kieran Bird with a excellent 8-6 victory after a couple of very close defeats see’s him back on winning ways with the help of 15-16-18 darters, Rab Dick keeps up the pressure in the Gold league sitting in second place and with three matches to go it saw come away with a fine 7-2 win which had 15-17-19 darters in it and a magnificent 157 game shot, Graeme Bird also winning 8-5 with games finished in 18 & 19 darts and a couple of rock solid finishes of 80 & 97 take outs, Jim Mitchell had two match ups on the night and came away with a fighting 8-5 victory in his first match with Gary Higgins who also happens to be Jims doubles partner in the Latvian Open next week in Riga in one of the biggest darting events in the Baltic states, However probably match of the night saw Mitchell facing off against high flying William Borland and a cracking match it saw Borland winning 8-5 but some stats for these two players on the night who are at the opposite spectrum of the age barrier, William (Bridges) Borland 1x180, 92 game shot and 15-15-18 dart games, (Old Man) Mitchell with 1x171, game shots of 76 & 100, and games finished in 12-17-17-18-19 both players dart averages in the high 70 plus bracket and would have been higher should they both have taken their respective doubles out when they had shot’s at them.

 

6^th Oct, Action from the Bathgate Friday night league with a double celebration for Lammies bar in Fauldhouse with two excellent win’s Lammies (a) 9-0 Masonic, and Lammies (b) 6-3 Corrie Bar, Cross Tavern 5-4 Old Wine, Glen Mavis 5-4 Coppies (a), Coppies (b) 2-7 Kirknewton Innkeepers.

Top shooting coming from the Glen Mavis V Coppies match with Colin Maxwell firing in a maximum 180 along with a 94 game shot and a 19 darter, Paul McCaig rock solid 19 darter, also firing in a 19 darter was Jimmy Woods,  Gary Christie also with a 19 darter after just missing out on the bulls eye for a 167 take out, Jimmy MacMillan on target with a 20 dart game. There was some top shooting from the Coppies match in Armadale who hosted the Kirknewton Innkeepers team to their venue, Graeme Bird and Jim Mitchell for the Innkeepers both firing in a maximum 180 as did Coppies player Stuart Boyd with a 180 as well, Fastest game recorded was a cracking 12 darter from Graeme Bird with a superb 124 game shot on the bulls eye also going out on the bull was Jim Mitchell with a 121 game shot.

5th Oct, Things picking up players, the New Inter-Town league now has a new sponsor for the winners Perpetual Trophy with James Banks Joinery from West Calder donating the winning trophy to be played for each year, Also John Somerville has made up a quite simple but very good looking Match team sheet nice and easy for us all to follow! 

 

4^th Oct, News from Auld Reekie in the Edinburgh Darts Association Premier league played in the Murrayfield Sports bar in Gorgi, Mixed results as Scott Baillie and Kieran Bird both lose out in close matches, Win’s came for Graeme Bird with an 8-4 victory over high flying Eddie Main the Bird man firing in a maximum 180 along with an 80 game shot , William Borland on his way to victory with games finished in 14 darts twice and also a brace of 18 darters and a more sedate 20 darter with a 8-2 victory, Mitchell with a 8-4 win after being off to his usual slow start and at 1-4 down it looked like Daine McDiarmid was going to turn the old fella over, but as the saying goes its never over to the last dart goes in Mitchell managing a tidy 14 darter on his way to the winning line!

 

Top Finishes, Highway man player Graham Borland superb 146 kill shot via 60-60-26, Nomads player Jamie Fleming on target with a cracking ton plus finish 103 take out, Innkeeper Graeme Bird rock solid 86 game shot.

 Fast games came from, Graham Borland with 15 & 17 darters for an excellent 31.31 per dart average, Paul Weir & Jim Mitchell 17 darters, Ben Hart for the Crofters with an 18 darter and just one dart behind was Crofters captain Craig Jack with a 19 dart game, it saw Hart & Jack team up for a rock solid 21 dart pairs game as well.

Maximum hitters, this week have four players on target at the red lipstick, Graham Borland, Jim Mitchell, Ben Hart, Craig Jack taking the honours of the weeks highest scorers.

 

1^st Oct, Page with relevant information for Inter-Town league has now been opened in the left hand column, YES folks this event is now definitely going ahead, with the organisers John Somerville, Callum Wilkinson, Spencer McDonald, Graeme Bird, Rab Dick and Jim Mitchell all in agreement to format and venues.

 

Some Information just in!

30^th Sept, Thanks to John Somerville for the following information which will be added to the relevant league tables, From the Commercial Inn in West Calder’s summer league, Bunny Forrest 8 x180’s, Davie Aitken 7x180’s John Somerville 3x180’s, Den Hart 127 game shot, John Somerville 136-2x86 game shots.

 

29^th Sept, Bathgate league action saw some top arrows thrown with Jim Graham (Pelter) from Lammies bar in Fauldhouse leading the way with quick games a fabulous 12 arrow leg via 140-140-140-81 g.s. Other shots of note saw Paul Weir 132 game shot via 25-57-bulls eye, Stevie Duncan from Coppies bar in Armadale 112 game shot showing the young players you can’t give the older generation a shot at a finish! Mitchell a more sedate 86 check out, Maximum hitters came from Alan McDonald, Jamie Banks from the Lammies team, and Graeme Bird from the Kirknewton Innkeepers, Also on the high scores was Rex Brady with a superb set up shot of 177. Paul Weir with a 16 darter,

Team scores Kirknewton Innkeepers 5-4 Lammies bar (2), Cross Tavern 4-5 Corrie bar, Coppies (A) 5-4 Coppies (B), Lammies (1) 3-6 Glen-Mavis B.C

 

W.C.D.D.L. RESULTS 25/9/17

Doo Club Flyers 2-7 Grand .Central Railroaders    

Commercial Inn Juniors 5-4 Deans.B.C. Golden Oldies

Almondale Pirates 2-7 Kirknewton Innkeepers

Central Bar Rebels 6-3 Commercial Nomads

Murray bar Crofters 5-4 Kirknewton Barkeepers

Grand Central Steamers 2 – 7 Tower bar Knights

Cawburn Highlanders 3-6 Volunteer Highway Men

 

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Maximum 180 hitters Paul Weir for the Doo Club Flyers, Grant Lyle from the Railroaders, Davie Aitken for the Nomads, Lorne Mitchell of the Highlanders and Graham Borland for the Highway Men also on target with Maximum 180’s scored. Top finishes of the night went to two players both with 111 game shots Martin Blainey from the newly formed Kirknewton Barkeeps, and Scott Baker from the West Calder Rebels, other players finishing well were, J Sandison of the Railroaders with a 83 game shot as was his team mate Andy Thomson but just edging them out was Alan Galbraith with a 85 kill shot, Craig Jack for the newly formed Murray bar Crofters in on the action with a 75 take out, Scott Cameron 100 game shot for the Pirates of Craigshill and a 82 take out for the Bird man of East Calder Graeme Bird, And for the ladies we have Amanda Miller finishing a 72 game shot. Fast games were scarce but as players may well be rusty after the summer respite I’m sure things will hot up in the weeks to come, Scott Baker nice solid 18 darter, Ryan Little 19 darter both playing for the Rebellious ones from the Central bar in West Calder, William Miller & Graeme Bird both with 18 darters and Rab Dick 19 dart game for Innkeepers,  Fastest game recorded on the night saw a pairs match finished in an excellent 14 arrows for William Miller & John Gardiner of the Kirknewton Innkeepers. Please remember folks we now have a stand alone ladies page on the web site so ladies please send in your information as well, if your not sure about scores etc just check out the page on left hand column of the opening page on web site, t.y. Jim

 

22^nd Sept, Once again the Bathgate Friday night league got under way with Danny Kirkland (Chairman)at the helm without a doubt the longest standing darts committee man in the West Lothian area, and it was Coppies in Armadale where the first competition of the season got under way with the K.O.Cup, this is played over 6 singles and 3 doubles matches so simply put first to 5 take the match, and after three hours play we had our finalists, and it had Big Gordon McMillan leading his team the Cross Tavern from Whitburn to the final with Rab Dick taking his new team of newbie’s The Kirknewton Innkeepers from Kirknewton to face them in the final, and it was nip and tuck with the singles matches shared and at 3-3 it was all down to the doubles and it saw the Cross Taverner’s take the first two doubles and the title by 5 games to 3. Some special mentions from the nights action, Scott Baillie from the Corrie bar firing in a maximum 180 as did Callum Wilkinson of the Taverner’s and Jim Mitchell for the Innkeepers however top maximum hit on the night must go to Graham Landels from the Old Wine/Lammies bar!!! who was playing in the first match of the new season he recorded with his first three darts of the new season a cracking maximum 180 great way to start the season with your first ever league maximum 180 well played. Congratulations to both teams, K.O. Cup Champion’s The Cross Tavern and Kirknewton Innkeepers r/up.

 

18^th Sept, W.C.D.D.L. Yes the league is back and with it we have a new winner of the leagues first trophy the prestige’s K.O. Cup event which is played as a 7 person team with each singles match being 1x701 so the first team to get 4 chalks on the board wins, sounds easy but with so many good teams in the league you have to be on your toes to make the final and this season it saw the Commercial Nomads under the leadership of John Bruton make it through and up against them was the Almondale Pirates from the Masonic club in Craigshill who had Derek Carmichael at the helm, the matches were just about even and only the finishing power of the Nomads the difference and it saw John Somerville taking the title to West Calder with a fine 72 game shot for the Commercial Nomads, final score Nomads 4-1 Pirates. Winning team were John Bruton, Davie Aitken, John Somerville, John Grant, Jamie Fleming, Jim Quinn, Bunny Forrest, losing finalists were, Stevie Duncan, Michael Brady, Scott Bryson, Derek Carmichael, Jamie Pattison, Scot Begley, Scott Cameron, the two losing semi finalists were the Central bar Rebels from West Calder and Doo Club Flyers from East Calder, Top shots from the competition saw Paul Weir and, Derek Carmichael and Wullie Wilson all firing in maximum 180’s top finishes had Andy Thomson with a 107 game shot, Ian Stevenson 81 take out and Saun Hanlon with 80 game shot, Two players had excellent games with  dart averages of 31.86 for their 701 legs and they were Martin Balfour and Saun Hanlon.

Competition Page Updated 7th Oct Haddington-Gardeners Arms.

 

Credit where Credit is Due.

Once again a combined effort from our current and past Match Secretaries have delivered the goods, The league tables are now finalised and fingers crossed every team should be happy, they have tried as much as possible to give all the teams home and away fixtures obviously with our league set up it cant quite be as straight forward as we would like but all teams have same number home and away matches, so a big thank you must go to Connie Bamburry & John Kirk for delivering the goods. Where would we be without them, Cheers guys.

 

13^th Sept, Once again the local posse rode into the Murrayfield sports bar for their weekly showdown with the Edinburgh players, though to be truthful this week was more of a home derby in some matches, Graeme and Kieran Bird were drawn against each other and it was the senior bird who came away with a fine 8-5 win over Kieran , Graeme firing in 16 and a brace of 17 darters in his win, William Borland who was not at his best think man flu may have had something to do with it, but he struggled over the line winning 8-3 but only a single 20 dart game in the fast legs column to night! Rab Dick was in superb form winning 7-0 with games finished in 17-18-19-19 darts and three excellent game shots of 78-88-103 along with a maximum 180 and an excellent three dart average of 77 per throw, Jim Mitchell played Scott Baillie in another local posse match up and it was the old man who came away with a 8-1 Scott missing a few vital doubles letting Jim In, Jim with 2 x180’s and games finished in 16-17-18-20 arrows and a tidy 130 out on the bulls eye.

 

6^th Sept, The Posse headed East to the Murrayfield Sports bar for their weekly showdown with the Lothian and surrounding area top arrow smiths, and came back with some excellent results, Rab Dick with an cracking 7-2 win to continue his move up the rankings of the Gold league Rab at the moment sitting in second place with only Alan White in front of him but the Kirknewton man is moving ever closer! Kieran Bird also on the winning trail with an excellent 8-6 victory in the Platinum league, Graeme Bird on target with an 8-4 winning score line which included 111 along with 88 & 84 game shots, a brace of maximum 180’s and games finished in 13-17-17 darts, William Borland continuing his superb form of late with yet another top performance on the good old flock board, firing in 2x180’s  along with 88&84 game shots and games finished in superb style with 4x14 darters and 16 and 18 darts for a very impressive 8-2 victory over top Edinburgh player Daine McDiarmid.

 

Only one major thing to report! Rest can take back seat!

Scottish Masters Singles competition was held in Glenrothes Fife at the week end,

And it was East Calder's William Borland who took the title he now adds his name to some of the all time greats of our sport

With the likes of Jocky Wilson and Gary Anderson to mention just a few, William in the semi final defeated the Scotland captain

Alan Souter 5-0 before going on to win the title 5-3 from Fife player Jamie Clark in the final,

William who plays for the Kirknewton Inn on a Friday night in the Bathgate & District darts league and

The Cawburn Assassin's on a Monday night in the West Calder & District darts league,

This young 20 year old has the whole of Scotland applauding his magnificent achievement.

SCOTTISH MASTERS CHAMPION 2017-William Borland.

On the day he recorded no fewer than 6x180’s games finished in 2x13-15-16-2x17, and game shots of 116-86-84 and that’s only what he can remember!

2nd Sept, Darts snippet, Players going to the exhibition in October at the Bathgate Royal British Legion to play one of the professionals are, Rab Dick (Kirknewton) Graeme Bird (East Calder, Gillian & Jim Mitchell (Livingston)

 

27^th Aug, Stirrup Stane Finals Night.

The prestige’s Stewart Tait Summer League Cup, was the title on the line, with the top eight players from the summer qualifying weeks taking to the ocky to try and get their name engraved on the Silver Cup, The quarter finals saw the matches being the best of 9x501, Micky Burke 5-0 Frank Begley, Craig Agnew 5-3 Brian McIntyre, Scott Baillie 5-1 Gary Christie, Gordon Bruce 5-0 Arran Edwards, and so to the semi finals which saw the matches now the best of 11x501, Gordon Bruce 6-1 Craig Agnew, Micky Burke 6-5 Scott Baillie and so after some terrific match ups we had our two finalists and the final match the best of 13x501, and you could not get any closer with the match going the distance and only decided on who’s name would go on the trophy in the very final leg of this superb match, Gordon Bruce 7-6 Mick Burke. Along with the title of summer league champion and the Stewart Tait Silver cup Gordon also received £240, the runner up Micky Burke receiving £140, semi finalists Craig Agnew and Scott Baillie receiving £50 a piece, Quarter finalists each received £25, Arran Edwards, Gary Christie. Frank Begley, Brian McIntyre. Some terrific darts thrown on the night and maximum hitters were, Brian McIntyre 1x180, Arran Edwards 1x180 & 1x171, Scott Baillie 1x180, Quick games came from Scott Bailie with 16-17-18-19-20 darters, Mick Burke with 17-17-19 dart games and a 85 game shot, However their can be only one and that was the champion Gordon Bruce who fired in 10 sub 20 dart games between 15 and 19 darts and two excellent ton plus finishes with 100 &131 kill shots and a maximum 180. Once again many thanks to the Stirrup Stane in Craigshill for hosting this event and to Stewart Tait’s Electrical & Plumbing services for sponsoring this annual competition.

