World champ shows her class at Wick
FROM Tver in Russia and now based at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the current ladies’ world darts champion, Anastasia Dobromyslova, made the long journey to Wick.
The venue was Harper’s, the stage was set – and what a day it turned out to be as Anastasia proved to be a class act.
She took on 14 players over one leg 701. First up was Jo Taylor – a member of Harper’s ladies, Jo acquitted herself well but Anastasia took the game out.
Next was Lybster’s Raymond Gunn who was blown away as Anastasia upped a gear.
Her next opponent was home player George Baker Mcphee.
Anastasia hit scores of 140
100/180/140 and left Baker on 434 but he amazingly got down to a finish of 74 and, much to the delight of the audience, took it out for the victory, 18, 48, 8.
This turned out to be her only loss. She was very quick on assessing individuals Kerry Miller, Marc Macgregor, Steven Hutton and Maggie Sutherland who all lost out.
Lisa Ross started the second session and played brilliantly hitting a 140 but this was followed by a 180 by Anastasia.
George Zindilis, Billy Davidson and Sarah Jane Farmer were all helped by Anastasia but were soundly beaten.
Richie Taylor took to the stage as if he meant business but anything he did Anastasia did better.
Ten-year-old Scott Crowden got a chance of a lifetime as Anastasia requested he got one of the lucky-dip slots. Scott got a 200 start and Anastasia, as she did so often, gave him some help and left him on double two – unbelievably, Scott’s first dart scraped the double two wire segment but that was as close as he got as Anastasia took it with a bull finish.
The last 701 game was the best as George Mcphee jnr told Anastasia he was going to beat her like his dad did. George started like a train hitting 135, 100, 100, 95, but Anastasia went and left him with around 150 on the board.
The next games were the best of three legs. Mark Thain lost 0-2, Anastasia hitting 19 and 15 darters. Rona Young also lost 0-2.
Wick league champion Nicky Denoon lost 1-2 – Nicky took the first leg in 21 darts but Anastasia came back for the win hitting two 17 darters.
In a pairs game, Thurso’s Ann Wells and Trish Mackay took on Anastasia who was partnered by her friend, Sheona Campbell. It was Anastasia and Sheona who won 2-0.
Gail Mackay also lost 0-2 as did Sharon Swanson who had one of the best walk-on songs – “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”.
Then John Harper (Sasa jnr) partnered Anastasia in a mixed pairs game versus Seaview Wick and District Darts League champions Dorothy and Kevin Macgregor. Anastasia and young Sasa won 2-1 as Anastasia found herself aloft on Sasa’s shoulders as she carried him through the entire game.
Stewart Tait was the final local player to take Anastasia on and even he could not beat her and went down 1-2.
There was then a challenge match between Kevin Macgregor – player of the year – and Nicky Denoon, Wick league champion. Macgregor won 3-1.
A presentation followed when Anastasia was given a bottle of Old Pulteney and a trophy by Wick Gala Queen Faith Harper.
Compere for the day was Willie Mackay who suggested auctioning off the darts board Anastasia signed and a set of her darts. The money raised – totalling £1300 – was donated to Cancer Research.
Ladies’ player of the match, awarded by Anastasia, went to Jo Taylor, while Scott Crowden took the men’s title.