Havard takes Dartford Open title without losing a leg
SHANE Havard was in a rich vein of form as he won the final ranking event of the British Disability Darts Association’s 2019 Road to Winmau Tour at The Leigh Academy, Dartford.
In the five matches he had to play to win the title, he never dropped a single leg and also threw highest finish with an outshot of 170.
On the other hand, his opponent in the final Paul Gelder had to go the full distance in his first two matches before defeating Michael Callaghan 3-1 in the semi-final.
Gelder could not replicate that form in the final and Havard proved to be a worthy 3-0 winner.
That win gave him a rise in the rankings to second spot, just 17 points behind table-topper Jonathan Hirst.
Points won by Callaghan were enough to see him get into the final qualifying places. He was in joint 17th spot before the event but just crept into the top 10 with a good performance.
Paul Hampton, who was defeated in the semi’s by Havard also took enough points to help him qualify having started the tournament in joint 12th place.
The players who have qualified for the WDDA Winmau World Championships are: Jonathan Hirst (219 points), Shane Havard (202), Paul Gelder (180), Ricky Chilton (154), Pete Bramley (148), Andrew Quinn (136), Kevin Turner (123), Matt Doe (124), Paul Hampton (82), Kevin Stringer (76), Michael Callaghan (76).
The BDDA Dartford Classic was also competed for but only four players contested the wheelchair event that was played as a round robin and won by Kevin Stringer when he defeated Amar Dehar 3-1 in the final with Snowy Dyson and David Silva finishing third and fourth respectivey.
The BDDA Classic for standing players was won by Andrew Quinn who edged out Michael Callaghan 3-2.
Dartford Open Results: Matt Doe bt Mikey Swindells 3-0, Shane Havard bt Del Meakins 3-0, Phil Lees bt Ricky Chilton 3-1, Kevin Turner bt Kev Stringer 3-1, Jonathan Hirst bt Ian Lewis 3-0, Michael Callaghan bt Phil Smith 3-1.
Last 16: Matt Doe bt Graham Mitchell 3-0, Paul Hampton bt Amar Dehar 3-0, Shane Havard bt Ricky Snedden 3-0, Phil Lees bt David Silva 3-0, Paul Gelder bt Kevin Turner 3-2, Andrew Quinn bt Katie Dolman 3-0, Jonathan Hirst bt David Jenkins 3-0, Michael Callaghan bt Snowy Dyson 3-0.
Quarter-finals: Hampton bt Doe 3-2, Havard bt Lees 3-0, Gelder bt Quinn 3-2, Callaghan bt Hirst 3-1.
Semi-finals: Havard bt Hampton 3-0, Gelder bt Callaghan 3-1.
Final: Shane Havard bt Paul Gelder 3-0.
Dartford Classic (standing) results: Paul Hampton bt Ian Lewis 2-0, Michael Callaghan bt Del Meakins 2-0.
Last 16: Andrew Quinn bt Paul Hampton 2-1, Shane Havard bt Phil Lees 2-0, Ricky Snedden bt Kevin Turner 2-1, Graham Mitchell bt Ricky Chilton 2-1, Michael Callaghan bt Mikey Swindells 2-0, Phil Smith bt Matt Doe 2-0, Paul Gelder bt Katie Dolman 2-1, Jonathan Hirst bt David Jenkins 2-0.
Quarter-finals: Quinn bt Havard 2-0, Mitchell bt Snedden 2-0, Callaghan bt Smith 2-1, Gelder bt Hirst 2-1.
Semi-finals: Quinn bt Mitchell 3-0, Callaghan bt Gelder 3-1.
Final: Andrew Quinn bt Michael Callaghan 3-2.
