The BDO event has taken place in the first week of January for longer than Philâs Dart Club has existed, Dunph. Itâs the PDC that donât want to go head to head against the real world championships, and I can totally understand that.
I never watched the PDC before until today, never having had Sky. Jaysis itâs not a patch on the Lakeside extravaganza.
Iâll put it like this: when youâre used to dining on the finest fillet steak, Tesco value hamburgers simply wonât do. Iâm not saying the lesser quality meal canât be enjoyed, but itâs no more than a cheap, quick snack - it doesnât provide the long lasting satisfaction and nutrition that the real thing offers.
Ya ha ha ha. He thinks heâs a wolf. Look at him there howling away. âWOOOOOOO, Iâm a wolf so I am, WOOOOOOOâ
Having been off the forum for much of the last week, I should take the late oppurtunity to draw attention to the result of last weeks Durtch Open Final, and it was deja vu for Deano as Wolfie once again got the better of him in a very close battle. Adams and Winstanley are undoubtedly the two form players in the world at the moment. But Yorkshireâs strength was underlined by John âBoyâ Walton and Martin Atkins reaching the semi finals, and they will have been well confident of going to Glamorgan this weekend and coming away with a win, especially after a thumping win over Surrey at Castleford three weeks back. Hoping to have the result of tonightâs action soon.
How did Garry Thompson get on in the Dutch Open? I encountered him last week on his way there, he looks like a bum.
Thommo had a bad week Dunph, crashed out in the first round. Canât help but think heâs still trying get over his agonising defeat against Jan âDoubleâ Dekker in the Lakeside Quarter Finals.
Big win for the Yorkshire lads down in Glamorgan, Scotty Waites leading the way.
Some finale in store to the County Championship in store this weekend. Yorkshire travel to Bolton to take on their arch rivals Lancashire in a classic War of the Roses clash. Deano, Thommo, John Boy et al know that a victory for the Whire Rose will clinch a first title since 2008âs memorable three in a row.
Lancashire are not totally out of the title race themselves, but theyâll nbeed to win and hope that second placed Essex slip up away to Cambridgeshire. If Essex do manage to snatch the championship expect wild scenes reminiscent of the night Leah Betts was carried away from a nightclub in Basildon when she just couldnât get enough. Essex starts with an E after all.
Expect Wolfie to be the joker in the pack however. The maestro would love nothing better than to deny the visitors to Peterborough and at last help his old foe from the World Pro and the Dutch Open, Dean Winstanley, to a championship.
I donât have time to go into the promotion and relegation battles here, but rest assured Iâll be back with a preview later. Suffice to say they should keep fans on tenterhooks for the entire weekend.
What channel is this on, sid?
Thanks to Olly for all his magnificent efforts over the years. 
Darts would not exist today without him. Itâs an example of democracy in action, and thatâs what the BDO is all about.
Wolfie has the business brain to take the organisation to the next level. Itâs only a matter of time before the PDC is subsumed back into our organisation. Weâve got the leadership, weâve got the plan.
http://www.dartsmontâŚd-off-bdo-board
Olly Croft voted off BDO board
Olly Croft has been voted off the board of the BDO in something of a coup that also saw current world champion Martin Adams voted onto the board.
http://www.dartsmonthly.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/38677889_croft300.jpg
81-year-old Croft was voted from the board during the BDOâs AGM on Sunday afternoon, and a new board was elected. The new board consists of Barry Gilbey (Chairman of the Essex CDO), Sue Getty (BICC Premier Division Director), Martin Adams (the current BDO world champion), Derek Weston (Chairman of Scottish Youth Darts), Wayne Williams (Secretary of Welsh Darts Organisation) and Vic Sexton.
Sexton is the only member of the previous board to be re-elected. Previous chairman Dave Aldermanâs resignation was accepted, with Barry Gilbey taking up the role in his place.
Before the AGM, a letter was distributed to county officials signed by Gilbey, Adams, Getty, Weston and Williams about their view for the future of the BDO and the wider game of darts. The letter can be read by clicking here.
Croft has been at the helm of the BDO since he founded it in 1973. Whether this will effect the highly rumoured unification with the PDC is yet to be known. We will keep you updated on this news as and when we hear it.
