Atkins has a diet of pure success
LES ATKINS crowned a superb Ridley League debut season by leaving last week’s successful finals night as a four-times champion.
Ridley League Finals
LES ATKINS crowned a superb Ridley League debut season by leaving last week’s successful finals night as a four-times champion.
He scooped the men’s singles title, the Secretaries’ Cup, partnered Carol Hughes to victory in the mixed league play-off, and spearheaded Margaretting Black Bull’s Guinness Fours win.
The Secretaries’ match was a one-sided affair, Atkins going back on to the same oche against the unlucky Les Rolfe (Swan). The fours, however, was more closely contested, Hughes, Nigel Chapman and May McGowan offering Atkins good support to edge out the Black Lion over three legs.
It was even tighter in the league play-off, where the Bull pair had to come from a leg down against CCFC’s Des Vickers and Rose Mallord. This result was part of a disastrous night for the city club, whose record read - played four, lost four.
Vickers and Mick Flaherty were beaten in a gripping men’s pairs by Mark Chapman and Kevin Horrocks, of host club Little Waltham, and Mallord crashed in straight legs as Marion Wiley (Cricketers) regained the women’s singles trophy.
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But the most eye-catching display came in the Mixed Pairs, where Dave Drummond and Wendy Jones (New Barn) left Mallord and Allan Sheldrake stunned with a high-quality win, including a sensational 14-dart opening leg – a superb end to the Barn’s largely disappointing season.
On a night dominated by South Section clubs, the North had a couple of crumbs of comfort. Webb regained the Captains’ Cup he won in 2008 and 2009, and Darren Laudrum (Chequers) brought home the Dominoes Singles trophy, beating the Black Bull’s John Steele by a yawning 47 holes in the decider.
