Tournament Report - 2019 New Forest Masters

Posted: 06.11.19 in New Forest Masters category

All the details from the 2019 New Forest Masters

The 7th successive New Forest Masters was held at the Memorial Centre in New Milton, Hampshire on Saturday 2 November.

Tournament Director Chris Skinner ran two tournaments, a money in – money out pairs and for the first time for the Masters, a Round Robin event.

48 players teamed up for the pairs which set off a little later than planned due to the horrendous weather causing train delays and horizontal trees hampering the arrival of some players. If there had been a bookmaker at the event then Rob Collins, a very good player who may well get a tour card this January teamed up with the experienced Andy Jenkins and they surely would have been odds on favourites.

The favourite tag was justified with the pair dropping just 2 legs on the way to winning the final 4:1 against Buster Turner and Jack Seymour!

Buster Turner and Jack Seymour

Rob Collins and Andy Jenkins

Despite the fallen trees etc there is no player that can beat the commitment of Del Jenkins who comes over each year from Canada. This year the event coincided with Del's birthday so it was my pleasure to present Del with a card and gift from all of us at the Darts Performance Centre/New Forest Masters.

With only one player not making it through the treacherous conditions the Round Robin got underway with a virtual full complement of players including six ladies. The format was to play all three legs with one point a leg being awarded.

All three Ladies who won through, Alex Dorney, Karen Webber and Julie Callow lost their last 32 game but next year there will be a separate ladies event. There was some real quality though including the first ever Masters Champion, Ben Ward.

The format was a brutal best of three legs – Champion of Champions style with a best of 5 final. Rob Collins beat Ricky Peckham 2:0 in the first semi final setting up a final with Gary Eastwood who came through a close encounter with Buster Turner 2:1.

Rob Collins demonstrated his class in the final beating Gary Eastwood 3:1 to wrap up a great day for the man from Bognor Regis.

Runner - Up Gary Eastwood

New Forest Masters Champion 2019 Rob Collins