Only a matter of time before they enter the greater buxom of the PDC, darts will be all and the one thenâŚ
I give the PDC about 5 years tops before it disappears.
Could you honestly imagine something like this ever happening in the PDC? Not a chance. Itâs a dictatorship run by Barry Hearn. And like all dictatorships, it will eventually crumble.
Thatâs the difference - the PDC is about one man keeping power for himself, the BDO is about people power.
All the very best to former BBC commentator and my namesake Sid Waddell, who it has been announced is suffering from bowel cancer.
Sid is synonymous with the glory days of Eric Bristow, John Lowe and Jocky Wilson and the famous Lakeside venue.
Get well soon Sid.
Iâd like to echo sidâs sentiments and wish former darts commentator Sid Waddell all the very best.
+1
Indeed
Well worth reading Sidâs autobiography especially the chapter on the BDO. Describes in great detail how the BDO tried to destroy the careers of all the top players and try to deny them the chance to earn a living. A fantastic read, only for the brave work of Tommy cox and the top darts players, their would be no Darts today.
Do you know what heâs been up to for the last decade plus Fenway? I havenât heard of him for years.
Sid stayed loyal to the BDO after the split Bandage but retired shortly afterwards. 1994 and John Partâs great victory over Bobby George was his last match in the commentary box.
What can you say about the man that hasnât already been said? A true legend. Iâd compare him to Stephen Cluxton in the way he goes about his business quietly but so effectively. An England clean sweep for the first time since 1995 was always on the cards after Dublinâs All-Ireland success. Martin always loves his trips to Ireland. I think itâs fair to say we love having him here too. Captain of probably the most popular England team around in any game, sport or pursuit in my memory. But even Wolfie is having trouble with Scottyâs form at the moment. But have no doubt, itâll only drive him on even more.
Wolfie leads England to World Cup success
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/webimage/martin_adams_martin_peter_trina_1_3103587!image/1649671820.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_595/1649671820.jpg
Martin Adams, Peter Melton and Trina Gulliver pictured celebrating Englands clean sweep in the World Cup in Ireland.
By Mark Plummer
Published on Thursday 29 September 2011 12:57 formatPubDate(âThu Sep 29 12:57:46 BST 2011â);
MARTIN Adams is basking in the glory of a World Cup clean sweep by England.
The legendary Deeping star and long-serving national team skipper enjoyed a great week over in the Republic of Ireland where our lads and lasses dominated.
England throwers captured every available menâs, womenâs and youth title during a magical few days at Castlebar in County Mayo to complete only the second-ever clean sweep in the 18th staging of the World Cup. They were also behind the previous one back in 1995 when Adams made his playing debut, but this achievement is greater as there were no youth events back in those days.
Adams led England to the menâs team title (the fifth time they have taken that title under his captaincy) and roared to a third helping of World Cup doubles glory with Tony OâShea at his side.
And Wolfie completed a fine week by reaching the singles final when he lost to England sidekick Scott Waites in the final.
Delighted Adams said: âWe had a terrific few days and to come away with every available title is nothing short of fantastic.
âIt is a great honour to play for your country and a wonderful feeling to enjoy success while doing it.â
Adams could be forgiven for being sick of the sight of Waites after the Yorkshireman ended his bid for an historic fourth successive Winmau World Masters crown earlier this month, but he was the first to praise the performances of his team-mate.
Adams added: âScott was definitely the pick of our players. He is having a great time of things at the moment after winning the Winmau World Masters and the British Open in recent weeks.â
Waites also successfully threw the deciding leg as England beat Finland 9-8 in the team final. They had seen off Scotland 9-2 in the last 16, Canada 9-6 in the quarter-finals and Sweden 9-5 in the last four.
Adams and OâShea combined to see off Swedish duo Johan Engstrom and Daniel Larsson 6-4 in the doubles showpiece before the local star went down 7-3 to Waites in the singles finale.
And it also proved to be a memorable week over in Ireland for March man Peter Melton - the England team manager.
Melton also oversaw the dominance of his nation in the ladies section - where Trina Gulliver and Deta Hedman mopped up the honours - and the youth bracket.
Melton said: âIt was great to play a part in the greatest day in English darting history.â