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A Year in the Life …

Well, how was 2007 for you? Personally, I found it to be a nasty, spiteful & vindictive sort of year. One which, if personified, would be the kind of sadist who sees you are having a rather painful headache and thinks it’s funny to go around banging pots and pans! Others will no doubt have fared better, but for Surrey darts, last year was a bit of a mixed bag. So, as we prepare to hurdle the twelve months of 2008, here is a look back on the happenings in 2007 for Surrey.

January – The year started with Dave Askew finally exiting the PDC World Championships at the hands of Alan Tabern after a run which had seen him take out Mark Lawrence and Alan Caves. The BDO version saw a great effort from Surrey’s Apylee Jones as she reached the Ladies Semi-Final. The Surrey County side enjoyed a Sunday comeback to beat Gwent 19-17 whilst in the Mens Super League, Esher were bottom.

February – A 13-23 collapse in Dorset saw Surrey’s promotion chances vanish after early hopes, whilst in what would turn out to be the last ever Eastbourne Festival, Apylee Jones won the Ladies Singles Title. The inaugural Surrey Super League Classic was held, with Dave Askew edging out Richie Blake in the Final, whilst in the Mens Super League, Esher were bottom.

March – Surrey slid further down the Division One table as Middlesex thrashed us 24-12, whilst in the Mens Super League, Esher were bottom.

April – Another heavy defeat for Surrey, this time 12-24 at Cheshire, opened up the real possibility of relegation to Division Two. In Germany, Jimmy Mann and Ben Burton were desperately wandering the countryside after a SatNav error on their way to a PDC Pro Tour event, whilst in the Mens Super League, Esher were bottom.

May – Apylee Jones and Laura Power made Surrey proud by contesting the Final of the England National Singles in Hemsby. Surrey drew with Bucks to avoid relegation. The Ladies Super League saw Rebels victorious, whilst Walton Working Mens Club won yet another Title in the Mens … Esher finished bottom.

June – The UK Open saw little success from Surrey players. Richard ‘Jugs’ McLaughlin battled through two rounds before succumbing to Bob Crawley, but Aaron Turner, Dave Askew and Jimmy Mann all went out in their first match. The good news, though, was that Jimmy Mann didn’t get lost on the way to Bolton. Meanwhile, Esher hung their wooden spoon above the club’s mantelpiece.

July – The first Surrey Inter-County Invitational was held and was a great success with Surrey A winning the event which was also attended by Beds, Bucks, Berks and Middlesex. Mark Richmond was disqualified from the Gold Cup in the infamous ‘Diet Coke-gate’ affair. Esher’s recruitment drive wasn’t proving too successful.

August – ‘You’re Having a Laugh’ won the Summer Super League, with Dave Askew taking the £500 singles prize. In the Champions Cup, Surrey representatives, Walton Working Mens Club & Rebels, failed to match the previous year when they both qualified for the Finals. The Ladies were edged out by Middlesex, whilst the men went down to Sussex. Esher paid their Super League entry fee for another year of punishment.

September – Surrey started the 2007/8 BICC season with a 20-16 win over a dangerous Oxfordshire side. The Mens Super League started and after the two September matches … Esher were bottom.

October – Another decent result saw Surrey draw after the long trip to Durham. In the Mens Super League, Esher were somewhat adrift.

November – Surrey’s season continued to be a success as a healthy 24-12 victory over Lincolnshire left us handily placed near the top of the table. In the Mens Super League … Esher WON a match!

December – Hertfordshire handed Surrey a 17-19 home defeat to dent the season somewhat, but the County side finished the year in third place, level on points with Oxfordshire. In the Mens Super League, Esher finished the year where they had begun it … can you guess where?

The Mark Howe Shield

The first Surrey darting action of 2008 saw the first staging of the Mark Howe Shield, which was a huge success and is set to be an annual event. The Competition is named in honour of former Esher player Mark Howe, who has bravely battled against a variety of devastating illnesses for the past year. Surrey players supported the event generously, and a great day’s darts ended with just under £500 being raised for the Brodie Ward at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, where Mark is currently being cared for.

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