Mike is pride of the Mermaid
HERM has its first Channel Islands sporting champion, writes Rob Batiste.
Mike Rowe beat the Alderney and Guernsey representatives to land the CI Men’s Individual Rosebowl at the Peninsula to shock even himself.
Rowe, who has appeared in seven previous CI finals nights which precede the big team inter-insular day, admitted: ‘that was a turn-up for the books’.
In the semi-finals Rowe beat Ridunian Wayne Cosheril 3-1 and then defeated the in-form Sarnian Paul Poullain by the same score.
Painter and decorator Rowe, 53, has lived on Herm since 1984 and is the obvious star of a thriving darts scene on the little island where the only darts board is in the Mermaid Tavern.
‘We had 20 people in the knockout this year, that’s the best turnout we’ve ever had,’ he said.
Rowe has pedigree when it comes to darts, having played in the UK Super League back in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
And to win the CI title, and with it the lovely old Rosebowl trophy dating back to 1937, was something he has long had his sights on.
‘I lost 3-2 in the CI final in 2012 to Eddie Le Bailly and lost again in last year’s final to Mark Fletcher Jnr.
‘So it wasn’t expected, but again not unexpected,’ he said of his triumph.