 

26^th Aug, And the Posse was once again assembled apart from the Kirknewton Lefty Rab Dick who was on a Edinburgh Festival day out in Auld Reekie, However Kieran, Jim, William and Graeme took the stagecoach into the Murrayfield Sports bar for one of the leagues major titles, and this was a competition which was played in a round robin league format 4x501 a draw being available! with the top four making it into the K.O. cup section, Some great arrows thrown on the day and have tried to condense it so here goes, Kieran Bird pl 5 won 1 drew 3 lost 1, William Borland pl 7 won 6 lost 1, Graeme Bird pl 7 won 5 drew 1 lost 1, Jim Mitchell pl 10 won 7 drew 2 lost 1, Jim being the last one of the Posse left standing bowed out in the semi finals to Callum Smith 5 games to 3, Graeme losing in the quarters, The final saw Ian (the Navigator) Butler winning 5-1 from Callum Smith. Some stats from the posse players goes like this, Kieran Bird 1x180, William Borland 4x180 and games finished in 12-15-17-17-18-19-19- 20-20 darts and finishes of 121-107-94-92-83 game shots, Graeme Bird with 1x180 and games finished in 16-20-20-20-20 darts, Jim Mitchell with 3x180’s and a 1x171 along with game shots of 100-93-84-82, and 17 sub 20 darters being 14-15-15-15-16-16-16-16-16-17-17-18-18-18-18-18-18 arrows, and I was more surprised than anyone else for these stats changed darts as point came out of ones been using for last 4-5 months on Friday night dropped two grams to a set of new (old) Leo Newstead darts 25.7 grams, and they carried me most of the day! Once again many thanks to the hard working Edinburgh Darts Association committee for running these events on behalf of the West Lothian Posse we all think you do a cracking job, and I know it sometimes does not look or sound like your appreciated but you are thanks guys.

Congratulations to both finalists, Ian (Navigator) Butler champion, runner /up Callum Smith

 

25^th Aug, Well the local Posse headed west this time and the venue was the Lanark Thistle Bowling club for an open doubles competition, Once again we were made very welcome by the members of the club and their committee, and can we say what a fabulous spread the ladies put on to feed us  must remember not to have my tea next time so I can do it justice,(t.y.)Once the games had been played it saw Rab Dick & William Borland toeing of against Graeme Bird & Jim Mitchell in the final, and it was the former who took the title from the defending champions by a score line of 4 games to 2, Rab Dick from Kirknewton firing in two cracking shots and as the t.v. pundits say it is all about timing and Rab did just that a cracking 177 to leave a finish which William took out for a 12 darter, Graeme and Jim then replied with a 14 darter of their own only to see Rab and William go out in 15 darts back again and it saw Jim and Graeme with a 16 dart game, so game going with throw and at 3-2 to Rab and William it saw Rab fire in a maximum 180 to leave 38 and that was perfect timing so Champions Rab Dick & William Borland, runners up Graeme Bird & Jim Mitchell, William’s second time in the final here, Graeme’s second and believe it or not the fifth time Jim has graced the finals, Rab on this firm I’m sure will be making many more! Watch this space.

 

21^st Aug, The final places for qualification were up for grabs in the Stirrup Stane Saints & Sinners Summer darts league sponsored by Stuart Tait’s Electrical & Plumbing services and the Stirrup Stane public house, and the top four in each league who have now made the money rounds are none other than, from the League of Devils, Arran Edwards pl 13 won 12 lost 1 -24 points, Gordon Bruce pl13 won 10 lost 3-20 points, Craig Agnew pl12 won 9 lost 3  -18points, Scott Baillie pl 12 won 8 lost 4-16points. And from the Saints league we have Frank Begley pl18 won 14 lost 4 – 28 points, Mick Burke pl13 won 13 -26 points, Brian McIntyre played 17 won 11 lost 6-22 points, Gary Christie played 17 won 11 lost 6- 22 points. And so these top eight players go into a final K.O. cup format next week to crowned champion of the Stirrup Stane Summer league Singles, (all the best ) Players on the night firing in top shots were, Scott Baillie with 18 &19 dart games and an 87 take out, Mick Burke firing in 18-19-19-20 dart games and a tidy 100 game shot, Colin Kelly with a brace of maximum 180’s and a 18 darter, Gary Christie the man who can confuse his opposition by changing hands and throwing accurately with both! On target with 18-19-20 darters and an 84 game shot.

 21^st August, The final night of action at the Cawburn Sports bar Rodeo for the season finale of the Calamity Jane’s & Buffalo Bill’s Wild West dart leagues, and what a night of action we had with the top four ladies playing for monetary prizes and the top 6 men also battling it out for a share of the goodies as well! Both Ladies and Men’s winner taking home the same amount in with £125 each to both plus memento’s to the winners.

 

In the Calamity Jane’s league it was nip and tuck as the championship was not won until the last match was played it was that close, However once the chalk dust settled  it was East Calder player Denise Bird who took the title with 38 points which saw her finish the season with 15 wins from 18 matches, just losing out in second place was Kirknewton’s Mary Clark who finished on 36 points with 13 victories from 18 matches, third place went to one of the most improved lady players in the West Lothian area once again from Kirknewton Amanda Millar with 29 points and a league record of won 10 from 18, in fourth place it saw East Calder’s Kathy Henderson who fought back after a poor start to the season to claim fourth place with 8 wins from 18 matches with 28 points, remembering every leg was worth a point in these best of 3x501 match ups. The chasing league players had only 6 points between the next 5 players this was one very hard league to win so many congratulations to Denise Bird champion of the First Calamity Jane’s Ladies Singles title 2017.

 

Match scores from the nights play went like this, Ali Chaffe 3-0 Leona Stewart, Kathy Henderson 2-1 Daisy Heeps, Gillian Mitchell 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Christine McIntosh 2-1 Amanda Millar, Denise Bird 2-1 Christine McIntosh, Abi Sclater 3-0 Daisy Heeps, Denise Bird 2-1 Gillian Mitchell, Leona Stewart 20=-1 Daisy Heeps, Kathy Henderson 3-0 Abi Sclater, Amanda Millar 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Mary Clark 2-1 Christine McIntosh. (Well played the Ladies)

 

The Buffalo Bill’s league was just as tough in the run in with only William Borland secure in the top place and with the men’s league paying out to the top six players every point was invaluable in these best of 4x501 matches with every leg worth a point, William Borland champion with 54 points with 15 wins and 2 draws, second place players could not be separated with Rex Brady needing a draw or better and his opponent Jim Mitchell needing a 4-0 win in their last match clash of the night, it saw Jim win 3-1 and both players ending up on 44 points with Rex winning 11 drawing 2 and losing 2, Jim Winning 10 drawing 4 losing 1,  in fourth and fifth places were father and son players Graeme Bird who just edged out his son Kieran Bird by one point Graeme 42 points with 10 wins 3 draws 2 losses, Kieran 41 points with 8 wins 5 draws and 2 losses points, and in sixth place by the skin of his teeth was Dechmont’s top arrow smith Martin Deegan with 36 points with 7 wins 3 draws and 5 losses. To say this was a close league was an understatement with Rab Dick and Ian Stevenson both just losing out on the prize fund by one point as both sat on 35 points.

 

Scores from the nights action saw, Graeme Bird 3-1 Rab Dick, Rab Dick 4-0 Jay Millar, Geordie Dryburgh 4-0 Scott Bryson, Graeme Bird 2-2 Jim Mitchell, Kieran Bird 4-0 Jay Millar, Ian Stevenson 4-0 Shaun Robertson, William Millar 4-0 Scott Bryson, Jim Mitchell 3-1 Rex Brady, Graeme Bird 4-0 Jay Millar, Martin Deegan 2-2 Kieran Bird, Rab Dick 4-0 Shaun Robertson, William Borland 4-0 Geordie Dryburgh.

 

19^th Aug, Haddington town the place to be at, and the Gardeners Arms for another afternoon of outstanding darts play, With 32 top arrow smiths in the field it saw some excellent action on the match boards, The last four players left standing were all top county or internationalists so there was no quarter given and none expected, First semi final saw Greg Ritchie just edge out William Borland in a 9 leg thriller which until the last dart hit the flock board had William in charge however you have to finish on a double and that is what Greg did five to Williams four! In the second semi final we had former Scottish international Harry Todman up against Lothian county player Andy McCardle and once again a tight match up with Harry just doing enough to keep Andy on the back foot and a 5-3 win for the Todman, so a final which saw Greg Ritchie winning by 6 games to 2 both players rattled in maximum 180’s but there can be only one winner and that was Greg Ritchie, runner up Harry Todman, couple of top games on the day saw Alan Crosbie and William Borland both firing in superb 12 darters, Once again excellent hospitality from the Gardeners Arms and a well run comp by none other than Mick Burgess who it was nice to see back playing himself after a serious illness. Fingers crossed will meet up with the players around the tournament circuit in the near future, Oh and the Pizza laid on by the pub went down a treat (and there was me watching my figure!) thanks guys.

 

16^th August, Well another night in Auld Reekie for the West Lothian Posse with mixed results, Kieran Bird playing in the Platinum league started off like a racing pigeon with a superb 13 dart game then it became a war of attrition with each player swapping leg for leg until the 12^th leg when Kieran took the initiate to go 7-5 ahead and then closed the match out in the 13 th leg for a hard fought 8-5 victory which included 13 & 18 dart games, Rab Dick in a best of 13 match in the Gold league just lost out going down 6-7 Rab firing in two quick legs of 17 & 18 darts, William Borland was in a close encounter with Eddie Main and at 3-3 it looked anyone’s game however William then stepped on the gas and came away with a cracking 8-3 win which included 2x15-17-19-20 dart games a maximum 180 and finishes of 110& 90 game shots, His next match though was not so fortunate at 5-5 with Davie Sharp it was nip and tuck until Davie pulled away and it saw William lose 5-8, Jim Mitchell one of the last matches on saw him slip to 0-3 at the beginning of the this best of 15 encounter before he came back with 8 winning legs from the next 9  to win by 8 games to 4, Jim once he woke up rattled in 12-13-16-20 darters plus 2x180’s and a cracking 146 game shot to take the match which was in the last leg which went like this 180-83-82-146 take out! Scott Baillie who was also in action never passed on any information but once it gets to me it will be added, On a more serious note last night an offer was made to Scott to transfer teams for the forth coming season on a Monday night , however the thought of a used dart board a large packet of Walkers crisps were not enough to make him change his mind until the ante was upped and Quavers and a can of pop were added to the transfer bid, think Stuart Tait may have to renegotiate his fee for keeping him at the Stirrup Stane!!

 

14th August, The Saints & Sinners league tables from the Stirrup Stane updated,

sponsored by S Tait's Electrical & Plumbing services. Big Daddy Frank Begley new club house leader in the Saints league.

 

14^th August, The Buffalo Bills saw some tremendous matches with all the players trying to make their way into the top six places where the prize funds start from, William Borland and Rex Brady once again swapped places at the top of the league, with William sitting top, moving up from sixth place into third place has Jim Mitchell, however nothing is secure for any of the players below the top two who have enough points to stay in the money places, So next week with the top nine players all within a couple of points of each other, there should be some tremendous battles on the ocky to see who ends up where in the rankings, Though looks like William has the crown in his hands!

Top shots from the night saw Maximum hitters in Jim Mitchell & Rab Dick with 2x180’s, William Borland 1x180, Top finishes saw Rex Brady 98 game shot, William Borland 94 game shot, Ian Stevenson 86 game shot, Jim Mitchell a brace of bull finishes with 80 & 78 take outs finishing on the bulls eye, Top games from the night had William Borland 14-17-20 darts, Mitchell 2x15 and a 17 darter, Rex Brady 17 darter, Kieran Bird 19 darter.

 11th August, Snippet, William Borland lost out to International Gary Stone in the final qualifying round held in Bo'ness to try and make the world championship play offs in Bridlington on the night William fired in 5x180's. Just one double away from getting to the qualifiers!

 

9^th August, Only three of the local West Lothian Posse made the trip into the Murrayfield Sports bar for this week’s darts rodeo! And it was a good night on the ocky for the local players, Kieran Bird a fine 8-5 win which saw Kieran firing in a 116 game shot, also three fast games finished in 15-17-20 darts, Graeme Bird also in the winners circle with a 8-4 victory which saw the Birdman on target with a maximum 180 and also a 116 game shot along with 17 & 18 dart games, Jim Mitchell winning 8-1 with 13-18-19 darters to his credit along with a maximum 180 his 100^th of the year in competition matches but a bit adrift of William Borland who is out in front by a good old country mile but you never know last season he led for most of the year but was caught at the final furlong! Mitchell also with finishes of 86-116-124 with the 86 & 124 being on the bulls eye!

 

7^th August, The Saints & Sinners were in action in the Stirrup Stane in Craigshill, results from the group of Sinners/death saw C Agnew 3-2 I Mitchell, A Edwards 5-0 T Smith, G Bruce 4-1 T Smith, A Edwards 5-0 J Devlin, I Mitchell 5-0 T Smith, G Bruce 3-2 A Edwards, I Mitchell 5-0 T Smith. In the Saints league the results went like this, M Burke 4-1 R Barron, S Tait 3-2 B Patterson, G Christie 3-2 F Begley, B McIntyre 4-1 F Crook, G Christie 5-0 B McIntyre, M Burke 5-0 F Begley, G Christie 5-0 B Patterson, F Begley 3-2 B Patterson,  B McIntyre 3-2 R Barron, G Christie 4-1 M Conway, S Tait 4-1 F Crook, M Burke 3-2 G Christie, R Barron 5-0 M Conway. Player of the night must go to Armadale’s old timer Mick Burke who was in superb form firing in not one ton plus finish but four of them and they were crackers, 153-147-141 and a more modest 111 take out he also fired in a maximum 180 and games finished in 15-18-18 darts, Rodger Barron also on the maximum trail with a 180 to be added to the maximum league tables, also on that table will be Arry Edwards with 3x180’s to add plus games finished in 14-17-17-18-19 darts, Big Daddy Frank Begley also on target with a 180, Frank firing in a 20 darter and Gary Christie a rock solid 84 take out,

 

7^th August, Calamity Jane league, saw Denise Bird and Mary Clark starting to move ahead of the chasing pack, Denise and Mary have both played two games more than third place Amanda Millar and with only two weeks of matches left every point from now on in is very important as the ladies prize fund goes  down to fourth place, and only five points separate the next six ladies on the league table, so all to play for, and with Daisy Heeps, Gillian Mitchell and Christine Macintosh all with four games in hand on the leaders of the pack, could be some exciting match ups next week! All to play for and with Denise on Holiday it could be time for players to move close to the top places.

 

7^th August, Buffalo Bills league saw some tremendous action on the ocky with Martin Deegan taking the plaudits for the nights action with a superb 14 points from a possible 16 to move from eighth to third and with only two weeks remaining there are some superb match ups to come in the final two weeks of action on the ocky at the Cawburn Sports bar, Rex Brady sits top of the league but back in second place is William Borland with games in hand, With William playing some cracking darts at the moment players are getting chances against him but none are taking them, and so he is making then pay for their misses, and that is what darts at this level are all about, if you miss your opponent doesn’t! So with Rex on 40 points and William on 38 and with three players all sitting on 33 points and all to play each other in the course of the next two weeks, someone has to pull away, exciting times on the ocky! In the two weeks remaining. Shots of note from the night’s action remembering all fast games maximums and high check outs must come in competitions or league events, not practise in the house! Has seen Old Man Mitchell fire in a maximum also hitting the red lipstick was  Rex Brady and William Borland with maximum scores as well, High finishes well one absolute cracker and it was William Borland with a superb 150 take out via 57-57-36 he also recorded a more sedate 80 game shot as well, Rex Brady 117 & 104 clearances from the man we call cool hand! Scott Cameron 96 game shot, Mitchell 82 take out, Fast Games fired in by Rex Brady with 18-18-19- darts William Borland 2x15-18-19 darters, Jim Mitchell 15 & 19 darters, Scott Cameron 15 darter, Graeme Birds 18 dart game, Kieran Bird 19 darter, and that is all that was written down if any shots missing drop me a line and they will be added cheers Jim M.

