28th Dartistry Championships

THIS WAS THE THIRTEENTH SEASON WITH ZERO ENTRY FEES for QUALIFIED players. Plus, we again allowed players to be ELIGIBLE even though NOT Qualified (cost to them was only $15 per tourney).  However, ‘Eligible’ was earned by playing at least 5 times during the season (not just once).   This seems to be a winning formula which we continue until we can come up with something better. Hopefully, as the economy begins to improve (if at all), ‘The Circuit’ will see an increase in participation as a result and then these season-end Dartistries will get BIGGER, again.  From now on, The Circuit’s NEW ANNUAL SEASON will be from January 1^st through December 31^st of EACH YEAR. 

This season we, again, had a MEN’S BLIND-DRAW TOURNAMENT held on Saturday, January 14^th, which began at 1:00 pm with 34 players. Plus, we had a LADIES’ BLIND-DRAW, also on Sat which began at 1:30 pm with 20 players. Both were followed by a LARGE MODIFIED BLIND-DRAW that began at 7:30 pm with 46 players.

We also held a Dartistry Warm-Up Tournament on Friday Night @ The Billiard Den with an Extra $150 added on top of the clubs’ normal $5 pp Add. The total funds were $572 paid out to the Top 4 finishing teams. See results below. This is the Official Opening Night of the Dartistry Championships.  However, it is played like a Regular Circuit tournament with the results being posted on the Circuit’s Website and everyone’s participation also counts toward the 29th Dartistry Season.

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Friday Evening, January 14th, 2017
Dartistry Warm-Up Tournament
Circuit Modified Regular Blind Draw
It began at 8:30 pm – 40 Players
$572 Paid Out (this included $150 extra added to the Payout).

We Paid the Top 4 Finishing Positions;
We paid out $120 in Side Pot winnings with another $80 going to the Circuit’s Mystery Out Pot.

1st Place – Miranda Rousset / Tom Bunch – $ 145 ea.
2nd Place – Nelia Bartalome / Jeff Torres – $ 80 ea.
3rd Place – Angie Meaders / David Lloyd – $ 40 ea.
4th Place – Trina Scott / David Lopez – $ 23 ea.

70% Honey Pot Winners – Miranda Rousset / Tom Bunch – $ 30 ea.
30% Honey Pot Winners – Nelia Bartalome / Jeff Torres – $ 10 ea.
70% High Out Winners – Angie Meaders / David Lloyd – #70 = $ 20 ea.
There were NO Mystery Out Winners – # pulled was = 134.   Balance Now is = $1438

• Other Teams Were:
  Susan Gerlach / Schad Scott
• Keith Wilkes / Steve Gagnon
  Candace Neal / Craig Gagnon
  Ruth Hendon / Ken Price
  Sara Lloyd / Vince Reyna
• Judy Curtis / Scott Melton
• Becca Price / Dan McKittrick
  Suszi Gagnon / Bruce Gerlach
• Leslie Sims / Danny Bartalome
• Jessi Reyna / Jason Robertson
• Shiela Bunch / Chip Bucker
• Devon Edgeman / Ken Crossland
• Melissa Dotson / Bob Schultz
• Kasia Reese / Robert Johnson
• Toni Tarza / Ben Hendon
• Debbie Adams / Rodney West

This was a FUN night with 20 teams.  Amazingly there was only 5 MOP #s hit and NO winners.

There have been a few WarmUp tourneys over the years with 56+ players.  The BIG Soft Tip tourneys in Denton kept our numbers down this year.   I will try next year to avoid the same weekend as that soft tip event in order increase our participation numbers.  However all in all, this was a good showing with everyone seeming to have a great time.

Saturday Afternoon, January 14th, 2017
We started this Dartistry season’s Saturday Event with a
MEN’S Blind-Draw
It began at 1:00 pm – 34 Players
$900 Paid Out Paid the Top 8 Finishing Positions;
Plus, we paid out $170 in Side Pots winnings.

1st Place – Ken Crossland / David Lloyd – Award $ 180 ea.
2nd Place – Scott Melton / Robert Johnson – Award $ 105 ea.
3rd Place – Luis Garza / Shawn Kilbury – Award $ 60 ea.
4th Place – Mike Prince / Daniel McKittrick – $ 35 ea.
5^th & 6^th Place – Gavin Smith / Chad Prather   &   Bob Schultz / Ben Hendon – $20 ea.

