Guernsey overcame opposition from Jersey and the Isle of Man to finish best of the rest in both the women’s and men’s competitions at Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis. Naturally they also claimed second place overall to the Republic of Ireland hosts.
Guernsey Darts Association president Yvonne Le Gallic was among those who chalked up wins in the two-day team event and felt that she ‘could not be more proud’ of the whole squad.
‘It’s absolutely amazing,’ she said.
‘We were not expecting to top Ireland, but to beat the Isle of Man and Jersey is absolutely fantastic.’
For the fourth edition of a competition Guernsey inaugurated in 2023, and look to host again next year, they entered with a squad blending proven players and a handful of first-timers.
The men started with the unenviable task of facing the indomitable Republic of Ireland.
While the hosts prevailed 12-1, Jason Allez was the toast of the Guernsey team after edging a five-leg battle against leading player Dale McCarthey.
Guernsey made amends the following day with a 7-6 victory in a thriller against the Isle of Man.
Chris Hamon played the hero on this occasion as, from the decisive point of six wins apiece, he swept past Mark Venables 3-0.
The clash against Jersey would always prove a worthy climax, but importantly Guernsey won 9-4.
The Sarnians took time to get going, falling to an early 2-0 deficit, but captain Phil Dodd struck a 13-dart second leg against Stuart Moon and seemingly not only inspired himself but the whole team.
He got a four-leg win on the board and Jamie Roussel backed that up before Neil Hutchinson played possibly the match of his life to defeat Sid Bell 3-2, including his own 13-darter.
Soon afterwards came an onslaught of Guernsey wins that included Michael Ogier taking down Jersey captain Craig Quemard 3-0 in virtually no time.
Jason Allez claimed that decisive seventh win and the significance was not lost on his brother Shaun, the Island manager.
‘Since I’ve been Island manager, it’s the second time we’ve played the international and third time we’ve played Jersey, and third time we’ve beaten Jersey,’ he said.
‘We’re definitely getting better, should we say?’
In the women’s uphill battle against WDF World Cup champions Ireland, Debbie Hamon was the one to save her team from the whitewash.
She out-battled Teresa King to secure a 3-2 win during what was otherwise a 6-1 loss, all other contests going to Ireland in straight legs.
Hamon later won the critical final rubber in their 4-3 victory against the Isle of Man.
After ally Tina Enevoldsen won her match to force a decider, the hopes of the team were on Hamon's shoulders as she took on Sophie Hicklin, against whom she prevailed 3-0 in assured fashion.
In the inter-insular themed clash against Jersey, the scoreline read the same, but Michelle Roussel instead came up with the last-ditch heroics.
Casey Lodwidge had taken the first two legs but this roused Roussel’s fighting spirit and the Guernseywoman played a stand-out leg to draw level, at which point she was already celebrating, before using the momentum to eke out a 3-2 win.
Le Gallic highlighted the atmosphere through the tournament, with the Sarnians and the home Irish sides being particularly vocal supporters.
‘It was like a competition between Guernsey and Ireland – who would make the most noise?
‘Thanks to all the players and supporters who came with us.
‘We had a fantastic weekend of camaraderie and support for each other.’
The Island manager also praised the level of Sarnian support and added that he was ‘extremely’ proud of his team.
‘We’ve had some stick in the past about not having our strongest team.
‘There are some players that could not come or changed their minds, but I don’t think even if we had the strongest team, that we’d have done any better. The team did so well and everybody who stepped up stepped up. I think it was 100% the strongest team.’
