The best darts players in the country gather at Rich River Golf Club to compete in the Australian Darts Championships. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Rich River Golf Club is again the battleground for the nation’s best darts players as they compete in the Australian Darts Championships.
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Throughout the week-long tournament, the players compete in various categories, including singles, team and mixed events.
This is the fourth year that the Australian Darts Championship has been played at Rich River Golf Club, with the tournament not running in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID restrictions.
Darts Australia president and national team captain Kelvin James highlighted the excellent accommodation and warm reception the players and staff have received in the area.
“This is our fourth year in Moama; everyone loves coming here, and we are really well looked after; the welcome we get from the regional areas compared to the metropolitan areas is like chalk and cheese,” he said.
Ashley Hughes throws for the Northern Territory.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“Rich River Golf Club has gone out of its way to help us and ensure that we have a really enjoyable experience.”
The championships have been running since Friday, August 2, and will conclude with the team and individual finals on Saturday, August 10.
Mr James spoke about the talent level at the competition and the process of qualifying for the championships.
He also said an Australian team will be named on Saturday night to play New Zealand in Brisbane in September to prepare for the World Cup next year.
Howard Jones puts a bit of flick in his throw.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“The tournament has run very well so far; we have seen some rising stars come through and a few shock results,” he said.
“Tiarna Smith has been a standout so far; she’s already made two finals in the mixed and the ladies’ pairs.
“Players are brought together in each of their states and territories and play off against their peers to get through to this stage, so it is the best of the bunch.
“The standard of darts across the board has been very high.”
Players watch intently as their teammates compete.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Results through to Thursday, August 8
Pacific Masters
The Pacific Masters is considered the toughest tournament to win on Australian soil with the top players from every state and territory playing in the event.
And 2024 proved to be no different with four of the top 10 in the World Darts Federation ranking table in attendance including World No. 2 Ben Robb who made the journey across the ditch in a bid to lift the coveted men’s trophy.
In the round of 32 WDF number four was tumbled out by Western Australian Dave Burke by a 4-1 scoreline and in the quarter-finals WDF World ranked number two went out to an in-form Howard Jones (WA) in a close encounter 4-3.
Australian representative Brandon Weening (VIC) dominated the final against Scott Hallet (SA) 6-3 to lift the Pacific Masters title for the first time to make it a father-and-son double 23 years after father Wayne won the event.
The Ladies Pacific Masters Champion was South Australian Jules Taylor who overcame Andrea Hendley in the final by a score of 5-2 in an exciting final.
Jules made her way to the final with victories over Tiarna Smith (WA) 3-2, Leanne Randall 3-2, Kym Mitchell (QLD) 3-1, Lyn Morrison (SA) 4-2 before beating Andrea in the final.
Andrea had victories over Chloe Kilpatrick (Vic) 3-1, Tina Osbourne 3-0, Gemma Leonard (SA) 3-0, Australia rep Amanda Loch (QLD) 4-1 before her first Pacific Masters final.
John Barwick of NSW Darts lines up for the shot.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Peter McMenamin Cup
The Peter Mac Cup is a four-player teams event played in two divisions of four players in both men and female categories with the top-two teams meeting in the final after a round robin format that mirrors the WDF World Cup.
In the men’s section it was Victoria White who came through to meet Queensland Gold with the Victorians being too strong and running out with a strong 9-5 victory to become the Peter McMenamin Champions for 2024
In the ladies section it was South Australia Reds that were victorious over Queensland Maroon with 9-7 victory in a hard-fought encounter to become the Peter McMenamin Champions for 2024.
Lorraine Burn represented Queensland in the ladies’ category at the Australian Darts Championship.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Mixed Pairs
The Mixed Pairs event is a knockout format with four teams from each state playing in the event.
The final will be played on Saturday and broadcast via mysportlive along with the men’s and ladies doubles and the men’s and ladies singles semi-finals and finals
In the Mixed Pairs final, Western Australians Adam Rowe and Tiarna Smith are up against New South Wales pairing of Shannon O’Brien and Sarah Harrison
The ladies final will be contested by Tamara Brown and Tiarna Smith of Western Australia who play Queensland’s Lorraine Burn and Venus Johnstone.
Men’s Pairs final will be Queensland’s Raymond Smith and Dave Marshall who will play South Australians Peter Machin and Aaron Morrison.
The Teams Events will conclude after Thursday’s play.
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