7^th & 8^th Place – Ruben Moodley / Josh Loftis & John Chambers / Clayton McKinley – $15 ea.

70% Mystery Out Winners – Robert Johnson / Scott Melton #32 = $ 35 ea.
30% Mystery Out Winners – Gavin Smith / Chad Prather # 4 = $ 15 ea.
70% High Out Winners – Ken Crossland / David LLoyd # 70 = $ 24 ea.
30% High Out Winners – Steve Gagnon / Jeff Torres # 66 = $ 12 ea.

• Other Teams Were:
  Harold Kumpf / Danny Bartelome
  Jr Estrada / Luis Garza
  Nez / Justin Schafer
  Marty Abel / Steve Morris
  Adam A / Chip Nastophil
• Vince Reyna / Paul Mueller
• Kevin Cook / Mike Sessions
  Chip Buckner / Chris Beaty
• Good Showing.  Lots of people were out of town at Soft Tips tourneys.   Hopefully, there will be more players next season.

LADIES’ Blind-Draw
began at 1:30 pm – 20 Players
$710 Paid Out Paid the Top 6 Finishing Positions;
plus we paid out $100 in Side Pots winnings.

1st Place – Leslie Sims / Nelia Bartalome – Award $ 150 ea.
2nd Place – Amy Weaver / Miranda Rousset – Award $ 100 ea.
3rd Place – Carroll Buckner / Cassie Aherns – Award $ 50 ea.
4th Place – Debbie Adams / Candace Neal –  $ 25 ea.

5^th & 6^th Place –  Ruth Hendon / Angie Meaders  &  Judy Curtis / Suszi Gagnon – $ 15 ea

70 % Mystery Out Winners – Amy Weaver / Miranda Rousset # 20 = $ 20 ea.
30 % Mystery Out Winners – Amy Weaver / Miranda Rousset # 4 = $10 ea.
70 % High Out Winners – Judy Curtis / Suszi Gagnon # 92 = $ 15 ea.
30 % High Out Winners – Debbie Adams / Candace Neal  # 86 = $ 5 ea.

 Other Teams Were:

• Debra Prather / Terri Patterson
• Kristi Crump / Becca Price
  Tammy Young / Silvia Colfrey
• Jessi Reyna / Melissa Dotson

Alright Ladies.  You did some networking and increased participation by 10%.  Well done.>

Saturday Evening, January 14^th, 2017
Modified Blind-Draw
Started at 7:30 pm – 46 Players.    Thanks for coming out to play.
$1,700 Paid Out Paid to the TOP 8 Finishing Positions,
plus we paid out $230 in Side Pots winnings.

1st Place – Tammy Young / Shawn Kilbury – Award $ 300 ea.
2nd Place – Ken Crossland / JR Estrada – Award $ 200 ea.
3rd Place – Sara Lloyd / Bob Schultz – Award $ 125 ea.
4th Place – Paul Sheckels / Josh Loftis $ 75 ea.
5th & 6th Place –  Leslie Sims / John Chambers  &  Debbie Adams / Rodney West – $ 50 ea.
7th & 8th Place –  Miranda Rousset / Marty Abel &  Kevin Cook / Danny Young Sr – $ 25 ea.

70% Honey Pot Winners – Tammy Young / Shawn Kilbury = $ 30 ea.
30% Honey Pot Winners – Sara Lloyd / Bob Schultz = $ 16 ea.
70% Mystery Out Winners – Luis Garza / Ricky Crocker # 56 = $ 30 ea.
30% Mystery Out Winners – Leslie Sims / John Chambers – # 37 = $ 16 ea.
70% High Out Winners – Kevin Cook / Danny Young Sr – # 92 = $ 15 ea.
30% High Out Winners – Ruth Hendon / Steve Gagnon – # 86 = $ 8 ea.

