Shades of the Karate kid this week with news that Belgiums Eric "the sheriff" Clarys will try to defy the odds in Birmingham this Saturday and try to qualify for the world championships. Clarys a victim of an awful accident in the first week in June when he was ranked 22nd. He fell off a ladder while at home doing some DIY and amazingly injured his right arm and broke it in 6 places. That forced the Belgian out of the Reebok stadium giving Steve Hine a buy. Vegas, Blackpool, the Citywest, the premier league not to mention the weekly circuit all followed for the dejected Sheriff and it looked like the Worlds were sliping too until he was declared fit today to play. That of course makes him a seed too and pushes Ritchie Burnett onto the back foot and in the normal hat for the draw which was also published today. Burnett has now landed a board which includes Steve Hine, Michael Barnard, Chris Allen and Paul Whitworth and the 1995 World Champion will now find it difficult.
I'm delighted to see Eric back though. He is a gentleman of the game and only joined the PDPA in late 2003 after a 7 year stint with the BDO. He worked hard along with fellow Belgian Yves Cottenge and got to be an automatic qualifier for all the tv events by rising to 22nd before disaster struck and forced a 6 month absence. 6 months out of competitive darts is almost fatal. You lose the points you are defending without the chance of defending. Its a strong point I beleive in at ALL levels that darts is all about playing and NOT on the sidelines looking in. Eric was forced into the looking in position and it has effected him no end. But he is back. I dont know how he is playing but hopefully he'll do ok. John Lowe is on Erics board and we all know what he can do.
The most competitive board ic without question board 14. Andy Callaby will have it tough as he'll have Dave Jowett, Andy Hayfield, Steve Evans, Jan Van Der Rassel and Simon Whatley. Eric Bristow will be on Board one with seeded Dennis Smith but I'll be thinking Alan Green all the way to get through that. Osbourne, Welding, McGowan, Tabern and Jimmy Mann should have no problem qualifying the way the draw has come out but as we all know it does not work that way.
Something I'll be monitoring closely is Board 4 which is scheduled to see a Tom Kirby Jamie Harvey showdown for a spot if the draw pans out that way which is easily on the cards. Board 6 is the least competitive which will suit seed Adrian Gray. If any other seed other than Adrian was on this board they would walk it but Adrian always makes things difficult and we may have a serious outsider come through this board. Board 15 see's Irelands favourite son and the man in great form Mick McGowan and Waterfords favourite son Kieran Lennon meet. I have had a laugh to myself after writing that last sentence but hey......
All this makes for an exciting end and I'll be glued to this Saturday morning in Englands self proclaimed capital. Its up for grabs so it depends on who wants it more.
I do admit things when I'm wrong despite what some people think and the other day I commented that Ray Carver will be automatically at Purfleet. Ray off course lost the closing heats and it is in fact Bill Davis playing in that Spot. The Razor will however be in Birmingham on Saturday trying to get a spot. Thanks to Bill for pointing that out. You knew I knew Bill but you had to rub it in didn't ya? Well didn't ya????? hahahaha.
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