 

5^th August, East Calder Homing Society Club (Doo Club) saw a plethora of top players descend upon the venue for one of a set of open darts competitions which will held on the premises and sponsored by the members of the club, future competitions will be added at a later date! Players from as far a fields as North Berwick, Edinburgh, Perth and the central belt came to try and annex either the Ladies or Men’s titles, Both competitions having Scottish Internationals in the mix along with a scattering of players who also play in the P.D.C. tours, In the Ladies competition it saw the quarter finals results go like this, Laura Hobbins bt Kathy Henderson, Karen Cruikshanks bt Mary Clark, Claire Cruickshanks bt Gillian Mitchell, Francis Lawson bt Denise Bird, Semi final saw, Laura Hobbins bt Karen Cruikshanks, Francis Lawson bt Claire Cruikshanks, and so to the Grand Final and it was Lothian county player Francis Lawson who just edged out Laura Hobbins in a superb final. All the ladies from the quarter final stages receiving prize money, once again congratulations to both finalists for making it to the grand final having to play through an exceptionally tough pool of county and international players, also to Denise Bird for running the ladies competition.

 

5^th August ,While the ladies were battling it out downstairs on three boards upstairs in the hall it saw the men having five boards in use, and what a line up of top players toed the ocky, the matches were the best of 7x501 in the early rounds before extending to 9x501 and then 11x501 for the finale, the last 16 saw Jim Mitchell bt Ian Stevenson, William Borland bt Paul Weir, Rab Dick bt Lewis Coult, Stuart Wares bt Rex Brady, Greg Ritchie bt Graeme Bird, Gary Higgins bt Brian Duffy, Callum Wilkinson bt Andy Thomson, Martin Deegan bt Frank Crook, and so to the quarter finals where the money rounds started! William Borland 5-2 Jim Mitchell, Rab Dick 5-4 Stuart Wares, Greg Ritchie 5-3 Garry Higgins, Callum Wilkinson 5-2 Martin Deegan, and then there were four, William Borland 5-0 Rab Dick, Greg Ritchie 5-2 Callum Wilkinson, and so here we were at the end of four hours of exceptional darts being thrown and the final was the tip of the mountain with both Greg Ritchie and William Borland playing top class darts with no quarter asked and none being expected! The best of 11x501 final was poised at 5-4 to Greg and William was sitting on double 16 after 15 darts Greg had to stop to replace his flight in his last dart in hand but what a dart straight into the centre of the bulls eye to take the title in dramatic fashion by 6 games to 4, neither of these finalists taking more than 19 darts in any leg of arrows an absolute privilege to watch, and both receiving a standing ovation for their efforts. On the day it saw Greg Ritchie receive £350, William Borland £150, Callum Wilkinson & Rab Dick £50 each, Jim Mitchell, Martin Deegan, Stuart Wares, Garry Higgins each receiving £30, including the ladies prize fund it saw the Doo Club in East Calder pay out in£965 in prizes, Once again many thanks to the committee and members of the Doo Club for sponsoring this event, Also many thanks to George & Fiona the hard working bar stewards of the club and to Ted McMillan for sponsoring the dart boards courtesy of Winmau Scotland and of course Graeme Bird for all their help in making this such a fabulous success, and as stated before there will be more in the pipe line in due course, later in the darting season, dates to be confirmed at a later date. On a personnel note hope all our travelling entrants made it home safe, not to pick anyone out in particular but the NAVIGATOR Ian Butler was in the premises WHAT EVER you do don’t follow him you might still be finding you’re way home now this fine Sunday morning!!!

 

31^st July, Saints & Sinners league played from the Stirrup Stane in Craigshill, has seen Arran Edwards and Mick Burke last weeks league leaders maintain their unblemished records and sty top of their respective divisions, Top scores recorded this week saw, Ian Mitchell with a rock solid 19 darter, Gordon Bruce 3x18 dart games and 19 darter along with a 112 game shot. Stewart Tait checking out on a 80 game shot finishing on the bulls eye, Scott Baillie tidy 86 take out, Tommy Smith getting in on the action with 20 darter.

 

31^st July Buffalo Bills action from the Cawburn Sports bar, saw Jim Mitchell 4-0 Jay Millar, Scott Bryson 2-2 Rab Dick, Jay Millar 2-2 Shaun Robertson, William Borland 4-0 Rab Dick, Jim Mitchell 3-1 William Millar, Graeme Bird 3-1 Scott Cameron, Kieran Bird 2-2 William Borland, William Millar 4-0 Jay Millar, Jim Mitchell 2-2 Scott Cameron, William Borland 4-0 Rex Brady, Graeme Bird 2-2 Ian Stevenson, Ian Stevenson 2-2 Rex Brady, Kieran Bird 3-1 Graeme Bird, Scott Bryson 3-1 Shaun Robertson. Top shots saw Scott Bryson with 1x180 and 18 darter, Ian Stevenson 92 game shot and 18 darter, Jim Mitchell 87 take out on the bull! And 17 and 18 darters, Kieran Bird 20 darter, Graeme Bird 20 darter, Scott Cameron 17 and 19 darters, William Borland 1x180 and 7 sub 20 dart games between 16 and 20 arrows of mass destruction! The league at the top of the Bills is starting to get congested with only 4 points now separating the top 5 players, William Borland sits top with last weeks leader Rex Brady just 1 point behind! Going to be a real tough run in for all these players as everyone in the league is taking points from everyone else and no one has won all their matches! And last night with 6 draws on the cards it has kept everyone in contention, could be some real fun and games ahead, looking forward to it!

 

31^st July, Calamity Jane’s summer league results from the Cawburn Sports bar, Daisy Heeps 2-1 Gillian Mitchell, Kathy Henderson 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Daisy Heeps 3-0 Leona Stewart, Kathy Henderson 2-1 Abi Sclater, Daisy Heeps 2-1 Denise Bird, Leona Stewart 2-1 Kathy Henderson, Amanda Millar 2-1 Abi Sclater, Mary Clark 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Mary Clark 2-1 Leona Stewart, Denise Bird 2-1 Abi Sclater. Amanda Millar 2-1 Mary Clark.

Biggest mover in the Calamity Jane’s this week is Great Gran Daisy Heeps who moves up into contention sitting in fourth place with 4 games in hand there could be changes in the weeks ahead so Denise Bird top with 26 points, Mary Clark 24 points, Amanda Millar on 17 points, Daisy Heeps 16 points, then the rest of the chasing pack has very little between them, and as every leg is worth a point this league is far from over, league tables are on the left hand column, just click on the title to be taken straight to the tables.

 

30^th July, Granite City Open Doubles results for the local players from this area go like this, losing out in the first round were, Jamie Banks & Stevie Scott 0-3, John Somerville & Callum Wilkinson 1-3, other results saw John Charleston & Colin Hamilton W 3-0, L1-3, Davie Nisbet & Martin Deegan W3-1, L0-3, Jim Mitchell & Colin Robertson W 3-1, W3-1, L 1-3 in the last 16.

 

29^th July, The venue Dyce in Aberdeenshire for the Granite City Open, this saw professional players from both the B.D.O. and the P.D.C. in action and with International players in abundance it saw a huge presence of local West Lothian players all take to the ocky to try and annex this one of Scotland’s top tournaments, Some excellent performances however losing out in the first round we had Martin Deegan 2-4, Jamie Banks 1-4, Stevie Scott 1-4, Stephan Coulter 0-4, Gillian Mitchell 1-3, second round losers saw Jim Mitchell 2-4, Shug Rice 1-4, Colin Hamilton 1-4, Davie Nisbet 3-4, John Charleston 2-4, Still in action saw Colin Robertson from Broxburn who was back in action after a four month lay off with a shoulder injury, and was doing well with 4-3 / 4-2 / 4-0 / before going out 2-4, Callum Wilkinson from Whitburn was in action with wins of 4-1, 4-1, before losing 2-4, HOWEVER TOP PLAYER was Arran Edwards from Craigshill in Livingston who was putting a tremendous run together with wins of, 4-0, 4-2, 4-3, 4-0, 4-3, before losing out in the Quarter finals in dramatic fashion with the matches now best of 9x501, it saw Arry on a double only for his opponent to check out the deciding factor in this superb match was the bull up at he beginning of the match so tight between the top players these days it just shows how important the bull up for the honour of throwing first is, However the £200 for reaching the last eight will help sooth the loss! on the day Arran fired in some tremendous darts here is what was recorded, 1x171, 4x180’s, checkouts of 126-86, and some superb fast legs which saw his fastest a sublime 11 darter finished like this, 140-95-180-86, he then followed that up with 13-14-15-16-16-16-16--17-19-19, tremendous effort Arran Edwards quarter finals of the Granite City Open, and when you realise the quality of the players in this competition Ronnie Baxter , Jamie Caven, Brian Woods, all who have graced the P.D.C. televised stages of competitions before and more Internationals than you can shake a stick at this was a superb achievement to make the last 8!! The eventual winner of this prestige’s tournament was Andy Boulton, runner up Colin Heplewhite in the final. Other players firing in top shots saw Davie Nisbet 1x180, Jim Mitchell 1x180, 1x171, Callum Wilkinson 1x180, Colin Robertson 1x171, Callum Wilkinson with a 106 game shot, John Somerville 91 take out, Callum Wilkinson 12 darter, Martin Deegan 2x17 darters, Mitchell 17 and 19 dart games, Colin Robertson 16-4x18 darters.

 

27^th July, Kirknewton Inn saw some top players turn up for a practise and a round robin tournament was then played out with the top four then playing off to decide a winner, William Borland on target with 17-17-19 darters and a fine 106 game shot, Mary Clark of Kirknewton had the highest game shot of the nights action with a superb 118 game shot, Rab Dick fired in a maximum 180 along with 18 darter and a 78 game shot, Martin Deegan from Dechmont classy 97 take out via 17 double tops double tops! Kieran Bird 1x180, but winner on the night was Jim Mitchell from Dedridge with 3x180’s and finishes of 115-110-82 take outs, and 15-17-18 dart legs.

 

26th July, Premier League action from Edinburgh , saw four of the West Lothian Posse in action, Rab Dick from Kirknewton with an excellent 7-3 win which saw Rab firing in 2x180 maximums along with game shots of 80&92 and games finished in 18-18-19-20 darts, Kieran Bird just losing out in a cracking match which could have gone either way score 6-8 he did fire in a 2x180’s and games finished in 17-18-20 darts, William Borland eased his way to victory with a 8-0 win thanks to games finished in 14-16-17-18 darts along with 2x180’a and a rock solid 80 game shot, But without a doubt story of the night was Graeme Bird at 0-6 down it was all going wrong for the East Calder player, However the adage of a game of two halves comes to mind and it saw Graeme turn the score board upside down coming away with a fabulous fight back winning 8-7 with games finished in 16-16-17-18 darts and some tremendous finishing with 80-80-97-120 check outs now that was some fight back.

 

24^th July, Stirrup Stane Summer leagues Saints & Sinners results now in, And in the group of Death we have a new club house leader as Arran Edwards goes top with 8 win’s from 8 matches to sit 4 points clear of Craig Agnew who drops from top to second in the league this week, Gordon Bruce moves up to third on 10 points, with Scott Baillie dropping to fourth on 8 points, Ian Mitchell 4 points Tommy Smith and Joe Devlin sit on 2 points each while Scott Begley and Liam Corbett have still to get on the points table, but with weeks to go they have time to catch the leading pack, Arran Edwards was in high scoring mode firing in 2x180 and a cracking 174 score, Joe Devlin also on target with a superb 1x171 score. Craig Agnew also on the maximum trail with a 180, Gordon Bruce and firing in  a superb 114 game shot along with 18 and 20 darters, Craig Agnew also with a 18 darter.

In the Saints league we have Mick Burke extending his league with 7 wins from 7 matches to sit top of the league with 14 points, Also on 14 points is Big Daddy Frank Begley but Frank has played 2 matches more than Mick! Michael Conway is in third place with 12 points, and then Brian MacIntyre in fourth with 10 points, Rodger Barron 8 points in at fifth, then there are only 2 points between the next four players, Stuart Tait and Colin Kelly 4 points a piece Bob Patterson and Gary Christie with 2 point each, Frank Crook still to record his first win but with plenty of matches left there is still time to get on the score board, Colin Kelly with a superb 149 game shot takes the plaudits this week from this league Frank Begley rock solid 81 game shot, Micky Burke a brace of 17 darters And Colin Kelly with a 18 darter.

 

24^th July, Calamity Jane League, Saw Denise move ahead of the chasing pack with some superb performances winning 9 of the 9 legs of darts she played so Denise Bird tops the league with 23 points, second place is Mary Clark on 19 points but biggest movers of the week were Gillian Mitchell and Amanda Millar who have moved into joint third place with 13 points and both have three games in hand on the leaders, Leona Stewart is on 12 points, Ali Chaffe sits on 11 points, Kathy Henderson 10 points, then we have a novice and a senior player both on 9 points Abi Sclater in her first full season is picking up points as she goes along and Senior player Daisy Heeps who was in last place saw her showing that age is no barrier as she won 4 from 4 matches on the night and has 5 games in hand so could be some big changes in the weeks to follow, sitting on 8 points is Christine MacIntosh.

 

19^th July, The Murrayfield sports bar Premier league action saw the West Lothian Posse firing in some tremendous darts in night of cracking match up’s, Scott Baillie winning 8-4 after a slow start Scott got into his stride firing in games finished in 13-16-17-17-20 darts plus a maximum 180, Graeme Bird and Neil Tomlinson went toe to toe on the ocky in a cracking match up which saw Graeme winning 8-5 but having to work damn hard for those valuable points firing in 14-17-18 darters and a tidy 112 game shot, William Borland crossing the line 8-3 with fast games done in 16-18-19-20 darts and a cracking 1x174 set up, Kieran Bird losing out in a 15 leg thriller to Ian Butler in a game that went the distance and only decided in the final leg of this match up, Jim Mitchell on target with a 8-0 win which was closer than it looks as his opponent William Campbell was either on a double or a finish when Jim went out! Thanks to some quick finishing with 2x80 game shots and a 76 take out and games finished in 14-16-16-18-19-20-20-20 darts and a maximum 180.

 

17^th July, Saints & Sinners league played in the Stirrup Stane in Craigshill results has in the group of Heaven! M Burke 4-1 M Conway, C Kelly 5-0 B Patterson, M Burke 4-1 F Begley, M Conway 3-2 S Tait, F Begley 5-0 B Patterson, M Burke 4-1 C Kelly, B McIntyre 4-1 B Patterson, S Tait 5-0 F Crook, F Begley 5-0  F Crook.

In the group of Death it saw, S Baillie 5-0 I Mitchell, S Baillie 5-0 J Devlin, C Agnew 5-0 T Smith, A Edwards 5-0 S Begley, C Agnew 5-0 S Begley, A Edwards 5-0 I Mitchell.

