Jason Dunemann, Tennant & District Times
Tennant Creek Darts hosted its annual Darrell “Bear” Logue Memorial Golden Nugget Tournament last weekend. The 34th edition of this fabulous tournament brought players from all over the country – 53 men and 20 ladies, including 10 locals, 18 from other parts of the NT and 45 from interstate.
It was good to see many familiar faces as well as many playing in their very first Golden Nugget. The weekend kicked off last Friday with players converging at the Tennant Creek Memorial Club to settle in with some refreshments and enjoy the players Calcutta.
The big money was placed on Vanessa James and Christine Sheerin for the Ladies, and Jeremy Fagg and Bailey Marsh for the Men. An enjoyable night was had by all listening to the auctioneering skills of the one and only Chippy Miller.
The players turned up bright and early last Saturday morning – with coffee and breakfast available at the Memories Restaurant.
Before the start of play a minute’s silence was held to remember all of our Nugget Family who are no longer with us.
The first event was the Pro-Am pairs which was a straight knockout event. The ‘young gun’ pairing of Bailey Marsh and Duane Darby (Jnr) proved too good defeating Dewayne Turned and Russell Homer in the final 4 legs to 2.
After the Pro-Am, it was on to the Men’s and Ladies’ Pairs.
In the Ladies’ Pairs, the experienced pairing of Christine Sheerin and Maureen Homer dropped only one leg on their way to the final.
Vanessa James and Kathleen Martin prevailed 5 legs to 4 in a tough semi-final against Noreen Perry and Levina Phillips. The final was a see-sawing affair with Sheerin/Homer going ahead 3 legs to nil. James/Martin then reeled off the next four legs to take the lead.
In a thrilling finish, the game went all the way to an 11th and deciding leg where James/Martin prevailed to claim the title.
In the Men’s Pairs, three of the semi-finalists all came off the same board from the round robin stage.
In a high-quality game, John Doody and Trent Read proved too strong for Ian and Matthew McLennan to win 6 legs to 4. The other semifinal was just as good between Chippy Miller/Dewayne Turner and Bailey Marsh/Derek Whittaker going down to the wire in the 11th and deciding leg with Chippy hitting a 114 peg to clinch victory.
The final was another top display of darts with Doody/Read managing to keep their nose in front the whole match to win 7 legs to 5.
After a massive day of doubles, it was on to the singles, with all players vying to have their name etched on the trophy and win the iconic gold nugget as part of the winner’s prize.
In the Ladies’ Singles, Christine Sheerin was in ominous form, marching her way into the final without dropping a leg.
Vanessa James cruised into the semifinal in similar fashion but found herself in trouble 4 legs to 2 down against her doubles partner Kathleen Martin, before reeling off the last three legs to book a spot in the final.
In a brilliant final, James and Sheerin went leg for leg until Sheerin broke the throw in the seventh leg and then held throw to take a 5 legs to 3 lead.
James held throw then broke straight back to force the game into an 11th and deciding leg. And what a leg it was – three “tons” each and both ladies with 80 left after 12 darts.
Sheerin never got the chance, with Vanessa James pegging 80 for the win in 14 darts. In the Men’s Singles the interstate quartet of Jeremy Fagg, Dewayne Turner, Bailey Marsh and Karl Schaefer progressed their way into the semi-finals, with Schaefer turning around a 4-1 deficit against Pairs Winner Trent Read to prevail 5 legs to 4 in his quarter final.
He found himself in a similar situation in his semifinal, down 5 legs to 0 against Bailey Marsh before staging a remarkable comeback to level at 5 legs all.
Marsh sneaking home in a last leg decider to book his spot in the final. The other semi-final also went right down to the wire with Fagg and Turner going leg for leg.
Despite some sensational pegs from Turner (157, 120) it was Fagg who forged to the lead at 5 legs to 4. Turner survived three match darts in the tenth leg to level at 5 legs all.
And then had to survive another two match darts in the deciding leg before securing victory. Turner started the final on fire, racing to a 2-0 lead with back-to-back 15 darters (including a 120 peg).
Marsh held throw in the third leg and then went on a devastating run, reeling off the next four legs in 15, 15, 12 and 15 darts with pegs of 101 and 121.
Turner never recovered with Bailey Marsh claiming victory 7 legs to 2. Tennant Creek Darts would like to thank the Memorial Club Staff and Management for providing a great venue and atmosphere for this event.
We would also like to thank our sponsors who made this event possible, with a total prize pool of over $20,000. Tennant Creek Memorial Club (Major Sponsor), Papulu Aparr-Kari Language Centre, Outback Outfitters, Leading Edge Computers Tennant Creek, Darrin’s Rubbish Removal and Cheeky Bum Nappies, Woks Up, Dexter Barnes Electrical, Steve Edgington MLA, Lone Star Service Station, Tennant Security Service, No Worries Gardening.
We are humbled by your kind donations. Thank you to all the people who helped over the weekend with the Calcutta, calling and chalking the finals – you all make this one of the most loved tournaments in the country.
And a very special mention to my good mates Stephen Schmitt and Spike Bywater – thank you for your continued support and help to organise, set-up and run this fantastic tournament – showcasing what our little town can achieve!
We are happy to see everybody has made it safely back home and wish everyone a very merry Christmas, and a prosperous new year, and look forward to seeing you all again on the oche somewhere soon.
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 9 December 2022.
