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Maximum Exposure Provincials results
 Men  Women
Last updated
July 22, 2010


Summer's here so let's get in the pool

The Saskatchewan Darts Association Roughriders football pool is kicking off for another season. Tickets are available for $20 from your zone directors.

You can win cash prizes up to $500 if the score on your ticket matches the quarter score or final score of any Riders game this season. And you don't need to claim - the money is paid automatically.

So get in the game, and Go Riders!

Team takes tenth at Nationals


 

 

Win Out Right
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Win Out Right

Win Out Right

Team Saskatchewan enters the arena at the 2010 NDFC National Championships in Gander, Newfoundland June 15,
led in by Captains Jason Skinner and Joan Hodgen. Photo courtesy Wayne Oates.

The Nationals were a tough go for Team Saskatchewan, who finished in tenth place overall.

In men's singles, several of the boys made a splash and Jimmy Dennis ended up advancing to the first round. In the ladies', former Canadian champ Bonnie Lapierre made it through the round robin, only to be knocked out early. Carol Shepherd lost out in a tiebreaker.

In men's doubles, ladies' doubles and mixed doubles events, our players gave it a good shot.

On the brighter side, rookie player Karsten Larsen tried his luck at the Americas Cup qualifier and ended up fourth, one win from a trip to the Bahamas in fact. An excellent first try at some real tough competition.

And in the Canadian Open tournament, Sharon Acker made joint ninth. Nice job!

The full results from Gander can be found at the new NDFC website. They're updating more frequently nowadays and you'll get started here.

Here's a closer look at the team, pictured in their mixed doubles pairings

Joan Hodgen,
Jason Skinner

Carol Shepherd,
Jimmy Dennis

Brian Humphreys,
Bonnie Lapierre

 

Sharon Acker,
Curt Gamble

Dorothy Zimmer, Karsten Larsen

Pat Copeman,
Guy Gilbert

Becky Arndt,
Cliff Culbert

John Brann,
Wendy Hrechka

Team Sask were accompanied by SDA executive board members Laurie Kitzul and Wayne Hudson, and spouses Frank (Dorothy), Walter (Joan) and John (Wendy) showed great support for the team all the way.

Laurie and Wayne are now nationally-certified level II officials for darts and have taken NCCP-based courses in coaching the sport, so let's hope that maybe that will bear fruit in the coming year.

Comment is free

The Saskatchewan Darts Team has to go back to the drawing board as far as success at the Nationals is concerned.

As usual, the players put up a good battle here and there but there's no escaping the fact that we finished tenth in the overall standings known as the Canada Cup, one spot down on last year, and behind Northwest Territories.

We'd like to hear what you have to say. Now the season is over and we look ahead to 2010-11, what do you think we can do to get better results from our provincial darts team?

Send us your thoughts on this or any other subject and we'll publish them, with or without your name attached.

Your comments:

Getting to know you

I think that there is a few things that could possibly help. Years ago after the team was decided, we always had a meeting of the team members and a quick doubles tournament that day with the partner that you were going to be playing with at the Nationals. It could be either the mixed or the ladies’ or men’s partners. It served as an ice breaker for some players as they may have never played with their respective partners before or maybe didn't even know them. Also if we sent people to the pre-tournament, they were to play in all events, if possible (mixed triples were always a problem), and again to play with their respective partners. I really think that helps a lot in the relaxation part of playing with someone that is new to you. When we had the meeting, usually in May sometime, it was basically compulsory to attend. At that time, we used to have the shirts and gave them out at the time so if there was something that needed to be adjusted on them, there was time to do it. Also that was the time that all the do's and don'ts were spelled out.

I feel very strongly that if the players do not play in all of the events of the pre-tournament and as many of the events that they can of the Canadian Open, then we shouldn't be sending them there early and keeping them after the Nationals at the SDA's expense. This past year, going on Thursday and paying for all those extra nights in a hotel was a great expense.

- Judy Seidler
 

Travel broadens the mind

The team that went this year was as strong as any we've sent in the past. It was a mystery to me why the results did not materialize. The team members were as miffed by the results as anyone.  Most of the members had dedicated themselves to the Nationals by organizing practices for a number of weeks prior to the big event. The team was ready for the challenge and with just two first-time members it wasn't like we didn't know the level of play at the Nationals.

I see two things that could improve the chances of Saskatchewan having a better showing. The first is to expose ourselves to the level of play we will find at the Nationals more often. There are a number of tournaments in Alberta, the Greater Vancouver Open and a good shoot in Thunder Bay where national calibre darts can be found. It is up to the players, not the SDA, to go to these events to raise their level of play. I'm as guilty as anyone for not travelling but that has to change. The Main Event is in our own backyard and I've never been to it. Well maybe now I will.

