Good performances from South West disabled players
TWO disabled darts players from Devon and Cornwall both produced outstanding performances over two days of competition at the Weoley Castle WMC in Birmingham.
Organised by the British Disability Darts Association (BDDA), Plymouth’s Snowy Dyson and Ricky Chilton from St Ives in Cornwall, were competing in both the Winmau Classic and 2018 Winmau Open.
On the first day of competition Dyson, who is one of only two bi-lateral, above the knee amputees, in the World Disability Darts Association (BDDA) and the only one in Britain, won six matches on the spin, dropping just three legs before losing in the semi-finals.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Jackie Gill, BDDA & DGMedia 2017
ACTION MAN: Snowy Dyson competing at the Winmau Classic where he won six matches on the bounce before losing in the semi-finals.
Chilton, when at the age of 34, in 2007, had his left hip, pelvis and leg amputated, following complication with a titanium prosthesis he had fitted as a 14-year-old, after being diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer.
But he holds his own on the oche and played his way to the semi-final where he was defeated 3-1 by Matt Doe.
The following day, competitors contested the BDDA Open and out of a total of 42 players, both wheelchair and standing, Snowy got to the last eight of the competition.
He was the only wheelchair player left in the competition and picked up good ranking points by reaching the quarter-final stage before losing to Pete Bramley.
This was quite a remarkable effort by Dyson as Bramley is not only a disabled standing player, but he was good enough back in January to compete in the PDC’s Q School in Wigan.
FINALIST: Ricky Chilton who made the final of the BDDA Open before losing in straight legs.
Ricky showed why he is the No.2 ranked player in the BDDA when he again showed good form and followed up two 3-0 wins over David Silva and Andy Potts with a 3-1 defeat of Dave Jenkin.
He then defeated Mark Luckett (3-0) and Jonathan Hirst (3-2) before losing in the final when beaten in three straight legs by Shane Havard.
The event in Birmingham, was part of the Road to the Winmau Tour for 2018 where players compete for ranking points that will hopefully get them a place in the season’s most prestigious BDDA tournament.
Sixteen British players will compete at the Winmau WDDA World Masters Championship later in the year, eight representing the BDDA will be selected from ranking points gained on the Road to the Winmau Tour.
The next tour event, The Welsh Open, will take place on May 11 at Pontins, Prestatyn Sands, North Wales.
