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What a Champion Weekend

That didn’t just happen, did it? We didn’t turn around a worrying scramble to avoid relegation against Bucks two years ago, into a mad dash for points to go up as Champions against the very same county, did we? Oh yes we did … and wasn’t it great?

OK, we had the rub of the green at times. Oxfordshire and Staffordshire were reportedly missing players when we met them and we had little Roger Kitching playing the whole season as if someone told him he wouldn’t be getting a box of Ritz crackers if he lost, but Surrey played what was in front of them and took the First Division Title by a comfortable 11 point margin to propel the county into the elite of British Inter-County darts.

There were muted rumblings of a possible promotion for Surrey with two matches to go but it wasn’t until we ran out with a huge margin of victory in Staffs that we realised that this had the potential to be a bit of a successful year. Talk then predictably turned to the subject of exactly how many points were required from our last match against almost relegated Bucks in order to stay ahead of Durham in third place, maybe 12 would be enough, perhaps 13? The negativity was stifling. As any sports fan will tell you, there’s many a choke in the face of a wounded but relaxed team with little to play for.

Luckily for Surrey, the Ladies B had no such minimal thoughts as they raced into a 3-0 lead with a quite stunning display, the like we always knew they had in them but never thought they would actually deliver, especially when collective nails were being bitten like a ham-acting Hollywood star in a disaster movie. Our B string ladies are nothing if not practical, as they showed in the final two matches of the season, throwing down the Shake’n’Vac and hoovering up 10 of a possible 12 points like a top-of-the-range Dyson. Helen Cullip (22.43) took Lady of the Match but was amongst vicious team-mates in Heather Busby (19.39) & Julie Austin (19.52), and when Angie Frewin (20.20) nonchalantly lobbed in a 16 darter on her way to the winning 4th point at Aylesbury, Surrey started to believe that we could gain a bit of BDO silverware (it would obviously need dusting, but while you have the cleaning materials out girls …).

Richie Blake (25.51) completed a perfect 9 wins from 9 to kick off the Mens B and contribute to a 7-2 lead, but despite being pegged back to 7-5 at close of play, the Surrey gap at the top of the table on Saturday was a promising 4 points and the Title was a real possibility. Apylee Jones (25.91) equalled Richie’s perfect season with a 9 win haul of her own on Sunday, but the promotion winning point and, as it eventually turned out, the Title winning one, was chipped in by Mel Henry (14.21) who edged a five legger to seal a 4-2 win for the Ladies A.

The Mens A matched their B counterparts with a 7-5 victory, most outstanding of which was a taut battle between Surrey veteran Benson (26.87) and his equally long-serving Bucks opponent Dave Babb, ending in a 12 dart deciding leg from the Surrey crusty that had most believing that the fake viagra he took the night before must have been a particularly strong variant. By then, reports were coming through of an Oxfordshire defeat that ensured Surrey would not only get a tilt at the behemoths of county darts in 2008/9 but also would do so as confirmed Champions of the second tier.

So there we have it. Two years ago we were battling with London to avoid relegation to the second division, now we are looking, Rapunzel-like, a long way down on them from the Prem and shouting “Coo-ee! Remember us?” (It’s OK, local rivalry has been scientifically proven to be … err … fun). Of course, we could come crashing straight back down again (as Middlesex did … oops there I go again), but please don’t mention that to Surrey A team player, and official cheerleader Spike Harris, who has been dishing out a verbal ear-chewing to anyone who even floats the idea, “Not with THIS team!”, says he. He may be right, he may be wrong, but we’re going to have some fun while we are up there whatever the outcome. Surrey, Division One Champions. Sounds good, doesn’t it?

And the Youths Ain’t Bad Either!

There’s been a bit of a shift in fortunes for the Surrey youth side in the past few months as the seeds that were planted on a barren plot of land early in the season are starting to bear some pretty succulent fruit. Dave Creamer, Jane Johnson & all those involved with the youth side have been beavering away from almost a standing start and the results are starting to be very positive with losses being replaced by wins.

There have been encouraging performances throughout the squad, in particular from Darryl Pilgrim, who looks to be a good prospect for the future and one who could well end up emulating recent youth players Dave Webb and Steve Mead in progressing to the full county side.

It’s good to see that the Surrey youngsters are carrying on a fine tradition for our county and they have all earned a great day out at their Presentation night on the 24th of May when they will be visited by Bobby George and his big rings and even bigger laugh. Full details of the youth celebration, and how you can meet Lord BoBo of George Hall, can be viewed on the Surrey web-site (address at the foot of the page) … THAT’S THE WAY TO YOUTH IT!

The Grass is Definitely Greener …

Most will no doubt be aware, but our county’s eager foray into Premier Division life will be in a new venue after an acrimonious split from the one in which the promotion was earned. Relations have been strained for a while to say the least and finally came to a head after a particularly uncharitable hosting of a charity event for a much-loved but very ill member of the Surrey fraternity. With the Premiership beckoning, feelers were put out and the response was overwhelming with the Surrey executive now faced with no less than FOUR eager venues from which to choose. To use a 70s sitcom analogy, it was akin to the affable student from Rising Damp being shown the door of Rigsby’s grubby slice of bedsit land, only to then encounter four financially well-endowed baby-doll-nightie-wearing housewives from Confessions of a Window Cleaner, billing & cooing to entice him with the run of their plush three bedroom semis! This particular Rigsby will be rather more worried, though, with the departure of his prized tenant, the lovely Miss Jones (in the form of the very lucrative summer Super League), who is also moving to pastures new despite the old misery falling to his knees and offering a load of his cash if she would just tie the knot for at least a few years.

One thing is for certain though. Whichever venue is chosen by Surrey will be impressed with the standard of darts they will be offered. With teams boasting the likes of Martin Adams, Darryl Fitton & John Walton, to name but a few, crossing swords with us from September, we are looking forward to a new chapter in the illustrious history of Surrey darts … Rigsby will be an easily forgotten memory by the time the first 2008/9 match commences.

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