The second thing that could produce better results is pairing players on the team in logical groupings as opposed to positional. If two people who play together all the time and have success then maybe they should also play together in the Nationals. Chemistry between team mates is important in a successful pairing. Sometimes we don't even know our partners much less have any kind of chemistry. What does it matter if one is in position two and the other in seven? The formula for pairing players currently used by the SDA has been in place for as long as I can remember. But I don't think it has to stay this way. The emphasis should be on being a member of a sixteen person team, eight men and eight women. The positions within the team don't really mean anything. The provincial champions should get a trophy and have captain on the shirt but beyond that they're just another team member.  And if their best buddy and long-time partner came eighth then they should be allowed to play together.

Just my two cents.

- John Brann
 

Timing is everything

Simply put, "timing and practice!"  Most players in Saskatchewan are two to three months past tournaments and league play by mid June. We had a group of high-quality dart players representing the province this year, but even the best quality of saw will not produce a good cut with rust on the edge!

June has never been an option for me, since it is always my busiest time of the year. The statistics do not reflect the quality of dart players that they truly are. As the saying goes, you will never win a race with a cold engine.  Kudos Team Sask, I for one appreciate your efforts!

Cheers

- Jody Germann
 

Youth team returns

Our team of eight youth players is back in Saskatchewan with some booty, a lot of pride and memories for a lifetime.

Team Saskatchewan 2010. Back row, L-R: Miranda Cleaveley, Aspen Cleaveley, Tyson Newell, Mitch Kavanagh, Austin Morrison, Megan Lyons. Front row, L-R: Laurie Lyons, Ken Cleaveley, Saul Arndt, Brittany Lyons, Trish Gray, Hunch Gray. Unnamed RCMP officer, centre

Mixed doubles gold for Seniors

May 23, Gander, Newfoundland: Tyson Newell and Megan Lyons took first place in the Senior Mixed Doubles at Youth Nationals! A superb result for Saskatchewan up against some stiff competition - congratulations to them both.

Team Sask made a splash at the Nodor Cup team event as well with a third-place finish.

Overall, Saskatchewan finished 5th in the Canada Cup, an improvement on last year.

Two bronzes for Girls' teams

May 21: Team Sask made a good start at the Youth Nationals as our girls' doubles teams both placed joint third on opening day. 

Two sets of sisters trod the podium: Megan Lyons and Aspen Cleaveley in Seniors and Brittany Lyons and Miranda Cleaveley in Juniors. The Lyons girls are from Nipawin and the Cleaveleys hail from Hudson Bay.

Later that evening, Austin Morrison came second in the bursary shoot.

May 22: Megan and Brittany Lyons both reached the last eight in girls' singles. Great job!

Also representing us this year were Senior Boy Mitch Kavanagh and Junior Boy Saul Arndt.

Youth director Trish Gray says she has been super impressed by the whole team's attitude. "I cannot say enough about how proud I was to be associated with all these terrific youth players," says Trish. "I was especially pleased with the senior members of the team who stepped up, without being asked, to mentor and be leaders for the young players."

Trish gives the shout out to Hunch, Ken and Laurie, the coaching staff, and Dan and Becky, the parents. "All your hard work did not go unnoticed. Thanks!"

You can see more results from Youth Nationals on the NDFC Facebook page. Read more about Team Sask in our youth section.

NDFC finds Facebook

The National Darts Federation of Canada  has started a Facebook group page and darts lovers from all over can join by following the instructions in this news release.

Here's the link for the NDFC Facebook page.

Provincial champs crowned

Provincial darts champions for 2010:
Jason Skinner and Joan Hodgen 

Battleford resident Jason Skinner, pictured left after his win on April 11, repeated his victory of last year and will captain the men's team at Nationals at Gander, NL in June.

Women's champ Joan Hodgen from Midale, pictured right with her trophy, will make her 16th appearance as a representative of Saskatchewan, this time as number one.

It's an experienced team with fourteen players who have been to Nationals before, while hopes are high for rookie team members Karsten Larsen and Becky Arndt, who make it to the next level.

A crowd-pleasing winner is Pat Copeman (Team Sask '90, '92, '97, '99, '04), who returns to Nationals as a player for the first time since 2004.

Women's runner-up Carol Shepherd makes an astonishing 24th appearance as an SDA rep.

Thursday's storm dashed the hopes of six players from the West Central zone who couldn't make it in to Saskatoon to play because of closed roads. They were missed.