Other Teams were:

• Ben Hendon / Mike Dickerson
  Jessi Reyna / Vince Reyna
• Angie Meaders / Sarge Bunch
• Becca Price / David Lloyd
• Candace Neal / Gavin Smith
• Danielle Hall / Chris Beaty
• Mario Garcia / Daniel McKittrick
• Carrol Buckner / Jim Puckett
• Amy Weaver / Robert Johnson
• Suszi Gagnon / Neal Clayton
• Justin Schafer / Chip Buckner
• Melissa Dotson / Terry Toth
• Judy Curtis / Saleh Owens

EXTRA – AFTERNOON SINGLES TOURNEYS

Between the Men’s & Ladies Blind-Draws we played some Quick SINGLES tourneys to keep everyone busy and having fun until the 7:00 pm Modified Draw. Time allowed us to play FIVE (5) of these 8 player, single elimination, $5 Entry, and 2 Player Payout tourneys.
The Winners won $30 /$10.   I would normally post who won these, however, it seems like someone threw away the sheets because I can’t find them.   Once I do, I will post the winners. Thank you.

CHALKER & SCOREKEEPER PRIZES

This season our Scorekeeper prizes were Presidential $1 gold plated coins.   Over $150 in coins were awarded to the many players who kept score and kept the tournament moving along smooth. There were also TWO GRAND CHALKER PRIZES awarded at the end of the Event late on Saturday Night.   The winners were:

$20 Grand Chalker Prize  – STEVE GAGNON  –  Hey Steve, I am holding this prize for you.

$50 Grand Chalker Prize – (player had to still be on premises) – It was CANDACE NEAL.

Congratulations to Both.

There were TWO EXCITING EXTRA BONUS PRIZES given away to the players as well.

The FIRST – was a QUALIFIED PLAYERS SEASON PARTICIPATION BONUS

This was a Drawing for Three $Dollar$ prizes of $100, $50, $25.

Every ‘Qualified’ player received ONE Ticket for every tournament they played in during this extended season.  Each had to sign the back and place them in the Drawing Jar.  I had the players themselves sign and separate them, so each KNEW how many chances they had to win.

The TOP Two season Participants were:

• Ben Hendon who played 61 times this season and
• Judy Curtis who played 60 times.

Thank you, both for your continued support.   Of course, there were over 1,000 participation tickets put in the jar.  I, myself, didn’t put my 114 tickets in the jar (haha). The Winners were:

• Sarge Bunch won $100.
• Justin Schafer won $50
• won $50 Scott Melton won $25.

The SECOND Extra Bonus Prize was a FREE SQUARE for the Cowboys vs Packers Sunday Afternoon PlayOff Game.  Everyone who entered a Saturday Dartistry tourney this weekend received a FREE SPACE on our $100 Square Board.  Each Quarter was worth $25.

The winners were:

• 1^st Quarter winner – Neil Clayton who had C-3 / P-7
• 2^nd Quarter winner – Scott Melton who had C-3 / P-1
• 3^rd Quarter winner – Ruben Moodley who had C-3 /P-8
• 4^th Quarter winner – Becca Price who had C-1 / P-4

Final Score of the game was Cowboys – 31 / Packers – 34.

What a fantastic last 2 minutes of the game with a field goal by the Packers in the last 3 seconds.

Director’s Notes:

This Dartistry took on its own personality and character, as each does.  By adding a few extra BONUS Rewards it kept the players more involved throughout the event and excited. 

The Biggest “thank you” this season goes to GOD and His Gift of continued LIFE for me. In September I wasn’t sure what life would be like in October or if I would still be here.  I didn’t realize or want to accept the fact that ‘stents’ were only designed to last about 10 years. It had been 16 years.    This time I listened to that ‘Still Small Little Voice’ in the back of my mind telling me there was something very wrong with my overall health AND to Sara telling me to set an appointment with my heart doctor.     Complacency had set in and OVER confidence that I was going to live forever.    Thank God, I listened to them both.   Thank You, Sara.  I love You.

I now have 3 new arteries and if I take care of myself my doctors say I have about another 15 to 20 years, So, if all goes right, y’all get to listen to me SHOUT – “We need a relief Chalker on Board #?” for another 20 years.   How crazy is that?