Top shots from the night play had maximum 180 hitters Big Daddy Frank Begley with 1x180, Arran Edwards 3x180’s, Mick Burke 2x180’s, High check outs saw, Frank Begley with a 104 take out, Craig Agnew 96 game shot, Scott Baillie with a 93 game shot, Fast games had Mick Burke on target with 15-16-20 darters, Scott Baillie 3x16-18-19-20 darters, Craig Agnew with games finished in 16-18-18-19 darts, Arran Edwards with the fastest game of the night a cracking 13 darter followed by games finished in 3x16-18 darters.

 

17^th July, Calamity Jane League, has a real fight for the top spot as Denise Bird and Mary Clark are both on 14 points, Leona Stewart sits in third place with 11 points, then the league really gets congested with only 3 points separating the chasing pack, Kathy Henderson on 10points, Gillian Mitchell 9 points, Abi Sclater and Ali Chaffe both on 8 points, Christine MacIntosh 7 points then Amanda Millar on 5 points.

 

17^th July, Buffalo Bills League saw William stretch his lead to 21 points from 7 matches , but just back of him in joint second place we have Graeme Bird and Rex Brady both on 17 points and with two games in hand on the leader, Jim Mitchell in fourth on 15 points, then three players on 14 points Kieran Bird, Ian Stevenson, Martin Deegan, Rab Dick and Scott Cameron both with 10 points, then Colin Robertson and Geordie Dryburgh on 8 points, William Millar and Scott Bryson on 6 points and then on4 points we have Jay Millar and Shaun Robertson who both have lots of games in hand!

Top shots this week came from Ian Stevenson, Jim Mitchell, both firing in maximum 180’s, fast games saw William Borland with 3x20 darters, Ian Stevenson 15 & 18 dart games, Scott Cameron 20 darter, Rex Brady 2x16 & 19 dart games and a cracking 174 score set up to leave a double, Graeme Bird 15 plus 2x17 and 19 dart games and a rock solid 92 game shot.

 

15^th July, Callum Wilkinson edges out Lewis Lyall to take the Stirrup Stane Memorial trophy . Once again a great days darts dominoes and pool, with over £450 raised for the Coleman charity, organised and run by Arran Edwards.

 

15^th July, Jim Mitchell loses out in the quarter finals of the Stranraer Open, William Borland making last 16 of the Crown Inn competition in Bo’Ness.

Mitchell firing in on the day games finished in 4x18 darts and a cracking 12 darter via 140-140-180-41 game shot, also a tidy 171 to leave double 8! Meanwhile in the Stirrup Stane it saw Ian Stevenson firing in 18 and 20 dart games and a maximum 180, William Borland at the Bo’Ness event on target with 3x180’s 1x177, 2x16, 2x17 and 18 darter for his afternoon’s work on the flock board.

 

12^th July, Scores from the local Posse who were in action at the Murrayfield Sports bar in Edinburgh, In the Gold league it saw Rab Dick coming away with a cracking 7-4 victory, In the Platinum league East Calder’s Graeme Bird was in top form with a 8-4 victory which included 126 game shot and a 92 take out, he also fired in 15-16-18 dart games, William Borland also on the winning trail with a 8-6 win which saw him registering a maximum 180 and six games in under 19 darts with 16-17-17-18-19 deadly arrows, Jim Mitchell playing well won 8-0 with games finished in 13-14-16-18-18-18-19 darts also on target with 2x180’s.

 

10^th July, Sinners or should I say Devilish Imps league saw, Ian Mitchell 5-0 Scott Begley, Craig Agnew 3-2 Scott Baillie, Ian Mitchell 4-1 Joe Devlin, Gordon Bruce 4-1 Ian Mitchell, Craig Agnew 3-2 Scott Baillie, Arran Edwards 4-1 Tommy Smith, Gordon Bruce 5-0 Tommy Smith, Joe Devlin 5-0 Scott Begley, Arran Edwards 4-1 Craig Agnew, Craig Agnew 3-2 Gordon Bruce.

 

10th July, Report from the Saints & Sinners darts league in the Stirrup Stane summer league, Saints of Heaven league, Michael Conway 3-1 Frank Begley, Mick Burke 5-0 Rodger Barron, Rodger Barron 3-2 Stuart Tait, Bob Paterson 5-0 Frank Crook, Brian MacIntyre 3-2 Gary Christie, Rodger Barron 3-2 Frank Crook, Michael Conway 5-0 Frank Crook, Frank Begley 3-2 Bob Paterson, Mick Burke 4-1 Gary Christie.

 

10^th July, Top shots of note came from, Maximum 180 hitters Gary Christie, Scott Baillie, Ian Mitchell, Mick Burke all with 1x180 a piece, However Arran Edwards firing in 3x180’s was the most prolific scorer on the night, Top finishes came by way off, Mick Burke with a superb 152 game shot followed by a 107 and 82 take outs, Arran Edwards 128 game shot, Craig Agnew 100 game shot, Gary Christie 89 take out, Fast games 20 darts or less were recorded by, Mick Burke with 3x18 darters and a17 dart game but his fastest of the night a cracking 15 dart game, Ian Mitchell 18 darter, Scott Baillie 17-19-19 dart games, Arran Edwards with 17 and 3x18 and a 20 darter to his tally for the night, Gordon Bruce on target with 16-17-and a brace of 19 darters, Gary Christie 17 & 19 dart games.

 

10^th July, And once again the Summer league was the place to be as the Calamity Jane’s ladies league were in action at the Cawburn Sports bar in Pumpherston, results from the nights play went like this, Denise Bird 2-1 Daisy Heeps, Gillian Mitchell 2-1 Kathy Henderson, Denise Bird 3-0 Amanda Millar, Mary Clark 3-0 Leona Stewart, Abi Sclater 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Christine Macintosh 2-1 Daisy Heeps, Gillian Mitchell 2-1 Amanda Millar, Mary Clark 2-1 Denise Bird, Leona Stewart 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Ali Chaffe 2-1 Christine Macintosh, Kathy Henderson 3-0 Daisy Heeps. So Just in front is Denise Bird on 10points, Mary Clark 8 points, Leona Stewart 7 points, Abi Sclater-Ali Chaffe-Kathy Henderson and Christine Macintosh all on 6 points, Amanda Millar and Gillian Mitchell 5 points apiece, Daisy Heeps 1 point but Daisy does have games in hand on all of the league!

 

10^th July Buffalo Bills league action went like this, Rex Brady 4-0 Jay Millar, Graeme Bird 4-0 Martin Deegan, Kieran Bird 4-0 Shaun Robertson, Rab Dick 3-1 Colin Robertson, William Borland 4-0 William Millar, Rex Brady 3-1 Martin Deegan, Graeme Bird 4-0 Shaun Robertson, Kieran Bird 2-2 Colin Robertson, Ian Stevenson 3-1 William Millar, Scott Cameron 4-0 T Lewis, Jim Mitchell 3-1 Martin Deegan, Rab Dick 3-1 William Millar, William Borland 4-0 Scott Cameron, Jay Millar 4-0 T Lewis, Kieran Bird 4-0 William Millar, Scott Cameron 2-2 Ian Stevenson, William Borland 4-0 T Lewis, Martin Deegan 4-0 Jay Millar, William Borland 3-1 Ian Stevenson, Martin Deegan 4-0 T Lewis, So after week one of the Buffalo Bills league William Borland leads on 15 points, Kieran Bird 14 points, Graeme Bird 12 points, Rex Brady 11 points, Martin Deegan, Rab Dick Ian Stevenson all on 10 points, Jim Mitchell and Colin Robertson with 7 points, William Millar and Scott Cameron 6 points , and then we have Scott Bryson, Jay Millar, Geordie Dryburgh , Shaun Robertson on 4 points. Only the one maximum hit on the night Rab Dick from Kirknewton firing that one in, top finish came from Colin Robertson with a 110 game shot, Fastest game recorded saw William Borland with a 14 darter.

 

8^th July, Once again the West Lothian Posse rode into the Murrayfield Sports bar in Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Darts Association charity event S.I.M.B.A. (Simpson’s memory box appeal) which helps raise monies for families who may have lost a child, the amount raised on the day was at the last count was £974, So dart players and their friends once again doing what they do best raising money for a very worthwhile cause, Now on the day it saw eight groups drawn out the hat and each group saw all the players in that group playing round robin best of 3x501, and once again it saw the posse do very well in these league round robins, with Scott Baillie, Jim Mitchell, William Borland, Kieran Bird, Graeme Bird, all winning their respective leagues, Rab Dick also qualifying in second place in his league to make the last 16 knock out stages,  unfortunately Denise Bird and Gillian Mitchell our lady representatives  both these ladies having won the Bathgate Ladies singles titles in the past two seasons and Denise holding both Bathgate and West Calder titles at the moment just failed to make it through to the k.o. cup stages, and then the matches became best of 5x501, Graeme, Kieran, Rab, Scott all then went out in the last 16, Mitchell fell at the quarter final stages, and William Borland in the semi finals, the Winner on the day was Edinburgh county player Davie Sharp runner up Stuart Ironside, but the main winner was the charity, great day out, with so many talented dart players who came from all over the central belt, but once again a huge amount of work done by the committee who did a superb job, Alan White, Iain Lyons, Dane McDiarmid, Lee Caithness, well done guys I doff my hat to you! Some stats from the West Lothian contingent saw, Jim Mitchell 3x180’s along with finishes off 86-89-93-112-127 on the bulls eye fast games recorded were  15-18-19 darts, Graeme Bird on target with 1x180 a 85 game shot and a 17 darter, Scott Baillie 1x180 and 2x17 darters along with 2x20 dart games and a rock solid 80 take out, Rab Dick 2x180’s 92 and 100 game shots, a brace of 16 darters and a 17 dart game, William Borland 4x180’s and games finished in 14-3x15-16-17-18-19-20 darts, and check out of 112, Kieran Bird 3x180’s and games finished in 18-18-19 darts and a very useful 108 take out. Photo's to follow!

 

5^th July, Once again the posse took the trail into Auld Reekie for the start of another round up of darting matches with the top players from the leagues all now seeded into either Platinum, Gold, Silver it saw the matches for the Platinum best of 15x501, Gold league 13x501, Silver 11x501, Jim Mitchell and Graeme Bird both losing 5-8 in the Platinum league, However the young guns of Kieran Bird and Scott Baillie both turned in superb performances Kieran winning 8-4 and Scott a superb 8-0 victory, William Borland also with a fine 8-2 victory, Rab Dick in the Gold league also on the winning trail with a fine 7-4 victory, shots of note saw William Borland 3x17 darters plus 2x19 dart games and a rock solid 92 game shot, Kieran Bird firing in 1x180 and a brace of 19 darters, Scott Baillie 3x20 dart games and a 17 darter, Jim Mitchell 1x180 and a tidy 17 darter.

 

3^rd July, Stirrup Stane (Tait) summer leagues,

From the League Heaven we had the Heavenly Angels! Frank Begley 3-2 Gary Christie, Stuart Tait 3-2 Bob Paterson, Brian McIntyre 3-2 Frank Crook, Frank Begley 4-1 Rodger Barron, Gary Christie 5-0 Frank Crook, Brian McIntyre 4-1 Colin Kelly.

 

3^rd July, The group from Hell saw one or two devils strutting their stuff and it saw, Scott Baillie 5-0 Scot Begley, Craig Agnew 3-2 Ian Mitchell, Scott Baillie 3-2 Gordon Bruce, Tommy Smith 4-1 Scott Begley, Craig Agnew 4-1 Joe Devlin, Gordon Bruce 5-0 Joe Devlin.

 

Players firing in some cracking shots had Scott Baillie, Gordon Bruce, Gary Christie with 1x180 each however Big Daddy Frank Begley was on target with 2x180’s, Top finishing came by way off Scott Baillie 90 game shot, Craig Agnew 126 take out, Fast games from Scott Baillie with 16 & 19 darters, Ian Mitchell 16 darter, Craig Agnew with 16-17-17-19 darts, Gordon Bruce 18 & 19 darters, Gary Christie 19 darter.

 

3^rd July Calamity Jane’s Ladies summer league, saw some terrific tussles on the dartboard with the ladies playing 3x501 but all legs must be played as each one is worth a point, Christine Macintosh 2-1 Gillian Mitchell, Leona Stewart 2-1 Kathy Henderson, Amanda Millar 3-0 Abi Sclater, Mary Clark 2-1 Ali Chaffe, Denise Bird 2-1 Kathy Henderson, Leona Stewart 2-1 Amanda Millar Abi Sclater 2-1 Mary Clark, Abi Sclater 2-1 Christine Macintosh, Denise Bird 2-1 Ali Chaffe. So leaders of the Calamity Jane’s after week one are, four ladies all on 4 points each Abi Sclater, Denise Bird, Amanda Millar, Leona Stewart, just behind on 3 points are Christine Macintosh, Mary Clark, on 2 points Kathy Henderson, Ali Chaffe, Gillian Mitchell 1 point.

 

3^RD July, Buffalo Bills Summer League, The first night of the men’s league was a simple k.o. competition with matches being best of 9x501, and in the quarter finals the scores went like this, William Borland 5-0 Geordie Dryburgh, Jim Mitchell 5-3 William Millar, Graeme Bird 5-3 Scott Cameron, Rex Brady 5-3 Kieran Bird, semi final score line saw Jim Mitchell 5-2 William Borland, Graeme Bird 5-3 Rex Brady, the final saw Graeme Bird just edging out Jim Mitchell with Graeme turning in a 28.6 dart average to Jims 27.8 dart average, Winner Graeme Bird runner up Jim Mitchell, top scores came by way off, William Borland, Jim Mitchell, Graeme Bird, all turning in maximum 180’s, top finishes came by way off, William Borland cracking 156 game shot he also fired in 102 finish as well, Jim Mitchell with 100 and a 81 game shots, Rex Brady 90 game shot , Kieran Bird 86 game shot, , Ian Stevenson 82 game shot, Martin Graeme Bird with a brace of 80 finishes, Deegan 80 game shot, fast games reported saw Graeme Bird with 8 fast games finished in 4x17, 2x18, 2x20 deadly arrows, Jim Mitchell with  7 fast games done in 16-17-2x19, 2x20 darters, William Borland games finished in 15-16-2x17 dart legs, Martin Deegan 18 & 20 dart games, Rex Brady 15 darter, Scott Cameron 17 darter, Rab Dick 18 darter, Kieran Bird 18 darter.

 

W.C.D.D.L. Roll of Honour for season 2016/17, Premier League Champions Stirrup Stane Wanderers, Championship League Champions Stirrup Stane Indians, K.O. Cup Champions Cawburn Assassins, Jocky Watson Fours Champions Cawburn Assassin’s, League Fours Champions Volunteer Highway Men, Three Person Team Champions Cawburn Assassin’s, Match-Play Doubles Champions G Bird & G Borland, League Doubles Champions J Fleming & D Aitken, Christmas Singles Champion A Edwards, 301 Singles Champion W Borland, Delegates Champion J Banks, Champion of Champion D Aitken, Ladies Singles Champion D Bird, League Singles Champion D Aitken.

 

30^th June, Gladstone’s Friday night league in Leith saw action from some of our Monday night players,  On the maximum 180 trail it saw Davie Nisbet from the Volunteer Highway Men with 2x180’s and John Charleston from the Brucefield Farmers firing in 3x180’s, John Charleston also hitting the top finish of the night with a cracking 130 game shot, Fastest game came by way of Davie Nisbet with a rock solid 14 darter.