1. Jason Skinner North Battleford 1. Joan Hodgen South East
2. Jim Dennis Regina 2. Carol Shepherd Moose Jaw
3. Brian Humphreys North East 3. Bonnie Lapierre Regina
4. Curt Gamble Moose Jaw 2nd Alt. Sharon Acker North Battleford
5. Karsten Larsen Saskatoon 6. Dorothy Zimmer Regina
6. Guy Gilbert Prince Albert 7. Pat Copeman Regina
7. Cliff Culbert Moose Jaw 8. Becky Arndt Regina
8. John Brann Regina Alt. Wendy Hrechka North East

See the full results for individual men and women.

In the zone

The Zone Cup goes to Stanley Mission with a total of 63.1%. Team Stanley is pictured left with SDA Secretary Frank Zimmer.

The rest of the zones stack up like this: Regina 51.5%; South East 50.5%; Moose Jaw 48.4%; North Battleford 46.1%; Saskatoon 43.8%; North East 42.3%; Nipawin 39.6%.

West Central and Prince Albert don't get a percentage because they had one player each and you know that one man doesn't make a team!

New look to board

Elections for the SDA executive were held at Provincials April 10.

Taking over on July 1 as 1st Vice-president is Jason Skinner, elected by a majority of members present, and Shauna Grassing, who was elected as incoming Member-at-large.

Returning to their posts are Financial Director Bonnie Lapierre and Youth Director Trish Gray, both by acclamation.

Let's wish all four of them good luck for their two-year terms.

Feedback chat

Here's what a player and an exec had to say about Provincials:

Just a note of appreciation for a very well-run tournament this past weekend. I thought it went very smoothly - an excellent venue, and the division monitors did a terrific job.

Once again many thanks to the executive and volunteers.

- Brian Humphreys, SDA member

Congratulations to all the players that competed in the 2010 Provincials.  Our "good darts" cheer to the players that are representing Saskatchewan at Nationals in Gander, Nfld in June.

I would like to thank Carol Shepherd and Bonnie Bond for their dedication and commitment to the SDA executive over the past years.  It was a pleasure to be able to work together with the both of you.

Congratulations to the new members of the executive! 

- Trish Gray, SDA Executive

Football pool pays off for lucky winners

The 2009 Saskatchewan Darts Association football pool paid out $4,500 in prizes, shared between 40 winners across the province. 

We sold 690 tickets for a net profit of $8,966.83. Thanks to everyone for taking part!

Link to the results and prize winners here.
 

Tournament notes

Did you know? The 2011 Nationals will be held in Edmonton.

The 2012 Nationals are in Thunder Bay, hosted by Northern Ontario


Maximum Exposure 2008

This is the table of maximums scored at SDA tournaments in the calendar year 2010. The year isn't even half over and it looks like a race for second in the men's. More women are hitting 180s this year too.

 

 
38 Curt Gamble 4 Bonnie Lapierre
12 Cliff Culbert 3 Joan Hodgen
12 Brian Humphreys   Sharon Acker
11 Kevin Williams   Judy Cleaveley
10 Karsten Larsen   Mar Compain
9 Moff Kay   Pat Copeman
9 Guy Schellenberg   Laurie Kitzul
9 Jason Skinner   Stacey Murk
8 Wayne Hudson   Carol Shepherd
8 Doug Spearey   Lowine Walter
7 Eric Matheson   Dorothy Zimmer
7 Earl Stirling-Brown    
6 Guy Gilbert    
6 Rick Hanson    
6 Shawn Nichols    
6 Gerry Rorick    
5 Rory Gordon    
5 Curtis Neufeld    
5 Andy Townend   Sonny Audet
4 Gary Braun   John Brann
4 James Enns   Ken Barteski
4 Don Moleski   Ken Cleaveley
4 Len Surovy   Earl Cook
4 Rod Swenson   Jim Dennis
3 Dan Arndt   Jack Grassing
3 Gordon Arrieta   Hunch Gray
3 Jeff Berner   David Hall
3 Bill Cragg Harold Harris
3 Ken Friesen Bill Lobb
3 Jesee Gamble   Gary Lyons
3 Jody Germann   Bud McLaughlin
3 Tyson Newell   Darrell Nash
3 Darrin Rekve   Jason Nissen
2 Victor Bolianatz   Len Partridge
2 Ernie Charles   Dave Propp
2 Carl Dunlop   Randy Schwab
2 Danny Heffernan   Terry Shepherd
2 Dave Materi   Wayne Stinson
2 Bob Riehl   Larry Unrau

 


All records on this site date back only as far as the 2000-1 season. If you have earlier records and archives in your possession, please contact the SDA

© 2010 Saskatchewan Darts Association

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