Once again, we’ve had the pleasure of Candace Neal working as my co-director for this event.    Thank you, Candace, for your tireless help.  I know I said this LAST SEASON, but it’s worth repeating.  “Your help every Dartistry makes this whole event so much easier to manage and enjoy by sharing the Director responsibilities. It’s nice to KNOW that you have MY and the PLAYERS BACKS if I’m away. We have developed an ‘in charge’ symbiotic personality wherein we both like being in control telling the players where to go and what to do, and yet the players seem to like it, too.  LOL. Thanks, again.”  I couldn’t have made through this without you and my wife, SARA.  In fact, I barely did.  The chair ended up being my best friend toward the end.

Once again, THE BILLIARD DEN comes through as ‘the’ place to hold The Dartistry.   At this time, there is still NO OTHER Venue in town which ‘fits the bill’ as the seasonal location for the ‘Whole’ of this event.    Thank You, Marcy, for Hosting this event, again.  You and your staff (too long to even list them) continue to provide excellent service.  Thank You to all the bartenders who continuously poured our drinks like Al, Stephen, Brandy, & Walker.  Of course without chefs, Daniel, Ernest, and a newby (I haven’t met yet) ALL of US would have wilted way before the time most of us did.  Thanks Everyone for your service.

On behalf of the Dart Players and myself, THANK YOU, Jennifer & Kim, for all your outstanding, double shift, long tiring day, and dedicated service. I know you both volunteered for this, so I surely hope the players tipped you well.   Thanks girls.   (Little voices have told me that WE, the Dart Players, kept our wallets tightly closed this season.  Tsk tsk tsk. That’s sad.)

And of course a HUGE Thank You to ‘YOU, The Players’, for your continued participation each and every season.  It’s great to know, I’m still providing a service you appreciate and support.   You’re all like ONE BIG FAMILY to me.  Thanks.

The weekend started off with our USUAL Friday Night Dartistry Warm-Up Tourney where everyone has their final opportunity to become ‘Eligible and/or Qualified’ for the Main Event on Saturday. I love this phrase …. “It ignites the ‘BURN’ and the ‘YEARN’ for a great weekend of ‘DARTS’! “.  It has been and will continue to be a part of the Dartistry program.  What was really exciting was to see 19 ladies out of 40 players.  There was only ONE all male team.   The Top four finishing teams were ALL MIXED teams.  Nice.

On Saturday, we were all ready to go by Noon when the Den’s doors opened.   Players started showing up a few minutes before that to Practice before Saturday’s Dartistry Tourneys began at 1 pm with the Men’s Blind Draw & the Ladies Blind Draw at 1:30.   34 Men & 20 ladies.   The men played in the main area while the ladies chose the Ladies’ Lair for their own private little tourney.

We didn’t start the Modified Blind Draw till around 7:30 pm, as we played 2 of 3 W and 2 of 3 L brackets in the day tourneys.   It took till 7 pm to finish both.  But, it was well worth it.

Most of the memorable moments in this season’s 28th Dartistry Championships are captured in my mind and can be played back for me to see; just as your ‘mms’ can be seen & enjoyed by you.   BEST MOMENT, to me, though was when Ken Crossland and I somehow WON the MEN’S Doubles tourney on Saturday.  Wow?  How did that happen, as Both of us had a Triple Bypass during the last year and are still recovering?

Another Memorable Moment was watching my wife, Sara, throwing ‘The Bull’ in the Battle for Third place in the Modified BD.  Ken had already thrown a Bull when Sara stepped up to the line, straightened her back, took a deep breath and landed her dart in the DOUBLE BULL to call the game.  When JR looked at me and gave me the “I’m impressed smile” that became a memorable moment.

Another MM is that there was only one player who ‘Placed in the Money’ in ALL three tourneys.  Way to go, Miranda.  She and Tom Bunch WON the Blind Draw on Friday Night.  She and Amy WON 2^nd Place in the Ladies’ Doubles.  And finally, she placed 7^th in the Modified draw.  No one else ‘placed’ in all three tournaments.  Well done, girlfriend. 

We did take some photos and they will eventually get posted on ‘Facebook’ and the NEW WEBSITE.  I hope they will stimulate your memory cells and allow you to recall many of hours of the good times you had at this Dartistry.

Thank You, again, for your continued support.  Remember, to get Qualified Early this season.

See you on the boards!
David Lloyd, Director