 

28^th June, Once again the local posse made their way into the Murrayfield sports bar in Edinburgh, this time not a league match but a singles competition, and it saw some excellent arrows thrown by our adventurous dart players who travel through almost every week to try their hand against some of the capitals finest players, Graeme Bird firing in finishes of 130 & 112 take outs along with a maximum 180 and 17&18 darters, Rab Dick with 2x76 game shots and a 20 darter, Kieran Bird maximum 180 and a 16 dart game, Jim Mitchell with a brace of maximums and games finished in 14-18-18-20 darts and 2x76 game shots, But it was once again William Borland who took the plaudits with some tremendous scoring 2x180’s 1x174, 1x171 and game shots of 91 & 104 & 108 twice, along with 9 sub 20 darters 13-15-3x16-18-3x19 dart games. William beating local man Alan White in the grand final by 5 games to 3, both players with dart averages in the high 80’s cracking match to witness.

 

26^th June, Last week of the winter season! And it was the Blue Ribbon event the W.C.D.D.L Singles Championship, and an excellent turn out saw just about all the top players in attendance, so players losing out in the last 16 were, C Wilkinson, S Baillie, C Agnew, G Cheshire, D Nisbet, J Bruton, G Bruce, S Clow, and losing quarter finalists were, G Borland, G Bird, J Quinn, S Baker, and we were down to the semi finalists and it saw K Bird bt W Borland , D Aitken bt A Edwards, and the Grand Final was a tale of youth versus experience, With Davie Aitken facing off against Kieran Bird, and this time Experience won through and it saw Davie Aitken keep the best to last! Firing in a superb 11 darter via 140-95-174-92 game shot he kept up the pressure and finished of with a cracking 28+ dart average, so congratulations to Davie Aitken League Singles Champion 2017, and commiserations to Kieran Bird who at 18 years of age I am sure will be in many more finals to come in the years to follow. On the night some excellent scoring on the six boards in use, Maximum hitters were, Kieran Bird, William Borland, Scott Baker, Arran Edwards, Rex Brady, Gordon Bruce, Callum Wilkinson, Graham Borland David Aitken, Top class finishing and the checkouts came by way off, Davie Aitken 153-98-93 Game shots, Derek Carmichael 148 game shot, Paul McCaig 120 g.s. Arran Edwards 117-78 g.s. Graham Borland 116-89 g.s. William Borland 114-85-82 g.s. Graeme Bird 113 g.s. Gordon Bruce 100-84 g.s. Jamie Fleming 97 g.s. Rex Brady 96 g.s. Jim Quinn 96 g.s. Jamie Banks 86 g.s. Ryan Jack 83 g.s. Davie Nisbet 80 g.s. And then to fast games and they came thick and fast in no particular order just the way they were written down! W Borland 14-15-17-18-19-20 darters, Graeme Bird 16 darter, Davie Nisbet 18 darter, Kieran Bird 17 & 18 darters, Scott Baillie 19 darter, Derek Carmichael 15 dart game, Arran Edwards 15-16-17-5x18 darters, Rex Brady 14 darter, Grant Lyle 18 darter, Gordon Bruce 15&16 dart games, Callum Wilkinson superb 12 darter, Jim Quinn 18 darter, Graham Borland 15 darter, But top games came from our champion Davie Aitken with games finished in 11-17-17-18-18-19-25 darts he also had the highest check out of the night a marvellous 153 via 60-57-36. Superb arrows thrown from many players, but there can be only one! Champion Davie Aitken, Runner up Kieran Bird. Once again many thanks to the league sponsor The Cawburn Sports Bar, to the bar staff who keep the amber nectar flowing, and of course our league committee, Connie Bamburry and John MacDonald, another excellent run tournament, T.Y. and of course to the dart players who all turn up to support these events without you there would be no darts, Well done everyone!

 

24^th June, Kirknewton held an open singles straight after the doubles competition had been played, And it saw the majority of players who had taken part in the doubles stay on to try their hand at a best of 3x501 singles tournament, and it saw Jim Mitchell just edging out Rab Dick from Kirknewton in the first semi final, the second semi final had William Millar taking out Scott Gardiner from Edinburgh by 2 games to 1, so to the final which was the best of 5x501, and it was local player William Millar a Kirknewton Innkeeper player who took the initiative with two excellent finishes of 92 & 85 with 60-32 and 45-40 game shots to go 2-1 ahead, but Jim Mitchell then managed to fire in a couple of maximums with 1x171 on the treble nineteen’s and a 1x180 to just do enough to edge in front in the scoring and take the title by the tightest of margins 3-2.

 

24^th June, The venue the Kirknewton Inn in Kirknewton! For an open doubles competition, An absolute fabulous plethora of dart players from the local area and Mid Lothian all came with their partners to try and annex this prestige’s team/doubles competition, The losing doubles in the quarter finals were, Mick Burke & Gordon Bruce, Graeme Bird & Rab Dick, Scott Gardiner & Alan Tully, Stephan Morrans & Paul Weir, Losing Semi finalists were William Borland & Greg Ritchie, Alan White & Daine McDiarmid, and then there were two and losing out by 4 games to 6 in the best of 11 final it saw Lewis Coult & Stuart Ironsides having to settle for the Runners up place, and the Champions who were crowned on the day were, Steve Murray & Davie Sharp from Edinburgh. Once again a superbly run competition with Richard, Rab and Colin at the helm you would expect nothing else, Also the ambience of the Kirknewton Inn is one of the friendliest darting venues on the calendar, and if you haven’t been there for one of their competitions then I suggest you do, everyone from the owner the bar staff and the locals make you most welcome, and the beer is good! Take my word for it! Now some statistics from the day and I realise there are some missing as players forgot to write them down! Gordon Bruce 1x177 and a 77 game shot, William Borland 2x180’s and a 80 game shot, Jim Mitchell 1x180 and 86 take out, Stephan Morrans 123 game shot via 57-30-36, Dane McDiarmid 130 game shot, Lewis Coult 110 game shot, some good games remembering these are double matches, S Morrans & P Weir 15 darter, G Bruce & M Burk 4 games finished in under 18 darts, W Borland & G Ritchie 6 sub 20 darters.

 

23^RD June, The event the Lanark Open Doubles competition which is held in the Lanark Bowling Club in the centre of town, Fabulous venue and the dartboards are exceptionally well presented all colour coded! Well three pairs from our local leagues made the journey through as did players from the Clyde valley , Greater Glasgow and the Borders, William Borland & Rab Dick went out early doors going down 1-3, which left Callum Wilkinson & John Somerville who made it through to the quarter finals before losing out in a very tight match up going down 2-3 Callum and John firing in 19&20 dart legs, Callum with a rock solid 81 game shot, This left Graeme Bird & Jim Mitchell flying the flag for the West Lothian contingent and they went all the way to the grand final before running into Gary Stone and Arran Douglas both players who have worn the Scottish team shirts Gary in the senior squad and Arran in the under 18’s , on the day The Internationalists made no mistake with Gary firing in 3 winning doubles with three darts! Winners receiving £160, Gary Stone & Arran Douglas, Runners up receiving £100 Graeme Bird & Jim Mitchell, Both Gary Stone and Graeme Bird having been in the final of this competition twice before but it was Jim Mitchell’s third time, all the players having won the title before with different partners. Graeme Bird firing in a maximum 180 and a cracking 100 game shot Graeme & Jim fastest games were 14 & 18 darters.

 

19^th June, West Calder & District Darts League, Final league round up of team matches from the Premier league matches,  in the Premier league it saw the Cawburn Assassins 9-0 Doo Club Flyers, Volunteer Highway Men 6-3 Brucefield Farmers, Stirrup Stane Wanderers 5-4 Loganlea Colliers, and with one match report to come in the Central bar Rebels v Almondale Pirates, the league Pennant goes to the Wanderers from the Stirrup Stane in Craigshill I don’t believe there will be a bigger smile on the face of a captain than that of Stuart Tait’s this morning well done the Stirrup Stane Wanderers Premier league champions, the runners up place went down the wire and once again it saw only legs for and against separate the Cawburn Assassins from the Volunteer Highway Men and it was last seasons winners the Assassins who took the runner up place, well done to all the teams in the league no one managed to go undefeated one damn hard league to win.

 

17^th June, Volunteer Arms  Open Singles, Cracking turn out for this annual tournament run by Martin Deegan as per usual with his hard working  unpaid volunteer/minions in attendance George Jukebox Thorburn and the Marshall Colin Robertson, With players from as far a field as Glasgow and throughout the central belt there were some terrific match ups and with games played best of 7x501 up to the semi finals where it went to 9x501 and then 11 x501 in the final, The last 16 saw some tremendous talent on show and here are the results, W Borland bt D Nisbet, K Bird bt M Deegan, M Rice bt N Dempsey, F Quinn bt C Wilkinson, G Borland bt S Robertson, R Brady bt J Banks, R Dick bt W Wilson, J Mitchell bt P McCaig, and to the quarter finals, R Brady bt G Borland, J Mitchell bt R Dick, W Borland bt K Bird, F Quinn bt M Rice, and then there were four! W Borland bt F Quinn, J Mitchell bt R Brady, and then there two and as the saying goes there can be only one! In this best of 11x501 it saw both players hitting form but William Borland’s finishing power was pitch perfect with hardly a dart wasted both players rattling the treble twenty bed bt in the end Youthful William (Bridges) Borland  overcame the (Old Man) Jim Mitchell by 6 games to 2. Once again a cracking competition well done to the organisers and to all those who travelled a fare distance to take part. Some of the top shots recorded on the day came by way off, Davie Nisbet, Jim Mitchell, Gary Christie, Micky Rice, Graham Borland all firing in maximum 180’s, However it was the younger generation who took it to the next level with Kieran Bird 2x180’s and William Borland 5x180’s great shooting, Checkouts recorded saw, David (Desperate Dan) Nisbet with a superb 136 take out, Jim Mitchell 117 game shot and a 86 game shot, Shaun Robertson from the Highlanders with two cracking game shots 114 & 98 take outs, Micky Rice of Whitburn notoriety 104 kill shot, William Borland 110 game shot, Grant Lyle 96 game shot, Rex Brady rock solid 80 take out, Now the classiest game shot of the day came by way of an unknown! Treble 19 double 18 double 18 for a super kill shot of 129 but though they wrote down the finish they never put their name beside it! Anyone wish to claim this classy shot out, Lot of fast games on the day to many to add individually but they will be added to the web sites fast games league table, later to-day! Once again some superb arrows thrown at the good old flock boards, trebles twenties got hammered in this darting extravaganza! Champion William Borland £160, Runner/up J Mitchell £80,monetary prizes were also paid down to the quarter finalist’s as well all money raised was paid out,

 

15^th June, News in from the Friday night Premier league in Leith held in Gladstone’s bar, Davie Nisbet firing in 11 darter along with no fewer than 5x180’s in the past couple of weeks, also firing in maximum’s it saw Jamie Banks with 2x180’s, And Uphalls favourite darting son John Skippy Charleston also with a maximum 180, also in a couple of singles competitions held recently it saw the Handicap Singles event the title going to Andy Silkowski who edged out Davie Nisbet in the final,  John Charleston just losing out in the semi finals of the R Smith    Memorial trophy which was won by J McGrouther. Players from the local league positions are,

	Name	Played	won	drawn	lost	Legs for	Legs against	+/-	points
G/St	D Nisbet	17	13	3	1	113	41	72	29	2nd
G/St	J Charleston	13	10	0	3	77	48	29	20	8th
G/St	J Banks	15	10	0	5	82	53	29	20	9th
G/St	S Scott	13	6	1	6	62	57	5	13	15th
G/St	C Forsyth	16	4	3	9	64	95	-31	11	20th

 

14^th June, Murrayfield sports bar Premier league results for this week saw, Kieran Bird playing superbly well and winning yet again 2 games from 2 with 7-0 and 7-3 score lines, on the night Kieran rattled in 16-18-20 darters plus trio of maximum 180’s, Rab Dick went down 3-7 with the consolation of a maximum m180 and a tidy 100 game shot, Jim Mitchell winning 7-1 with 17 & 19 darters to report and a rock solid 92 game shot, Scott Baillie winning with a 7-2 score line also firing in a maximum 180 and games finished in 18 & 20 darts plus a 118 game shot. This keeps all the West Lothian players in the hunt for Platinum League places, this league will see at the end of it the top four players go into the Platinum league, the next four places go into the Gold league and so on into Silver and Bronze leagues, Sitting in top places at the moment it has,

League	Name	Played	Won	Lost	Legs for	Legs against	+/-	Dart average	points	League Position
Div 1	K Bird	15	13	2	97	28	69	67.48	26	2nd
Div 1	R Dick	14	10	4	80	41	39	67.10	20	5th
Div 2	W Borland	14	11	3	80	36	44	73.92	22	2nd
Div 2	S Baillie	14	11	3	87	45	42	65.15	22	3rd
Div 3	J Mitchell	15	15	0	105	15	90	71.58	30	1st
Div 3	G BIRD	15	13	2	95	30	65	65.81	26	3rd

 

12^th June, Night of Champions, with not one but three titles up for grabs in the West Calder & District Darts League,

First up we had the Ladies singles title and there were three former champions in the mix Kathy Henderson, Denise Bird and current holder of the title Mary Clark, The semi final line up saw Alli Chaffe from Kirknewton up against Denise Bird and it was Denise who claimed her place in the final in a close encounter, the second semi final had Leona Stewart facing off against Kathy Henderson and it was Kathy who claimed her place in the final, so here we had two former champions of the Ladies darts in the grand final, And in a hotly contested final it saw Denise Bird claim the title for the third time and equalling Avril Birds three wins and is now only one title behind the four time champion Lydia Barrowman,  over the seasons since the Ladies championship was started it has seen the standard of darts get higher and higher every year and we now have Ladies rattling maximum 180’s on a regular basis, Denise Bird, Gillian Mitchell, Mary Clark Jillian Speirs, Gayle Maxwell all having their names in the Maximum League Table for the West Calder League, Since the inception of the ladies league singles back in 2002 their champions have been,

Lydia Barrowman 2002-03-05-06, Julie Marshall 2004, Lena Gallagher 2007-08, Avril Bird 2010-11-13, Yvonne Wilson 2014, Kathy Henderson 2015, Mary Clark 2016, Denise Bird 2009-2012-2017.

Congratulations to both lady finalists this season Champion Denise Bird, Runner /up Kathy Henderson.

 

12^th June, Some facts and figures from the nights action and what has been recorded are, Maximum hitters saw Davie Aitken, Scott Baker, Kevin Murphy, William Borland, Jamie Banks all firing 1x180 each, Bunny Forrest however the only player registering 2x180s on the night, Top finishes came from, Jamie Banks 122 game shot, Stuart Tait 115 check out, Gordon Bruce 102 take out, Wullie Wilson 94 g.s. Scott Baker 94 & 80 game shots, Colin Hamilton 91 game shot, Bunny Forrest 90 take out, Few fast games recorded I know there will be more but if they don’t get reported then we cant add them! Wullie Wilson 20 darter, Davie Aitken 2x18 darters  and 20 dart game, Scott Baker 17 dart game, Bunny Forrest 2x18 & 2x20 dart games, Kevin Murphy 19 darter, Gordon Bruce 17 darter as did Stevie Scott, Ladies and Gentlemen of the ocky that is all I have written down if you have any to add please drop me a line and we will have them added to the respective league tables, Once again many thanks to Connie Bamburry and John MacDonald our league secretaries for running not one but three competitions extremely smoothly, cheers Jim M.

