Roberts, Birkin claim darts singles titles

The concluding day of the 2022 Harrows Barbados Darts Festival produced another day of exciting darts at Solidarity House as the players battled it out for the men’s and ladies’ singles titles. In spite of some spirited performances from the Bajan and other Caribbean players, though, the titles went to United Kingdom visitors Neil Birkin and Sarah Roberts.

The women’s event saw Barbadian player Cyndi Marshall fight her way through a tough draw against a number of more experienced players from overseas before finally succumbing to English international, Sarah Roberts, at the semi-final stage.

Yet another remarkable achievement was that of Canadian Darts ‘Hall of Famer’, Peggy McKay.

Just a few days short of her 83rd birthday, McKay showed that age is no barrier to performance as she swept past some very experienced players from the U.K. Her semi-final clash with England County A player, Maureen Purvis, was a test of character as well as darting technique as she prevailed in a last leg decider to reach the final.

There she faced the in-form Roberts who took the first two legs with consistently high scoring each time she was on the oche. However, when Roberts failed to hit her finishing doubles in the third leg, McKay cashed in to take the leg.

Cyndi Marshall (left) and Shelley Taylor

In the fourth leg Roberts hit a maximum 180 to give herself a commanding lead which she converted into victory by taking out double 16 for the title.

The 46 players who contested the Harrows Men’s Singles were ways aware that reigning champion, Neil Birkin, would be the man they had to beat if they had any designs on taking this year’s title.

The man from Barnby-in-the-Willows in the county of Nottinghamshire had already shown that he was in top form again this year by winning the Men’s Pairs the previous day. But there was a quality field to be seen off first.

These included former winners from Barbados, Winston Cadogan and Anthony Forde, as well as Canadian Masters player Jim Edwards, former Welsh captain John Roberts, current Trinidad & Tobago national champion James Walklin and a host of experienced players from the U.K., Canada and the Cayman Islands.

However, Birkin did not surrender a single leg in his march to the final. In the top half of the draw, Walklin had a series of matches that went to a deciding leg before he was eventually defeated in the semi-final by Scotsman Glen McGrandle.]In the final Birkin delivered a master class that would have graced any amateur darts tournament in the world. He took the first leg in 19 darts and then the other three in just 16 darts each time to take the match by 4 legs to 1. 

Sarah Roberts

President of The Barbados Darts Association, Wendy Barrow, presented the prizes to winners, runners-up and owing semi-finalists. She tanked all those who worked hard to make the event possible and hoped that it would provide the impetus to attract new players to take up the sport. She was particularly keen to implement a programme designed to attract young players to the sport.

Festival director, Michael Heal, commented: “This year’s Festival has been an undoubted success in spite of its two-year barren interlude. It was heartening to see so many local players rise to the occasion. The overseas visitors thoroughly enjoyed the country and the camaraderie and I would like to thank the BTMI and the hard-working team at the Barbados Darts Association for their contribution in staging the Festival. Many of this year’s participants have already signed up for the 2023 event!” (PR)