Diary of a #Dart Player with Andy Relf – Andy takes on three-time world champ John Part

Published on 20/04/2013 07:23

Last week I started a new season in the Sussex Superleague, and signed for a new team also. I’m now playing for Lewes out of the Tally-ho. Our first match was away at Newhaven, and, despite having a shocker on finishing, I won, but the team sadly lost 5-4.

more at:
http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/darts/diary-of-a-dart-player-with-andy-relf-andy-takes-on-three-time-world-champ-john-part-1-5019426

Diary of a Dart Player with Andy Relf #darts July 30, 2011

HAVING spent the weekend watching how the game should be played courtesy of Mr Taylor in the World Matchplay, it was time to put what I’d learned into practice on Tuesday.
The Kings Head were up against tough opponents, the Runt in Tun from Heathfield.

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/other-sports/diary_of_a_dart_player_with_andy_relf_1_2912073

Diary of a #Darts Player: Winter Garden Wonderland

A busy week of darts for everyone in Sussex this week, with the re-launch of the Eastbourne Open, or the Eastbourne Classic as it is now known. Originally the competition was run by a company called JR Darts of Middlesex, and was a PDC ranking tournament. However, the PDC decided that their tour competitions were to have a minimum prize fund, which was something that they could not meet.

Now with the England Darts Organisation at the helm, the Winter Garden opened its doors for a weekend of darts action once again...  more at:...ussexexpress.co.uk

Andy Relf's diary of a darts player... 1-21-2010

Andy overcomes his cabin fever to get back to competitive darts


In the Cracker League, we have had a couple of good wins, and my own game has been going well. We have enrolled the Weaver family into our team en masse, as due to other commitments and the bad weather we have been struggling to get a full team. A good couple of signings in the form of Ant and Hughie Weaver have seen them prove unbeaten so far in their appearances.

Last Sunday saw a few of us head off to Rileys in Brighton, where a singles competition was taking place...
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Andy Relf's diary of a darts player... 12-10-09

Published Date: 10 December 2009
Last Friday in the Cracker league it was the Mixed Triples competition, with representatives from each team spread over two venues, the Kings Head at Horsebridge, and the Railway in Hailsham.

Tony Cox, my wife Kristina and I were at The Railway, and Jim Clowes, Dave Weaver and Angela Ashley were at the Kings Head.

I'm not a great fan of the triples, as it seems you have to wait 10 minutes for your turn to come around again! The draw was done and we were to meet the legendary Leroy 'Same Old Faces' Hobden, and his team mates Rod and Di. A pretty lacklustre match saw us emerge as winners, Kris was having to wear plasters on her throwing fingers, because she had some nasty splits in them, and Coxy by his own admission, couldn't hit a barn door with a shotgun! (full article link...)

Don't forget to get your entry forms for the Eastbourne Open running 29 – 31 January 2010 from 0845 4302122 or info@eastbournedarts.co.uk.

Up in Barnsley for my birthday - DIARY OF A DART PLAYER - By Andy Relf

After a few weeks' break from PDC tournaments, this weekend sees us heading to Barnsley for two Players Championship competitions.
I'm looking forward to getting back into action again, as I feel that in my last few matches I had maybe put too much emphasis on trying to qualify for last week's UK Open tournament at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton, and that it affected my normal game.

The downside of this tournament means that I've got to drive all the way to Yorkshire, leaving home at about 6.45 in the evening...and it's my birthday!

Oh well, the birthday dinner and cake can wait a day until we go out on Saturday evening in Barnsley. Hopefully I might have a win to celebrate by then as well. (full article...)

Final Score is a happy outcome - DIARY OF A DART PLAYER - 20 May 2009 - By Andy Relf

After the disappointment of not qualifyintg for this year's UK Open at Bolton, I had to get focused on looking ahead to the rest of the year.
The week started well when I received an e-mail from Stephen Holliday, owner of Final Score Sports Shops, based in Heathfield, Uckfield and Crowborough.

Stephen had been in contact for a few weeks, and I even ended up playing for his team on one occasion, in a cup match which his team from The Bell in Burwash progressed through to the final, and subsequently went on to win. Stephen had shown interest in offering some sponsorship towards my entry fees for PDC competitions, and his e-mail was to confirm this, a great start to the week and an offer which was very gratefully received. (full article...)