 

10^th June, Saturday saw Jim Mitchell hit the lonesome trail by himself on his way to Renfrew and the Pickwick’s darts open tournament, this event was run as a round robin affair with four boards in action, and the top two players from each group making the quarter finals, all group matches were best of 5x501, Jim winning 3-1, 3-0, 3-0, then a loss 1-3 to Andy Boulton, however he went through as second in his group, in the quarter final it saw a 4-3 win put him into the money rounds, unfortunately double trouble then set in 3-1 up and one dart missed at double top let his opponent back in next leg one dart at double 16 missed and it saw the match level at 3-3 and the rest is history a 3-4 defeat, However consolation of losing to the winner on the day George Dempsey, never been in Pickwick’s bar before but a very good venue 4 dart boards, run well and not that it has anything to do with darts but the BEST pint of Caledonian Best I have ever tasted, and I can assure you I know a good pint when I get one, top of my Pint hit list used to be Badger Beer down in Dorset, that has now changed Caledonian Best in Pickwick’s tops it, and that takes some doing, great friendly bunch made to feel very welcome indeed. On the day Mitchell fired in 3x180’s and roughly 10 games done in 20 darts or less, semi finalist receiving £40, Runner /up £100, Winner £200.

 

3^rd June, Once again it saw the Posse from West Lothian make the trip down the A1 to Haddington the venue the Gardeners Arms for their second of two competitions, the reason I say two they had a cracking idea thought of by the Gardeners Arms if you entered both their tournament then you would go into a draw for £50 and it saw Graeme Bird from East Calder take the money home! Their second cracking idea was for every game you won you received points over the two competitions and that £50 went to William Borland also of East Calder, And to make the perfect treble it saw William Borland and Graeme Bird making the grand  final, in a superb match which was the best of 9x501 it saw William winning 5 games to 2, Williams winning dart average a cracking 27+ per dart, Graeme Bird darts average 26+ and the average game of the grand final was 18 darts per leg cracking game of darts, which saw both players receiving a superb round of applause from the watching crowd, Once again the Gardeners Arms put on a great competition and even though the winnings this time went back up the A1 the sportsmanship and friendship from the East Lothian players is second to none, Looking forward to the next one, thanks again for the hospitality OH and I suppose it should really have been a not a treble but a (five fold) as not only did the darts go the way of the East Calder men but they won two of the raffle prizes as well (lucky so and so’s) Great day out Thanks again.

 

1^st June, Cawburn Sports bar Over & Under 50 years of age leagues came to a thrilling climax as players did their utmost to try and annex the two titles on offer, in the Under 50’s league it saw the leadership change hands for the third time in three weeks and with the top seven places receiving monetary awards the tension was electric, However there can be only one! As the old adage goes, and it saw last years runner up William Borland  go one better this season and annex the title in dramatic style William Borland receiving a Framed Certificate and £140 for claiming the tile, Runner up was Arran Edwards receiving a Framed Certificate and £100, Third place was Shaun Clow who had led for most of the season but was just caught in the last week Shaun receiving £70, Two players were joint fourth place Paul Weir and Rex Brady both receiving £42 each, Sixth place went to Rab Dick from Kirknewton with £35 for his efforts, In seventh place it saw Scott Baillie last seasons champion who had rallied well after a slow start to the season picking up £30.

The Over 50’s League saw a very tight close run in to the final placing with Gordon Bruce Holding on the top spot going one better than last seasons runners up place this time taking the title and in a role reversal it saw last seasons champion Jim Mitchell settling for second place, This battle royal between two good friends and ferocious combatant ants on the ocky saw Jim Inflicting Gordon’s only loss of the season however though Jim has now gone two seasons undefeated it saw Gordon winning having more 4-0 score lines than Jim who was winning with 3-1 scores and with every leg worth a point that was to settle the title! A draw to third place Micky Burke and a couple of lost point’s early stages were to cost him dear! And it saw Gordon Bruce crowned Champion receiving a Framed Certificate and £140 for his championship winning effort, Jim Mitchell receiving a Framed Certificate and £100 for runners up, Third place saw William Harraughty and Micky Burke receiving £ 57 each, In Fifth and final place it had Davie Nisbet receiving £40.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY CROWNED CHAMPIONS

William (Bridges) Borland in the Under 50’s and Gordon (The) Bruce in the Over 50’s. Many thanks to all who made this competition a great success to some players who perhaps don’t get the recognition they deserve! Christine (Nana) McIntosh,  Wullie (Conductor) Wilson, Ian (Van Man)Stevenson, who marked more boards than I can count thank you, and of course to Rex Brady who without his help in running these events they would most certainly take a lot longer to run and he makes sure he notices my mistakes! thanks again, and of course THANK YOU to our league sponsor Malky from the Cawburn Sports bar and Gwen our hard working member of staff who keeps the beer flowing and then cleans up after wards once we have all departed see you at the next one cheers Jim.

Some stats from the nights play William Borland 2x180’s along with 14-17-18-18-19 dart games and a tidy 91 take out, Jim Mitchell 1x180 along with 16-17-18-19-19-20 darters and game shots of 120-88-80, Rex Brady 1x180 and games finished in 14-18-19 20 darts and a cracking 118 game shot, Micky Burke 1x180 and games finished in 14-17-18-19 darts and a 86 game shot, William Harraughty with four fast games finished in 18 and 3x19 darters and a rock solid 78 take out Scott Baillie with 1x180 and 2x17 darters, Kieran Bird 1x180 and a cracking 100 game shot, David Nisbet 1x180 and 17 & 20 dart games, Gordon Bruce a brace of 20 darters, Craig Jack 20 darter, William Millar 112 game shot. Martin Deegan 15 dart game. Rab Dick 1x180. And that folks is that!

 

31^st May, The outlaw trail into Auld Reekie saw the West Lothian Posse heading into the Murrayfield Sports bar Premier league for their Wednesday night action on the ockies! And once again it was thumbs up for our local players as first Kieran Bird had a superb 7-0 win with 2x18 darters and a couple of magical maximum 180’s on his way to cementing his place in third position Rab Dick from Kirknewton was also in superb form firing in 4x180’s with 12-15-18-20 dart games on his way to winning 7-0 as well and joining Kieran in joint third place and both players have games in hand on the two players above them! Scott Baillie was the only loser however it was to his friend and colleague William Borland it saw Scott hitting a maximum 180 and two games finished in 15 & 18 darts but William was in great shape firing in 15-15-17-18-18-20 darters with a rock solid 90 check out  for a fine 7-2 win, Jim Mitchell like William has now secured the top place in their respective leagues this week Jim Mitchell won 7-2 with a brace of 19 darters and a 105 game shot helping him over the winning line.

 

29^TH May, W.C.&D.D.L. Results from the Championship league saw, Grand Central Railroaders 5-4 Doo Club Fanciers, Deans B.C. Golden Oldies 4-5 Kirknewton Innkeepers, Brucefield Crofters 4-5 Cawburn Highlanders, Tower bar Knights 2-7 Stirrup Stane Indians. The Premier league saw, Stirrup Stane Wanderers 8-1 Almonvale Pirates, Cawburn Assassins 6-3 Brucefield Farmers, Volunteer Highway Men 5-4 Commercial Inn Nomads, Doo Club Flyers 3-6 Loganlea Colliers

 

SPECIAL MENTIONS, from the Tower bar Knights J.Devlin 97 C/O (T19 D20) Cawburn Assassins W.Borland 18 Darter, C.Wilkinson 180 +14 Darter I. Stevenson 90 C/O, G Bird 17 darter, W.Borland & G.Bird 17 dart pairs, W Harraughty & C Wilkinson17&19 dart pairs games, Mitchell & Nisbet from the Highway Men 14 dart pairs game,Brucefield Farmers C Fawcett 1 x177 score, B Forrest 97 game shot, Cawburn Highlanders saw J Kirk and C Mitchell firing in maximum 180’s, Craig Jack for the Crofters of Bellsquarry with a 120 game shot, Colliers player Micky had a superb 16 game shot and an 18 darter, J Brogan 98 take out, other scores from the nights action some good scoring from Alan Wilson 125 score, Stuart Mackie 140, George Bird out of retirement firing in a 114 score, Kevin Murphy who must be the most improved player in the past season on target with 121 score, And last but by no means least we have for the ladies Avril Bird with 132 & 112 scores.

 

27^th May, Team of local West Lothian players made the trip to Haddington the venue the Gardeners Arms which has been a happy hunting ground for our local players in the past couple of years! This time the competition is played over two weeks with two extra prizes involved should you enter both competitions then you go into a draw and if your name is pulled out you win £50, also every games you win gets you points and if after both weeks you are the player with most points you also receive £50, nice wee incentives there! Each day the pay out is to the last four players, with £300 on offer, Well it saw Semi Professional player Andy Boulton just a tad to bit to handle on the day, as he defeated Graeme Bird in the quarter finals, Jim Mitchell in the semi finals and William Borland in the final, Prize fund saw winner £150, 2^nd £ 80, joint 3^rd £35 each. Some stats from the days play saw Graeme Bird with 2x18 darters, plus 2x84 game shots, Callum Wilkinson 18-19-2x20 dart games, and a tidy 75 game shot, Ian Stevenson a 19 darter, Jim Mitchell with 3x15 & 16 dart games and  finishes off 124 & 118 & 82 along with 3x180’s William Borland with 4x180’s 110 game shot, and games finished in 2x12-15-16-2x19 darters.

We would like to thank our chauffeur on the day Ian Stevenson who took this motley bunch on a very scenic day trip! Micky Rice, Callum Wilkinson, Graeme Bird, William Borland, and obviously me myself I, THANKS Ian.

 

25^th May, The penultimate league night in the Over and under 50’s league saw some superb action from the first dart to the last on the night, 16 maximums were scored on the night and these came from Arran Edwards 4x180’s,William Borland 3x180’s, Paul Weir 2x180’s, Davie Nisbet 2x180’s,Paul McCaig 1x180, Gordon Bruce 1x180, Micky Burke 1x180, Gary Christie 1x180, Mary Clark 1x180, William Wilson 1x180,  as for fast games the best by far saw Gordon Bruce with a spectacular 11 darter by way off 123-180-100-98 game shot Arran Edwards 12 darter along with game finished in 15-17-18-19, Scott Baillie with 4x20 dart games, William Borland firing in 12 legs of darts finished in 13-14-3x16-17-3x18-2x19 cracking arrows, William Harraughty with 14-17-20-20 darters, Rex Brady 20 darter, Rab Dick 19 dart game, Gary Christie 19 & 20 dart games, Paul Weir 18 darter, Wullie Wilson 19 dart game, Micky Burke 14 darter, Davie Nisbet 17 darter, Check outs came from Micky Burke 136 game shot, Paul Weir 115 g.s. William Borland 112 g.s. Gordon Bruce 98 g.s Shaun Clow 88 g.s. Rex Brady 76 g.s  Scott Baillie 78 g.s. Arran Edwards 76 g.s. Rab Dick 94 g.s. Abby Sclater 76 g.s. Couple special mentions on the night saw Christine McIntosh with a72 game shot, Mary Clarke with a superb maximum 180, Abby Sclater 76 game shot.

 

24^th –May, Wednesday in the Saltire Lounge in Carmon-dean in Livingston, It saw Charity man Mr Gerry Hughes take on the mammoth challenge of playing darts for 11 hours to raise monies for Children’s Charity in Scotland, Now on the day not only did Gerry play darts he also organised a doubles competition which had members of the Morrison’s staff in Livingston paired up with dart players from the Grand Central Railroaders team who play in the W.C.D.D.L. Championship division, After all the chalk dust had settled it has seen the £240 he had already collected by Wednesday morning in sponsorship. That total should once all the monies still to come in which have been pledged their will be Just over the £500 raised for a very worthy cause, So in my case I take my hat off to you sir, well done Gerry Hughes the Eliminator! On a job well done.

 

24^th May, A depleted posse of local players made their way to the Premier league in Edinburgh, The players who did manage the trip had Scott Baillie of Armadale winning 7-2 with three fast games which saw 16-17-19 darters along with a brace of maximum 180’s, William Borland also on the winning trail with two wins from two matches 7-0 & 7-1 which included 2 maximums and 6 fast games finished in 13-15-17-18-18-19 darts, Jim Mitchell continued his unbeaten run with a top of the table clash with Stuart Ironside, winning a gruelling encounter 7 games to 5, which saw none of the 12 legs of darts played give the other player more than 7 trips to the board all winning legs in 21 darts or less! Mitchell had 2x15 along with 2x16 and 2x18 and a solitary 20 darts 1x180 and a 108 game shot.

So after 10 weeks of match play it has Kieran Bird & Rab Dick both in joint third place in division 1, William Borland sirs top of division 2 with Scott Baillie in third place, Jim Mitchell leads division 3 with Graeme Bird in third place, remembering after all the league matches the top four from each division go into the Premier League K.O. Cup play Offs.

 

22^nd May, Monday night league action, Premier results, Brucefield Farmers 1-8 Stirrup Stane Wanderers,  Almondale Pirates 9-0 Doo Club Flyers, Loganlea Colliers 1-8 Volunteer Highway Men, Commercial Inn Nomads 3-6 Central bar Rebels. Championship league results, Cawburn Highlanders 6-3 Deans B.C. Golden Oldies, Stirrup Stane Indians 8-1 Brucefield Crofters, Doo Club Fanciers 2-7 Tower bar Knights, Kirknewton Innkeepers 5-4 Commercial Inn Juniors.

Few cracking mentions this week and these go to, Kieran Bird from the Wanderers 19 dart game, Kevin Murphy for the Flyers cracking 102 game shot, Pirates players doing the dastardly deeds were John Tannock with a maximum 180 along with a 20 darter, Scott Bryson also on the maximum 180 trail, and also firing out a broadside of treble hitting it saw Stevie Duncan 180 and a 102 take out, Keith Jamieson for the Highlanders with a 95 game shot, Rab Smith of the Golden Oldies with a 89 game shot going out on the bulls eye 19-20-bull,  Scott Baker of the Rebellious ones from West Calder cracking 15 darter and a rock solid 76 take out, Davie Yule 17 dart game for the Commercial Juniors, But shot of the night this week goes to Commercial Inn Juniors player Mr Jason Rae with a superb 168 score via treble 20, treble 19 and treble 17 cracking score.       

 

15^TH May, W.C.&.D.D.L. Monday night results from the Premier league saw, Cawburn Assassins 6-3 Commercial Inn Nomads, Doo Club Flyers 2-7 Brucefield Farmers, Central bar Rebels 3-6 Volunteer Highway Men, Almondale Pirates 5-4 Loganlea Colliers.

Championship league results saw, Deans B.C. Golden Oldies 3-6 Stirrup Stane Indians, Brucefield Crofters 6-3 Doo Club Fanciers, Commercial Inn Juniors 2-7 Cawburn Highlanders, Tower bar Knights 3-6 Grand Central Railroaders.

