BDO Gold Cup
Photo: Mike Glover/UK Darts Magazine
Over 300 entrants started out in the county
qualifiers for this years BDO Gold Cup, with 64
eventually taking their places at Lakeside on
5th July.
When all was said and done it was Welshman Wayne
Warren who lifted the title.
Glamorgan’s Warren, a runner-up two years ago and
who has also competed twice at the Lakeside World
Championships, defeated Tony Broughton, Frank
Glancy, Martin Lukeman and Aigir Bjornsson to make
his way to the stage semi-finals.
There he dispatched of 2001 Lakeside World
Champion John Walton with a superb performance,
averaging 100.92 in the process. After a brilliant 140
finish from Walton in the opening leg to break the
throw, Warren responded with 11-dart and 13-dart
finishes to clinch the first set. 2 180s in the first leg
of the second set helped him to another 13-dart
finish, before sealing a fine win on Double 12 to face
Pip Blackwell of Kent in the final.
There he didn’t drop a leg as more power scoring saw
him win six legs on the trot, including two 15-dart
finishes and two maximums to sweep to the title.
“This was a very proud moment for me, I have always
wanted to win on the Lakeside stage. I am very
proud and excited. I’ve seen other Welsh players like
Ritchie Davies and Derek Williams win the title, and
always thought I’d like a bit of that! I want to thank
my family and friends for all their support and the
guys at the Treherbert Rugby Club where I play my
darts.”
The ladies event saw a magnificent win for Trina
Gulliver, who responded to a poor start to 2014 with
an emphatic victory, her third in the prestigious
event.
“I am delighted to win this title for a third time.
There is always something special about winning on
the Lakeside stage. This is a Golden Cup for a Golden
Girl. To win my first title of 2014 means a lot, and
I plan to use this as a springboard to more success
this year.”
The mens and ladies pairs titles were lifted by
Yorkshire’s John Walton Simon Birkett and along with
Zoe Jones and Kim Jones respectively.