Biggest week of my career! - 07 May 2009 - By Andy Relf

This is it then…the biggest week in my darting career so far.
A good weekend in Newport – and in particular a good result on Sunday – would see me qualify for the UK Open in Bolton. It will be hard, but I'm playing well and I'm up for the challenge.

The past week hasn't seen much darting action from me. (full article...)

Vincent is a Dutch master of the perfect leg of darts

DIARY OF A DARTS PLAYER

By Andy Relf
The PDC Tour last week headed off to Holland for two Players Championship events, but I had decided a few weeks ago that I would give this one a miss so I could concentrate on the UK Open qualifier weekends held here.
Last week I mentioned how easy it was to hit a nine-darter! Well this weekend Dutch star Vincent Van De Voort decided he'd have a go...three in a week in the PDC, what do I have to do to get one?

The closest I've ever got was to have a shot at double 18, I missed and hit it next dart. Ten darts is good, but nine is the ultimate. (full article...)

Two wins then it's Irvine and out - DIARY OF A DARTS PLAYER

By Andy Relf
I managed to find the snow shoes last week before packing to leave for snowy Scotland – and it was just as well! As we were coming in to land at Prestwick, I could see snow ploughs and blowers working on the runway to keep it clear.
Now, having watched an episode of Ice Road Truckers the previous evening, I was a bit unsure as to how a large lump of metal coming out of the sky onto an icy runway was going to work! After all, the truckers only have to drive in a relatively (full article...)

Haring round in mad March

NOT long to go before the busiest month of the year on the PDC tour, well for me it is in any case! Four weekends on the trot throughout March with tournaments all over the UK.
I have been putting in some quality time on the practice board, and have tried to change things in my approach to matches. Whether it's playing against a mate in the pub, or in a full-blown competition, I need to deal with every match in the same way so that I reach the same level of focus each time.

Now, I can't say at this moment whether what I have changed has had a major effect on my results, or whether it is pure coincidence that I seem to have upped my game to a higher level, but my results and performances over the weeks since changing my approach have been a huge boost to my confidence. (full article...)

Diary of a Darts Player: Winter Garden Wonderland

A busy week of darts for everyone in Sussex this week, with the re-launch of the Eastbourne Open, or the Eastbourne Classic as it is now known. Originally the competition was run by a company called JR Darts of Middlesex, and was a PDC ranking tournament. However, the PDC decided that their tour competitions were to have a minimum prize fund, which was something that they could not meet.
Now with the England Darts Organisation at the helm, the Winter Garden opened its doors for a weekend of darts action once again. As I have mentioned in the last couple of articles, PDC players were not permitted to enter the men's singles event, but were allowed in the pairs and mixed triples, so I went down on the Saturday to see who was doing what.

The first thing I noticed was that there were no boards set up in the main hall, purely the professional looking stage set, and seating for the spectators to watch the on-stage action. (full article...)

From Russia with not much Love to the Hammer

Diary of a Darts Player
By Andy Relf
This is the first time I've written an article based around a typical PDC competition weekend. This week we were playing in two tournaments in Doncaster, the Bobby Bourn Memorial Tournament on Saturday, and the North East UK Open Qualifier on the Sunday.
The Bobby Bourn is not a typical kind of tournament, as the draw is done on the day, when the PDC know who is in attendance.

....

Now I don't really mind playing anybody, but there are obviously certain players that you'd rather avoid in the first round, the little ticket with my name on must have been put into the pot by someone with jam on their fingers I think, it seems to stick to players that are only in the top 32 in the world, which in some ways is great for my experience, but not necessarily results!

...


The place was buzzing on Saturday, there were TV crews, photographers, and on the whole a lot of interest in Russian lady player and current BDO World Champion, Anastasia Dobromyslova making her PDC tour competition debut. Needless to say, everyone was eager to see who would meet her in the first round.

Fifteen minutes before start time, and the draw sheets are put up, there is a mad rush to see who has drawn whom?

Everyone is asking who got Ana. Well there could only be one person really couldn't there? I was drawn out first, to play Anastasia in a preliminary round.

...

You always try to prepare for a game as best as you can, but by now I had 10 minutes to get over the fact that the whole venue was going to watch me play a lady.

If I'm honest, I was absolutely gutted; there was suddenly the pressure of me possibly being the first player in PDC history to lose to a lady.
I started the match very nervously with a huge crowd all in virtual silence.

(full article...)