 Special Mentions this week start with a cracking doubles match, Playing for the Tower Knights it has Stuart Mitchell & Rodger Barron firing in a superb 14 dart game, Other top doubles games which were left in the shade by that cracker saw, Paul Weir & William Harraughty of the Assassin’s firing in a 16 darter, Stevie Scott & Mitchell of the Highway Men 18 & 19 dart games in their partnership, Callum Wilkinson & Ian Stevenson 20 dart doubles match, Maximum hitters this week saw, Paul Weir 1x180, Micky Smith 1x180, Bunny Forrest 1x180, Gary Christie 1x 180, Jim Mitchell 1x177, Fast Games of note coming from Craig Forrest 18 darter, Chris Fawcett 19 dart game, Stevie Duncan 20 darter ( no other mentions!) Check outs had, John Brogan 111 game shot, Alan Wilson 107 game shot, Davie Nisbet 102 g.s. Paul Weir 100 take out with 20-tops-tops, William Wilson 91 take out, Davie Aitken 85 game shot, Stephan Colthart 78 game shot, couple of close shaves on the maximum scores had Kevin Murphy and Craig Forrest just missing out and recording 140’s

 

13^th May, Saturday saw a depleted posse of players head west to the Pockets snooker club in Paisley truth be told it was a solo ride as only Jim Mitchell was going the rest of the West Lothian county posse had headed South to invade Wales for the week-end, Anyway it saw Mitchell winning 3-0 in the first round with the help of a 115 take out, second round match saw him going through 3-1 with the help of a 180 and a tidy 18 darter, next round once again like last week it saw Mark Barrilli standing in his way and another cracking match Mark winning 3-1 games taking 15-12-14 15 darts Mitchell with a 14 darter and sitting on 66 after 12 darts in the fourth leg and not getting back to the board! so with two meeting in two weeks the matches have gone like this Jim 16-15 Mark 12-12-14 -15-12 Jim 14 Mark 15, that’s the standard and hey ho you just keep trying, anyway the Grand Final saw Michael Malone and Drew Callary go head to head in a best of 11x501 final, and in the second leg it had everyone standing as Michael missed double 12 for the perfect game 180-177-120-just missing double 12 for it having to settle for an 11 darter! Final score saw Michael Malone 6-Drew Callary 2. May have gone through alone but was made welcome by many of the darters in the venue it never fails to amaze me the camaraderie of darts players, good people! And as Mark Barrilli told me when I first arrived half pint and a vodka £2 special, beer £2.75 a pint nice.

 

11^th May, Under 50’s League results, Ryan Jack 2-2 Paul McCaig, Scott Bryson 2-2 Rab Dick, Wullie Jack 4-0 Lewis Lyle, Rex Brady 4-0 Craig Jack, Mandy Millar 3-1 Ryan Jack, Shaun Clow 3-1 Abi Sclater, Mandy Millar 3-1 Jay Millar, Ryan Jack 4-0 Craig Jack, Rex Brady 3-1 Scott Bryson,  Paul McCaig 4-0 Jay Millar, Shaun Clow 2-2 Rab Dick, Wullie Jack 2-2 Scott Bryson, Jay Millar 3-1 Abi Sclater, Lewis Lyle 3-1 Willie Millar, Shaun Clow 2-2 Rex Brady, Ryan Jack 3-1 Lewis Lyle,

Some top games from the night and top story has to be Amanda Millar taking 6 points from a possible 8, good shooting, Fast games saw Amanda Millar 15 darter, Ryan Jack 18 dart game, Rex Brady 16-19-19 darters plus a maximum 180, Wullie Jack 3x19 darters plus a maximum 180, Shaun Clow brace of 19 dart games, Lewis Lyle 20 darter, Rab Dick 18 and 19 darters.

 

10^th May, Once again our local posse of players were in action in the Edinburgh Premier League which is played at the Murrayfield Sports Bar in Gorgi Edinburgh, Six matches and once again an excellent return with 6 wins recorded, Rab Dick from Kirknewton firing on all cylinders with a 7-1 victory which included a superb 140 game shot and three legs finished in 16-18-20 darts, Kieran Bird winning 7-2 and recording 2x180’s in his victory, William Borland a 7-4 winner with 5 cracking legs of darts 14-2x15-16-17 dart games and two excellent check outs 112 followed by a 164 game shot, Scott Baillie from Armadale in fine form with a 7-2 win and a tidy 19 darter, Graeme Bird snr firing in 2x15 dart games plus finishes of 100 & 130 and a maximum 180 on his way to coming out a 7-4 winner, Jim Mitchell keeping the run going with a 7-1 win. Mitchell now the only unbeaten player in the Posse with 9 wins from 9, Borland played 7 won 6, Kieran Bird played 8 won 6, Rab Dick played 9 won 7, Graeme Bird played 11 won 9, Scott Baillie played 8 won 6. With last nights matches still to be added the league places will be updated a.s.a.p.

 

8^TH May, W.C.D.D.L. Monday night results from Premier & Championship leagues, Premier League , Loganlea Colliers 2-7 Central bar Rebels, Volunteer Highway Men 3-6 Cawburn Assassin’s, Commercial Inn Nomads 1-8 Stirrup Stane Indians, Brucefield Farmers 8-1 Almondale Pirates. Championship league results, Grand Central Railroaders 6-3 Brucefield Crofters, Stirrup Stane Indians 5-4 Commercial Inn Juniors, Doo Club Fanciers 1-8 Deans B.C. Golden Oldies, Cawburn Highlanders 3-6 Kirknewton Innkeepers.

So with the finishing line only four league matches away the Wanderers from the Stirrup Stane are two points clear in the Premier league with 34 points, joint second has the Volunteer Highway Men and the Cawburn Assassin’s both on 32 points and it looks like a tough run in for all three teams who cant afford to drop any points to the chasing pack.

Championship league is even tighter at the top with the Cawburn Assassin’s still leading but only by legs for as the Stirrup Stane Indians are also on 32 points, and only two points behind sit the Grand Central Railroaders and the Kirknewton Innkeepers who came away with a superb victory at the home of the league leaders.

 

Under threat of sleeping in the spare room I have to mention one special classy finish on the night Double1 double 3 double 16 now that’s how to finish on 40 left! Well done Mrs Maw Mitchell x But there were a couple of other cracking scores of note, Nana Christine McIntosh rock solid 88 game shot, the Whirlwind Gayle Maxwell who is making a few of the male players in the under 50’s league look over their shoulders as she steadily moves up the rankings!, and of course we must not forget the youthful over 50’s player who has the honour of being the youngest of the oldies William Harraughty who with age catching up still managed a rock solid 76 check out not bad for someone who is looking to be in bed by 10pm at night now tucked up with his horlicks!

 

Saturday 15^th April, Posse of local darting talent rode into the Murrayfield Sports bar for a Charity singles event with money being raised for C.H.A.S. The competition saw eight sections with players having to play all of their opponents in there league and the top two from each league would then progress to the last 16, Format was quick best of 3x501,  but it saw all five of our Monday night players progress through to the final league table, Arran Edwards & Rab Dick going out in the last 16, Martin Deegan & Jim Mitchell making the quarter finals before retiring from the event, Graeme Bird made it through to the Grand Final before losing out to Alan White in a very close encounter. Stats for the local players goes like this Arran Edwards 13 darter, Jim Mitchell 8 games in 20 darts or less, 17-3x18-2x19-2x20 plus a couple of checkouts being 76-77-96 along with a maximum 180, Graeme Bird 5 games in 20 darts or under with 2x17-3x18 and a magnificent 158 game shot and a more modest 80 game shot, Rab Dick a maximum 180, Martin Deegan with 17 & 18 darters, Craig Jack 20 darter with 78 game shot. Well run tournament and raising money for a great cause well done the committee on the day another very well run tournament.

 

12^th April Premier, league report from the Murrayfield Sports Bar. All six of our local players were in action last night and here are the stats from matches played. Kirknewton’s top arrow smith getting in on the action with a superb 160 game shot and a cracking 13 darter to add to his tally of fast games this year, Kieran Bird from East Calder a brace of maximum 180’s plus a tidy 88 game shot and 18&19 dart games, Scott Baillie from Armadale on target with a maximum 180 and three rock solid finishes off 83 & 92 & 97, and games finished in 18-19-20-20-20- darts, William Borland tree maximum 180’s and games finished in quick time via 15-16-3x17-18-19-20 darts, Graeme Bird also with 3x180’s and five sub 20 darters via 15-17-17-18-18 darters along with 80 & 94 game shots, Old Man Mitchell tagging along with 18-19-19 darters and a cheeky wee 86 game shot.                            

Wee snippet from the sun! Sunshine report from Sunny Spain saw Kathy Henderson and Jim Mitchell playing in the Benidorm Open darts competition, Kathy receiving an envelope with 45 euros for quarter finals of the Ladies pairs, and much the same for Mitchell quarter finals of the men’s pairs with Wullie Laird from Ayrshire and a quarter final place in the 701 singles, 70 euros for his efforts, But nice to see some darting colleagues from West Lothian also in attendance Mary and Johnny Walker from Greenrigg, Irene and Shug from Armadale and the Whyte family from Breich, Karen and Amy forgotten Karen’s mans name! Oops! Met some really nice people and fingers crossed will bump into them at an other comp some where down the line!

 

Monday 3^rd April W.C.D.D.L. RESULTS.

Premier league results, Almondale Pirates 4-5 Central bar Rebels, Doo Club Flyers 1-8 Cawburn Assassin’s, Stirrup Stane Wanderers 8-1 Loganlea Colliers, Brucefield Farmers 3-6 Volunteer Highway Men,

Championship league results, Stirrup Stane Indians 9-0 Doo Club Fanciers, Cawburn Highlanders 7-2 Grand Central Railroaders, Commercial Juniors 3-6 Brucefield Crofters, and Kirknewton Innkeepers 5-4 Tower bar knights.

Special mentions from this weeks league action are, Maximum 180 hitters saw Bunny Forrest and Jamie Banks jnr rattling the treble twenty bed for 180’s scores for the Farmers of Brucefield, Gary Christie of the Indians from Craigshill maximum 180, Gordon Bruce from the Stirrup Stane Wanderers along with team mates Arran Edwards and Kieran Bird all on the maximum trail however Mick Burke went one better firing in a brace of the magical maximum 180’s excellent shooting from these Wanderers, Loganlea captain Alan Wilson maximum 180 recorded, Tower bar Knights player Gary Cheshire on target with a maximum 180 as well. Fast finishes this week came by way of Jimmy Johnson 84 g.s. Rab Anderson 88 g.s. Mick Burke 90 g.s. K irk Gordon 76 g.s. S andy Coulter 78 g.s. only four players breaking the ton finish this week and they were Martin Balfour with a 100 g.s for the Rebels of West Calder, Rab Dick 102 g.s for the Innkeepers of Kirknewton and Gordon Bruce of the Wanderers with a 103 g.s but top finish this week saw John Kirk with a cracking 130 game shot. Fast games finished in 20 darts or less were fired in by, Gordon Bruce 15 darter, Graeme Smith from the Rebels 18 darter, Martin Blainey 18 darter for the Innkeepers, couple of 20 darters and it was Christopher Mitchell & Saun Hanlon from Highlanders and Rebels respectively who did the deed. Couple doubles games to mention Gary Christie & Bob Wallace cracking 17 darter, Gary Cheshire & Paul Duff 18 darter, John Kirk & Christopher Mitchell 20 darter.

 

Wednesday 29^th March, Premier League Action was once again on the agenda, unfortunately two of our players were down with illness, Rab Dick with the deadly Man Flu, and Graeme Bird visiting the hospital for his injury which he received back at Christmas time, But there was action on the boards from four players, Scott Baillie firing in five sub 20 dart games in his match ups with games finished in 17-17-18-20-20 darts plus 3 x 180’s he won his first match with a fine 7-4 score line before losing 2-7, Kieran Bird also on the maximum trail with 1x180, and 16-17-18 dart games to add to his fast games league table and he also won one match before losing his second match of the night, William Borland 15-16-17 darters plus a cracking 174 set up and a maximum 180 along with a 90 game shot on his way to winning 7-1, Jim Mitchell winning 7-1 and recording 112 game shot and games finished in 17-18-19 darts.

 

Sunday 26^th March, The Ellwyn Lounge was the venue in Grangemouth on Sunday for an Open Doubles competition, this event was in a slightly different format with each match being the best of 5 x 701, and the winners were Davie Kerwin & Jim Russell jnr from Grangemouth who edged out Paul Weir from East Calder and Rab Dick from Kirknewton in the Grand Final.

 

Friday 24^th March, Bathgate league action saw the League Doubles title on the line and there were some superb pairings in this event from all the teams in the league, all the matches up to the final were the best of 5x501 and you would have had to be a brave man to try and pick a winner from the quarter final line up, However when it came down to the last eight doubles partnerships left standing it saw, M Burke & C Maxwell bt W Wilson & C Sangster, J Graham & A Gardiner bt W Harraughty & R Dick, W Borland & K Bird bt P Lafferty &  J Smith, C Wilkinson & P Weir bt S Duncan & J MacMillan, and to the semi final line up one of the strongest line ups seen for a long time, J Graham & A Gardiner bt C Maxwell & M Burke, W Borland & K Bird bt C Wilkinson & P Weir. And then we had two pairings left standing and the format now the best of 7x501, From Lammies bar in Fauldhouse Jim Graham & Alan Gardiner and facing them across the ocky was William Borland & Kieran Bird representing the Bentswood Inn from Stoneyburn, and the final could not have been closer 1-1 then 2-2 and 3-3 followed so after three hours of competitive game play we had a one leg shoot out to see who would claim the title of Bathgate League 501 Doubles Champions, and it went to the pairing of Jim Graham and Alan Gardiner when Alan checked out on double ten with his last dart with William and Kieran sitting on a double, fantastic match up so congratulations go to Jim Graham & Alan Gardiner 2017 Bathgate league Doubles Champions, and also playing their part in a superb final congratulations to the runners up Kieran Bird & William Borland, Once again many thanks to the staff of Coppies bar in Armadale for sponsoring this event and to the committee of Danny Kirkland, Spencer McDonald and Big G for running this event. Couple of maximums hit on the night with Jim Graham and William Wilson firing in maximum 180’s but special mention to Paul Weir recording 2x180’s, Scott Baillie with a 110 game shot and Willie Wilson 86 game shot, I know there would have been more but in the cauldron of match play they were not reported, so if you know of more statistics please drop me a line and they will be added, cheers.

 

Wednesday 22^nd March, Edinburgh Darts Premier League got started with over 80 players taking part in 8 leagues, And the local posse from West Lothian were involved, it saw five of the six players from West Lothian winning with only one loss reported, However Scott Baillie from Armadale only went down by the odd leg in this the best of 13x501 match Scott losing 6-7 he recorded finishes of 75-76-78 game shots and rattled in four sub 20 dart legs with 17-17-18-19 dart games. Kieran Bird winning 7-2 Graeme Bird and on his way to reaching the magic number 7 it saw him fire in two maximum 180’s along with a 114 & 76 game shots fastest game a 17 darter, Jim Mitchell winning 7-0 fastest games being 15 & 16 darters, William Borland with a fighting 7-4 win in which he recorded 18-19-20 dart games and a maximum 180, Rab Dick from Kirknewton also winning by a score line of 7 games to 2 Rab’s top finish a rock solid 90 game shot.

 

Saturday 18^th March, The P.D.C. Development tour was held in Wigan and it saw three of our local Monday night players in action, Jamie Banks winning his first match 4-3 before losing to Nathan Lafferty 4-0 in the second round, and it saw Arran Edwards also losing out in round two as he went down 4-3 to Patrikc van den Boogard

William Borland 4-0 Kieran Heard, following them out at the second round it saw William Borland also leaving in the second round losing to Ryan Meikle 4-1.

