A Welsh Double in Bristol
Wales internationals Michael Huntley and Connor Hopkins were amongst the winners in the Final weekend of the ADC Winmau Open Series, with Hopkins securing his TV Debut at the MODUS Super Series. 2-time Champions Week winner Luke Littler and Tom Lonsdale claimed the other two events, with the 16 events now complete for the year.
The ADC Women’s Championship Tour also concluded with four new winners in Bristol, as Samantha Kirton and Lorraine Hyde found victories in Events 9 and 10 on the Saturday. Angela Kirkwood and Chris Savvery claimed the Final 2 events of the Women’s Championship Tour, but it’s Kim Holden who topped the table with 46pts closely followed by Deta Hedman who finished 1 point behind.
The lineup for the LP Metal Detecting Women’s Championship Tour Finals is now secured, with the event scheduled for the 18th of November from the MODUS Live Lounge. Lisa Ashton, Eleanor Cairns, Rebecca Brouse, Angela Kirkwood, Jody Hancock, and Samantha Kirton along with the top 2, will all make the trip to Portsmouth later in the year which will be broadcast.
The opening Winmau Open Series of the weekend saw Luke Littler continue to show the talent he possesses at just 16 years of age. The Nuke included an impressive first 9 dart average of 118.74 in clinching a 5-4 last leg decider against Johnny Haines in the Semi Finals at Wellsway Sports Centre, in a match which included 8 180s with Luke hitting 6 over 9 legs played.
The 2-time MODUS Super Series Champions week winner secured another trip to the Live Lounge after beating Darren O’Neill 6-3 in the Final of Event 13, finding his first ton plus average of the tournament, scoring 101.42 and again finding 6 180s.
Winmau Open Series Event 14 saw a battle of two Welsh internationals, with both looking to secure TV debuts at Wellsway Sports Centre. Connor Hopkins defeated Event 13 winner Luke Littler in the Semi Finals 5-3 with a first 9 dart average of 104.92 average, coming through his half having beaten the likes of Martyn Turner, Ian Harty and Matthew Washbrooke earlier in the day.
Kieran Harris came through the other half having beaten compatriot Michael Huntley 5-1 in the Semi Finals including a 72 checkout to break throw in the 3rd leg. The Welsh international battled past the likes of Robert Comben, Adam Serpell and Paul Higgins, to secure his maiden appearance in a Winmau Open Series Final.
It was one way traffic though in the Final as the 18-year-old Welsh international claimed a whitewash (6-0) victory in the Final, securing his debut at the MODUS Super Series later in the year. Hopkins included checkouts of 136 and 93 to break the throw in the 2nd and 6th legs of the Final in Bristol to conclude Saturday’s action.
Michael Huntley reached a Final in the ADC Championship Tour last year but went one better in the Winmau Open Series after beating Neil Meneer 6-4 in the Final of Event 15, to make it two Welsh winners at Wellsway Sports Centre.
The 51-year-old secures a return to the MODUS Super Series through the Amateur Darts Circuit, having beaten the likes of Mark Graham in the Semi Finals and Brett Claydon in a last leg decider in the Last 16 to prevail in the opening competition on Sunday.
Huntley has appeared on the Seniors Circuit before having qualified for the World Senior Darts Championship at the Circus Tavern back in February and will return to TV action, after claiming his maiden Open Series Event of the year.
Tom Lonsdale also claimed his first Open Series competition victory in what was the Final Event of 2023, after beating Luke Littler 6-3 in the Final despite the Nuke including 4 180s and a first 9 dart average of 109.41.
The Englishman defeated Event 15 winner Michael Huntley 4-1 in the Last 32 with a 90.30 average before repeating the trick in the Last 16, beating Brett Claydon by the same scoreline.
Samantha Kirton and Lorraine Hyde claimed their first ADC Women’s Championship Tours on Saturday in Bristol, with Samantha beating Deta Hedman 5-2 to win Event 9. Scottish international Lorraine defeated Kim Holden in a last leg decider in the Semi Finals, before claiming a 5-1 win against Joanne Oldershaw in the Final but misses out on a place at the Live Lounge, by just 5pts.
2 more maiden winners followed on the Sunday at Wellsway Sports Centre, with Angela Kirkwood clinching a last leg decider to defeat Event 9 winner Kirton 5-4 in the Final of Event 11. 60-year-old Welsh international Chris Savvery made it 3 wins across the weekend for Wales, after condemning Deta Hedman to her second Final defeat in 2 days.
The Heart of Darts though finishes 2nd in the Women’s Championship Tour Final standings after winning 2 Events and achieving 2 Runner’s Up positions. Kim Holden despite winning no competitions, finishes top of the Tour by a point with WDF Girls Champion Eleanor Cairns finishing 4th with 40pts.
All winners on the Winmau Open Series over the weekend claimed 128pts towards the ADC Rankings, whilst the Champions on the Women’s Championship Tour all picked up 64pts.
By Harry Masterson
Winmau Open Series Results:
Winmau Open Series Event 13 Final:
Luke Littler 6-3 Darren O’Neill
Winmau Open Series Event 14 Final:
Connor Hopkins 6-0 Kieran Harris
Winmau Open Series Event 15 Final:
Michael Huntley 6-4 Neil Meneer
Winmau Open Series Event 16 Final:
Tom Lonsdale 6-3 Luke Littler
LP Metal Detecting Women’s Championship Tour:
Event 9 Final:
Samantha Kirton 5-2 Deta Hedman
Event 10 Final:
Lorraine Hyde 5-1 Joanne Oldershaw
Event 11 Final:
Angela Kirkwood 5-4 Samantha Kirton
Event 12 Final:
Chris Savvery 5-4 Deta Hedman
LP Metal Detecting Women’s Championship Tour Finals:
Quarter Finals:
Kim Holden (1) v Samantha Kirton (8)
Eleanor Cairns (4) v Rebecca Brouse (5)
Lisa Ashton (3) v Angela Kirkwood (6)
Deta Hedman (2) v Jody Hancock (7)
Semi Finals:
Holden/ Kirton v Cairns/ Brouse
Ashton/ Kirkwood v Hedman/ Hancock
Final:
Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2