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The Boy from Peterborough wins the EDI 2010 Darts tournament in style
The 2010 winner Les Giles suggested his unique front on style and ability was due to the hours he spent practising and enjoying the social life in Peterborough as a young man.
To beat the likes of Ian Wise and Craig Atze State number 1 and 2 shows a guy with nerves of steel and a calm that endorses his true temperament.
The weekend started in a carnival type atmosphere that only the Show Hall decorated can produce with the new and old players, officials and guest re-acquainting and enjoying some of the Eudunda delights before the draw was announced. The arrival of the top players was greeted with applause and respect which was also shown to our now ex Councilor Don Pfitzner who officiated by opening the EDI 2010 event. He welcomed the players and guests telling them of the pride in sport that has existed in Eudunda and region and it was fitting that such an event be held during the 140th year celebrations weekend and with that he proceeded to throw the first dart. A minutes silence was called on remembering our diggers knowing that the main prize in EDI 2010 was to add another name onto the converted RSL shield.
Some great darts were thrown as the players settled down into teams but the main interest was to see how many 180s were possible by Australia’s number 1 player Rob Modra and he did not let anyone down with a lazy 8 in the build up to the finals and then one in the grand final.
From the two 9 draw competitions the final 8 teams were to play off leaving Rob Modra Australia's number 1 and his partner Robin Butler from the Barossa Association to take on Brett Adams Northern Premier League and Tristan Stuart from the Port Augusta Darts League in the grand finale. Both teams played in typical style hitting the boards with confidence and scoring well but as the last 3 legs were played, some special moments evolved. Seventy four year old Robin Butler who had not been playing all that well in the final threw a timely 180 making it easy for Australia’s number 1 Rob Modra to peg out to give each team 5 legs a piece and the final was really on. Rob Modra showed his supremacy by leading with great darts but it was interesting to see Brett Adams a Modra protégé and Tristan Stuart South Australia’s number 2 Junior keep their calm and to the amazement and cheers of the crowd pegged out to win the EDI 2010 Doubles Grand Final. The nice thing for the winners is that they both can now say with a wonderful feather in their caps that they defeated a team that had Australia’s number 1 player in it.
Tournament organizer Colin Garner closed the proceedings for the day by thanking everyone for their participation and looked forward to doing it all again in the morning.
The Sunday started with Lesley Garlick and her band of caterers feeding the officials and players as they arrived and Matt Reynold the Bar Manager making sure the drinks ranging from Ice Coffee to a XXXX Ted were available to assist in settling the players down before their big challenge.
With the draw done early with the assistance of Leighton Booth and Ian Wise the Tournament Main Sponsor Tim Knight from T Shirt City welcomed all the players and wished them good darts to officially start the competition for the main event. With 7 by 5 draw competitions underway the Show Hall was abuzz and the addition of the state top two players added to the mix namely Craig Atze and Ian Wise, 180 were bound to be the norm and the supporters were not disappointed.
High expectations of course brought on disappointment which was evident as players were eliminated from the competition, none more than the number 1 State player Ian Wise who struck the eventual winner early, forming the draw for the last 16 players who then had to compete in a knock out semi-final. This left the final 4; who if you went by rankings would have them in the following order Craig Atze, Triston Stuart, Gary Kennedy and then Les Giles. Craig Atze was to eliminate Gary Kennedy quite easily but the upsets started by Les Giles defeating the Number 2 Junior who was confident from his victory the day before leaving Craig having to take on a completely new opponent in Les.
In the small break that followed the cameras were tested, drinks and snacks recharged and the crowd were to be presented to a very unique event to darts in South Australia. The Web South team who were Co Major Sponsors to the event and headed by Luke Herriman provided entertainment that you only see on TV, but this was to be live, on the big screen on the Eudunda Show Hall stage for all to enjoy and it was now going to be up to which player was able to adapt best enabling them to take out the EDI 2010.
The money was on Craig as he had been in this position many times before but what followed was a total upset as the crowd cheered and clapped with the standard of darts thrown. Craig was in a position to take the first leg but a brilliant peg out gave Les the first game which quickly followed with another 3 on the trot leaving the crowd and last year’s winner shocked. Craig proceeded to win the next 3 games but then the cool hand of Les took control and the boy from Peterborough pegged out to win to be the proud holder of the Champion of the EDI 2010, with the crowd clapping and cheering.
At the Trophy awards Tim Knight of T Shirt City presented both Matt and Lesley with a pennant for their commitment to the Canteen and Bar along with Luke Herriman for his Big Screen presentation from Web South.
The 180 Club saw 9 additions to it which includes Robin Butler Northern Premier, Brett Adams Gawler/Barossa, Tristan Stuart Port Augusta, Bob Kruger Murray Bridge, Bob Pryde Gawler, Joe Aranyos Gawler, Shane Edwards Gawler/Barossa, Phillip Stuart Port Augusta and Dylan More Port Augusta taking the 180 Club up to 57 members with a new total of 235 thrown including the 31 thrown over the weekend.
Tim then introduced the EDI coordinator Colin Garner who thanked all the players and his staff for their assistance in making the EDI work so well and proceeded to present the players with their awards; which included the best local on Saturday Luke Herriman and on Sunday Steve Marschall.
The winner of the EDI was humbled by his winnings of a new dart board which was the one used for the final he won along with the RSL Shield and the EDI Trophy. He congratulated Colin and his team for the Eudunda Hospitality shown and the way in which the event unfolded, he went on to say it was as good as any event he had played in and was looking forward to defending his new title; his proudest moment in darts.
Colin in closing wished everyone a safe trip home especially thanking the Mt Gambier boys Noel Bytheway, Ralph Scheel, Tom Williams and Josh Sneath who keep making the long trip up to the EDI. He also thanked the sponsors namely T Shirt City, Web South, Craig Atze the main trophy donator, Sports Centre, Nick Hambour Luxaflex, Handke Butchers, Johnno's Freight, Goyder Electrical, Eudunda Roadhouse, Landmark, Dieter, Bistro Bear, The Egg Farm, Matt Reynolds Clock Works, Rohde Newsagency, Eudunda Hardware, Eudunda Post Office, IGA, Light Hotel, Eudunda Hotel Motel, Eudunda CFS and Eudunda Golf Club, who all assisted by their kind donations in one way or another along with his team of workers making the EDI a preferred darts event in Country South Australia.