Onto competition two on the day and it saw, William Borland receiving a bye then in the second round it saw William winning 4-0 against Christopher Snyder’s, William Borland then beat Scott Dale 4-2, before losing out in the last 32 to Brian Raman 4-3.

Jamie going out to John Brown 4-1 in round one, Arran Edwards received a bye in round one then went on to beat Conner Scutts 4-1 before bowing out to Jake Jones 4-3.

Winners of the first two competitions were, Kenny Neyens 5-4 Adam Hunt in the first competition, Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-2 Adam Hunt in the second competition.

Competition results from Sundays two tournaments to follow!

 

Saturday news update 18^th March, Crown bar in Bo’Ness held its annual Open competition and with no fewer than six players in the mix who have all graced the ocky in televised events this was a superb field of arrow smiths who entered, The grand final saw Alan Chuck Norris beating Gary Stone 6-1 to claim the title. West Lothian’s only entry Mitchell fell at the first hurdle going down 6-4 to Michael Jones, good enough game 107 game shot and three legs under 18 darts but not enough in this type of field!

 Friday 17^th March, Bathgate & District darts league season is coming to a close yes there are still three competitions to go, Men’s & Ladies singles along with Delegates competitions to be played, However the league Pennant is now safely in the hands of the defending champions from last season the Bentswood Inn from Stoneyburn, However there has to be a play-of for second place as the Lammies bar (2) from Fauldhouse and the Cross Tavern from Whitburn will have to face each other on the 14^th April at a neutral venue, Results from Fridays league matches went like this, Bentswood Inn 8-1 corrie bar, Lammies (1) 0-9 Lammies (2)

Cross Tavern 5-4 Coppies bar. Some scores of note from the Bentswood v Corrie game saw , Callum Wilkinson 15 & 19 dart games along with 117 game shot, Jim Mitchell 81 & 99 check outs plus a maximum 180, William Harraughty cracking shanghai on the twenties for a 120 game shot, Graeme Bird 19 darter, Willie Wilson from the Corrie bar also in on the action with a 20 darter plus a 81 game shot. But shot of the night was a simple double 8 from Callum Wilkinson which delivered the league title for the second consecutive season.

 

Saturday 11^th March, Kirknewton Inn held an Invitational open singles event and with over 50 of the finest players from across the county of West Lothian in attendance it saw Davie Aitken from Polbeth who plays for the Commercial Inn Nomads take the title in superb fashion over William Borland of the Cawburn Assassins, by a score line of 6 games to 2. Not only did Davie take the title he claimed the prizes for most maximum’s scored on the day the fastest leg and the highest recorded finish of 145, superb arrows from this gentleman of the ocky.

 

Friday 10^th March, Bathgate league results as follows, Bentswood Inn 8-1 Masonic, Old Wine 8-1 Cross Tavern, Coppies bar 9-0 Lammies (1) Corrie bar 3-6 Lammies (2)

 

Wednesday 8^th March, This was the last of a three week qualifying competition held in the Murrayfield Sports bar in Gorgi Edinburgh, and it saw some excellent games from the travelling posse of Local dart players. With eight leagues and each player having to play everyone else in their league the top two players from their respective leagues would then make the grand final next week. Kieran Bird winning league (7) Graeme Bird winning league (8) William Borland winning league (3) and Jim Mitchell as runner up in league (6) so we have four players in the last 16 should be some cracking ties and hopefully one of them will come away with the title, However with some of the finest players from the Lothian’s and Borders in the mix, this will be tough competition to win.

 

Monday 6^th March, West Calder & District Match-play doubles competition saw a excellent turnout who came to try and annex the title, The quarter finals onwards saw M Deegan & R Brady bt R Dick & W Millar, G Bird & W Borland bt J Galloway & J Devlin, G Borland & W Harraughty bt J Fleming & J Brett, A Edwards & G Bruce bt S Morrans & T Laird. Semi Finals G Bird & W Borland bt R Brady & M Deegan, A Edwards & G Bruce bt G Borland & W Harraughty, Final saw G Bird & W Borland bt A Edwards & G Bruce. Champions G Bird & W Borland Runners up A Edwards & G Bruce.

 

Sunday 5^th March, Venue was the Players Lounge in Falkirk, and once again a cracking posse of West Lothian players made the journey over the county border to try and annex the title, Quarter final results, Andrew Alexander beat Paul Weir
Jim Mitchell beat Graeme Bird
Rab Dick beat Nikki Adamson
William Borland beat Alex Lister

Semis
Jim Mitchell beat Andrew Alexander
William Borland beat Rab Dick

Final
William Borland beat Jim Mitchell

and as it so happens once again it saw William Borland and Jim Mitchell take to the ocky in the grand final, few missed darts early on sealed Mitchell’s fate and William Borland came out a 5-3 winner, this was his fifth winners purse of the year for William Borland, while Mitchell has claimed one winners purse and has had to settle for four runners up purses so far this year. On the day some tremendous arrows from the West Lothian players fastest game recorded saw Paul Weir with a fabulous 11 darter Paul also fired in 3 x180s and a 92 game shot on the day, Graeme Bird on target with a 177 score and a 105 game shot plus 3x17 darters and a 18 dart game, Rab Dick 17 darter , Jim Mitchell game shots of 164 via 57-57-bulls eye, 154 via 57-57-40, and a more modest 90 game shot Mitchell also firing in a brace of 180’s and a tidy 177 score, games finished in 12-14-15-15-17-17-18-18 darts, William Borland 4x180’s along with games finished in 15-18-19 darts and check outs of 92-100-115-122. Five local players from the Monday night league in the last eight cracking effort from the guy’s, see you at the next one.

 

Friday 3^rd March, Bathgate Friday night league saw the league champions from last season the Bentswood Inn, and who sit top of the league with two games to go in the league fixtures tasted their first defeat for almost two seasons, So though they need only one win to secure the league pennant for the second time, they were brought down to earth by the team from Lammies bar in Fauldhouse, this match saw the first four games very even and at 2-2 it was anyone’s game, However Lammies then took full advantage of their home venue and went into a commanding 4-2 lead after the singles, But you don’t get to be top of the Bathgate league without having a strong desire to win, and back came the Bentswood players taking the first and second of the three doubles matches to even the match so 4-4 and into the final game of the night, and it saw Jim Graham & Spencer McDonald take the plaudits for the home team with a final 5-4 result, this now brings three teams into contention for second place as the Cross Tavern from Whitburn, Lammies bar from Fauldhouse and Coppies bar in Armadale can all secure the second place position should results go there way, Some terrific scores from the nights play saw, Maximum 180’s recorded by David Allan, Alan Gardiner, and Spencer McDonald, top finishes came by way of Paul Weir 115 game shot, Jim Mitchell & Alan Gardiner both with 80 game shots, Rab Dick 78 game shot, fastest recorded game saw Paul Weir and Dave Allan with a 15 darters recorded, Jim Graham, Rab Dick Dougie Hogg all firing in 18 dart games, So with only two league matches remaining there is still plenty to play for in the Friday night league.

Results are Lammies bar (2) 5-4 Bentswood Inn, Corrie bar 1-8 Cross Tavern, Old Wine 0-9 Lammies bar (1), Coppies bar 9-0 Masonic.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Well done to Mandy Millar who I believe fired in her first maximum 180 to-day while playing with Willie Millar and Rab Dick. At the Kirknewton Inn.

 

Monday 27^th February, Well the annual West Calder and District darts exhibition rolled into the Cawburn Sports bar in Pumpherston on Monday night for the fifteenth consecutive season and we had two old favourites back in action on the ocky, Gary Robson for the fifth time and Alan Norris for the third time, And what a great evenings entertainment we were given by two of the finest exhibition players on the circuit, from the P.D.C. Alan  (Chuck) Norris and from the B.D.O. Gary (Robbo) Robson held us all enthralled as they strutted their darting skills on the ocky, Double Double finishes were common from Chuck Norris, and I suppose you could say one up man ship from Gary Robson as he played and scored on one board but finished matches by checking out on the board next to the one he was playing on! Superb exhibition from both players and the crowd a mixture of league players , families and friends had a great experience, Now these events could not take place without the help of a lot of people, so I would like to thank our two M.C. on the night Mr Chris Forsyth & Mr Colin Hamilton, also from Winmau darts we had the Scottish representative in attendance Mr Ted McMillan who sponsored a brand new blade 5 dartboard and also supplying a projector screen for use in the scoring on the night, And then Ted also sponsored a brand new dart shirt signed by both professionals for a raffle prize (many thanks) also to Billy Weir who did the computer scoring all night long, And of course our sponsor Malky from the Cawburn Sports bar and his staff who made all very welcome on the night.

Gillian Mitchell and Connie Bamburry for selling raffles and the football card, And the two prizes on the night the signed dartboard went to Mrs Donna Crook, and the autographed darts shirt going to Mrs Gillian Mitchell. Folks many thanks for a great night atmosphere was superb, Jim Mitchell Chairman W.C.&.D.D.L.

 

Friday 24^th February,  Bathgate league held their annual D Ross four person team competition, this event has teams of four players playing 1x501 in the singles then two games of 1x701 in the doubles, should the score be tied at 3-3 then a sudden death leg of 1001 would decide the outcome, In the first semi final it saw Coppies bar edge out the Cross Tavern in tremendous tussle be the odd leg in seven 4-3 the final score, the second semi final saw Bentswood Inn A+B play off against each other, and it was the defending champions of William Borland, Jim Mitchell, Graeme Bird and William Harraughty who would face off against Rab Nelson, Micky Rice, Mick Burke and Colin Maxwell in the grand final, It saw the Coppies team take a 2-0 lead in the race to 4, however the defending champions were not to be denied and after the singles it saw the score tied at 2-2 and with both doubles matches going the way of the Bentswood Inn it saw them under the leadership of team captain William Harraughty take the title for a second year. Once again many thanks to the Coppies bar in Armadale for hosting this event and to Danny Kirkland who marked the final.

 

Wednesday 22nd February, Premier league in Edinburgh had some tough match ups for our local players involved remembering this is a double start league!, Jim Mitchell pulled himself back into contention with 3 wins from 3 with 5-0-5-1-5-1 win’s firing in games finished in 14-15-15-17 darts finishes of 160-100-88-85, plus a maximum 180, Rab Dick winning his first match 5-0 before double trouble set in and two 2-5 losses came his way 90 game shot best of the night for this player who has been on top form lately! Graeme Bird from East Calder firing in 6 sub 20 dart games with 2x17-2x18-2x19 dart legs plus an 80 game shot, matches won 5-2-5-3-5-0, Kieran Bird also turning in a good performance with two 5-0 win’s  plus a brace of maximum 180’s and a tidy 20 darter, Scott Baillie from Armadale got himself onto the winners list with 2 victories from 3 matches with 5-0-5-0 and a solitary loss 1-5 couple of rock solid finishes with 76 & 80 game shots. William Borland 3 excellent wins on the night all with 5-0 score lines see’s him top of his league and with some excellent games finishing with 17-2x18, 19-20 dart games a maximum 180 and finishes of 81-84-86.

 

Monday 20^th February, W.C.&.D.D.L. Results from the Championship league saw the, Stirrup Stane Indians 7-2 Brucefield Crofters, Commercial Inn Juniors 5-4 Kirknewton Innkeepers, Tower bar Knights 8-1 Doo Club Fanciers, Deans B.C. Golden Oldies 1-8 Cawburn Highlanders,

Premier league results, Doo Club Flyers 3-6 Almondale Pirates, Volunteer Highway Men 7-2 Loganlea Colliers, Stirrup Stane Wanderers 6-3 Brucefield Crofters.

 Special Mentions this week go to , Rab Craig 2 x180 for the Brucefield Crofters, Gordon Bruce firing in 2x180’s for the Wanderers of Craigshill, Davie Nisbet 1 x 180 for the Highway Men, John Charleston from the Farmers of Brucefield 1x180, Top finishes saw Craig Forrest 113 game shot,  Ryan Jack nice 88 take out B Hart 76 game shot. Couple other mentions go to John Charleston only fast game I have heard about so far sure more to follow 17 darter, J Tannock from the Pirates and Stephan Hume both just missing out on maximum 180’s having to settle for 140 scores.

Just in few more top scores from the nights play, Jim Mitchell for the Highway Men 20 darter, Martin the Dechmont hobbit hits a 20 darter and a 15 dart game along with maximum 180, looks like this bad weather is giving him time to practice! Also with a 15 dart game Rex Brady, Stuart Russell for the Loganlea Colliers on target with a maximum 180 and a cracking 14 dart game fastest of the evenings play.

 

Saturday 18^th February, The Cawburn Sports bar held its annual N.T.S.O. tournament which is run by Kirk Gordon, and it saw a superb competition which had players from the central belt and over the water players from Fife attend, The final saw Local player Davie Aitken from Polbeth defeating Fife star Kevin Feeley in the final, semi finalist were Colin Feeley and Scott McLeod.

 

Sunday 19^th February,  where another two tournaments would be held, First up on Sunday saw Arran Edwards losing out 2-4, William Borland went on to win his first round match 4-0, Jamie then went out 1-4, and in the last 128 it saw William Borland then lost out 3-4 in this round, And so to the last competition of the week end and the results went like this, Arran Edwards receiving a bye, William Borland also got a bye, Jamie losing out 0-4, Next game saw Arran Edwards losing 1-4, William Borland won 4-2, William then lost out in the last 64 2-4, But he did receive some prize money for reaching this stage, Players from Europe, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland attended these events and the standard is quite amazing to say the very least, so well done to our local players and roll on the next development tour, Players who won the events played were, Luke Humphries who won Development tour One on the Saturday and also Development tour 4 on the Sunday outstanding play, Dimitri Van den Bergh won Development tour 2, and Development tour 3 went to Ryan Meikle.

 

Saturday 18^th February, Saturday saw the P.D.C. Development tour taking place in Wigan, this event is held over two days and has four tournaments to play in, West Calder’s Jamie Banks collected a fine 4-1 win in his first match, Arran Edwards from Livingston winning 4-3 in his first round match, William Borland from East Calder receiving a bye in the first round, their second round matches in the last 128 saw mixed results as Jamie Banks lost out 1-4, Arran Edwards then lost out in a 7 leg thriller by the tightest of score lines 3-4, William Borland then won 4-3 and it was into the last 64 for him as he carried the West Lothian banner, However that was his final round as he then went out 2-4. And so onto the second competition of the day, William Borland then lost out 0-4, Jamie Banks was his turn to receive a bye, Arran Edwards also lost out 0-4, so Jamie Banks was left carrying the West Lothian banner this time, unfortunately it saw Jamie losing 1-4 in the next round.

 

Friday 17^th February, Bathgate Friday night league results, Coppies bar 8-1 Corrie bar, Cross Tavern 5-4 Lammies (2), Bentswood Inn 6-3 Old Wine,  Special notes from the nights play saw Jim Graham from the Lammies team in Fauldhouse fire in 2x180,s Paul Drake from the Cross Tavern 1x180, Paul Weir recording a maximum 180 for the Bentswood Inn, top finish from the nights play saw Wullie Jack with a tremendous 149 game shot, 60-57-32, Graeme Bird 130 game shot via 60-20-bulls eye, Fast games saw Paul Weir with a 16 darter, Graeme Bird 2x20 dart games, Rab Dick 20 dart game and Jim Mitchell 19 darter.