2022 Winter Solstice Summary
If your reading this, it’s because you either made a mistake and are now looking for the back button on your browser, or you were for some reason interested in a write up of the 2022 Winter Terryballeggs Trophy match champion cup.
If you’re still here, well guess what, you’re in luck. You’re about to get a write up shoved so far down your eyes, you’ll be asking your neighbours for a tissue. It’s not a great one, it’s not even a good one, but it is one so shut up and take it like a good little boy.
This event started where every other one did, in a shed down the end of the garden. Possibly due to the cold, or maybe just low levels of will, but unfortunately due to “reasons”, it was a low turn out year. Still, 7 mighty hopefuls turned up, braving the wintery conditions, all vying for a chance to lift the shiny, but sticky, Terryballeggs cup.
J. Manson (PD) vs A. Davies
Top billing of the card J. Manson taking on his nemesis A. Davies. They loved meeting, but usually in finals, and Davies was frequently the man with the upper hand. He wasn’t a cheat, but he won like one, so bookies had bloody Davies as the favourite.
Manson was quick to pick pool first as the opening round, although Davies was leading the stats for both pool and darts, the latter would certainly still be considered his strength. Whilst Davies blue’d up his hand, Manson racked, and just like that they were off. And then just like that it was over, Manson was off to the best start he could have hoped for with a win on pool. Davies was quick to announce that we wasn’t feeling it this year, as Manson followed it up with a shocking win on the art board to make it 2-0, sending Davies off to do some stat building in the Elliot. It’s good for the soul.
H. Cox-Hynd vs M. Barber (PD)
Next up was the two seventh place hopefuls. Barber had an unusual talent for making taking that glorious Cordelia award, and Cox-Hynd just had a talent for falling in style, but he did have the occasional surprise up his sleeve.
After a quick twirl of the moustache, they were off and it was no surprise that pool was selected to be the opening scuffle venue. Barber would be the favourite and Cox-Hynd often had a thing against aiming, a tactic that rarely paid off. Once again this plan failed and Barber took the first game with a relative sweatless brow. Not much further effort was required by Barber to see off the wounded Cox-Hynd, and some taking notice of perhaps a slightly improved display on the dart board, was Barber on to something here. But anyway, Cox-Hynd was out, seeya lad.
R. Jones vs W. Jones (PD)
To complete the quarter final line up was the return of the Jones not-brothers. It was easy to tell them apart however, one was average height with brown hair, and the other had brown hair and was average height. It was like looking into a mirror for an average height brunette.
They’d met only a couple of times in the past and R. Jones was yet to get the better hand. He was another that had a real speciality for collapsing through the order. It was another match that was to start on pool, and W. Jones was frothing at the mouth to get his campaign off to a positive start, he had the trophy in his sights, whilst R. Jones was just happy to have not picked up an injury already. Perhaps it was injury prevention that was consuming all of R. Jones’ brain power, as W. Jones pulled away in the pool, and then comfortably on the dart board, casting R. Jones adrift to into the Elliot sea. The semi-final board was set.
J. Manson (PDP) vs M. Barber (PD)
These two loved meeting, Manson more so, and Barber was yet to get the upper hand. It was a classic Balleggs match up and Manson was keen to get it under way and over with. Barber however, had no such plans, he was frothing at the knees for a chance to get back at his auld enemy.
Pool was opened the account and there was a bit of back and forth with fairly minimal drama until Barber tucked away the black to take a 1-0 lead. Manson wasn’t worried however, darts next, and not Barbers favourite subject. Manson was throwing light, perhaps too comfortably, and Barber was keeping pace. Good darts from the young man with both competitors reaching doubles around the same time. To everyone’s surprise, including himself, Barber landed a double 18 from downtown to take the match to 2-0, leaving Manson one defeat away from getting knocked out. Barber was on course for a historic win.
The nerves were hitting Manson now as his kegs were starting to fill with warmth. He would have to come back with three games on the bounce to get through, and very tall order. One accidental black pot and he would be beans on toast. Manson held his nerve and took the next, very close, pool game to make it 2-1, followed by a dart win to levels the match 2-2. Would this be the comeback of the century? The answer was yes, it was, Manson took the final pool game dashing Barbers hopes and leaving them in the mud to die. It was not to be for Barber, he was so close to his first final, but the handsome Manson train kept going on making it to his 13th final in 17 appearances.
J. Bowden (DP) vs W. Jones (PDD)
Meanwhile on the other side of the draw another closely fought semi-final was being squared up. Tournament dark horse J. Bowden was entering the tournament straight into the semis after a bye into the second round. Jones was entering after a comfortable win over his not-brother R. Jones, it could be a close one if Jones wasn’t careful.
Jones won the toss and opted to play the stats, and decided on darts to open the match. Historically Bowden stood a better chance on pool so potentially a wise move. A wise move that turned ugly for Jones as Bowden took surprising first blood in the match with a dart win. As he was watching Barber nearly beat Manson in the other semi, Jones was adamant to not make the same mistake, and was quick to steady the ship with a pool win and quick darts win straight after. 2-1 Jones.
Even though his mouth was saying he can’t do it, his body had other ideas, as Bowden won the next pool game taking it to a decider and rocking the Jones boat. It was nervy times, and Bowden had a bit of momentum going over to the dartboard. Jones promised he didn’t use any spells, but put on a decent enough performance there to make it game, set and match Jones – he was through the final, just.
J. Manson (DPDP) vs W. Jones (P)
A classic final, and a direct copy of the previous tournament. It was close last time out, with Manson just edging Jones (mmmm), but Manson was Mr runner up himself, so who knew what was going to unfold.
Jones open the final with a win on pool, he was getting ahead of himself but it had been a few years since he last won the Balleggs, and he was already seeing him name in lights. But the Balleggs is a marathon, it’s easy to get tired and switch off, begging the tournament to be over quickly. Jones had been guilty of that in past.
Manson jabbed back quick with a dart win, followed by a pool win, followed by another dart win, taking it to 3-1. Jones was against the ropes now and more than ready for bed, and just like that he was tucked up and folded into the second place award. Manson had done it again, a decisive win on the dart board making it his third Balleggs win a row and his seventh overall as boos rang out from the crowd. What a legend.
This ain’t no hobby boys.
The closing ceremony
Again, not much to report here actually, a very sensible one by all accounts. Little clap, couple o shots, and everyone got on their way like nothing had happened. Nice.
Ta ta for now.
Honourable mentions
M. Barber received the Players Player award for his outstanding performance against J. Manson. It should have really been him in the final.
Coaches coach this year was award to A. Davies for nearly coaching his player M. Barber through to a historic final.
A. Davies claimed another Schmeichel with an impressive 140.
J. Bowden cemented his place as a Mahatma specialist winning his 4th bronze medal.
And finally, J. Bowden also received the inaugural Drumley best pot award for a rather lovely rebound off the bottom cushion into the middle pocket. Rather impressive.
Results:
Winner (1st): J. Manson
Close but no Cigar (2nd): W. Jones
Mahatma Balleggs (3rd): J. Bowden
4th Plaice (4th): M Barber
Eilliot Balleggs: A. Davies
Cordelia II All England Champion 1837 Award: H. Cox-Hynd
Players Player: M. Barber
Coach of the Year: W. Jones
Coaches Coach: A. Davies
Schmiechal: A. Davies - 140
Black Spoon: W. Jones
Knob of the year: H. Cox-Hynd
Drumley best pot: J. Bowden
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