Mixed Doubles Darts Title Goes West

Western Australia has always done well in this event, highlighting the strength of both Men's and Ladies darts in WA. 2009 saw little change as they backed up again to take their thirteenth title since 1981.

The final event at Redlands Multi Sports Club at the 30th Formula Australian Darts Championships saw Neil Hembrow and Kim Kelly win the Australian Mixed Doubles title with a fantastic performance against another Western Australian pairing of Kyle Anderson and Louise Ball. This was the first individual title for Neil Hembrow and Kim Kelly (pictured right).

The final some really big scoring by the men and both ladies matched each other so it was a fairly even contest. It's very hard playing players that you have partnered all week in other events in a final, but an Australian title was on the line. Anderson and Ball won the first leg with Anderson throwing the first 180 with his third shot. They won the second leg as well inflicting a break against the throw when Anderson finished from 120 for a 21-darter. Leg three saw Hem brow and Kelly win their first leg and then some great scoring and a great 77 finish by Kelly saw the final squared away at 2 - 2. The next two legs saw Anderson and Ball (pictured left) throwing some incredible darts to win both legs in 16 darts. At this point it looked like they were going to run away with the final but back came Hem brow and Kelly taking leg seven in 17 darts and leg eight in 27 darts. Ball and Anderson missed their chance in this leg missing darts at the vital double. The deciding leg for the title saw Anderson and Ball away first. Just for a couple of shots the big scores went missing by Anderson and Ball. This opened up the leg for Hem brow and Kelly. Not letting the chance slip, Kelly finished from 68 to clinch the leg and the title. It had been a great exhibition of accurate darts by all players.

Averages
Neil Hem brow 28.50, Kim Kelly 21.021
Kyle Anderson 30.228, Louise Ball 23.887

In the first semi final Hem brow and Kelly accounted for the Victorian pairing in Steve Duke and Janine Cesar (pictured right). Hem brow and Kelly started this match winning the first leg. They were hitting everything to take leg two in 21 darts to inflict a break on their opponents. Leg three both the Western Australian players were hitting big scores as were the Victorians. Hem brow and Kelly hung on in this leg to take the match out to a 3 - 0 lead. The fourth leg saw Duke and Cesar away first and a 180 by Hem brow was not enough to give them a chance at the leg. Duke finishing on double ten to win their first leg. Leg five saw Hem brow throwing consecutive 140's to give the WA pair a great start to the leg. Duke and Cesar could not match them. Hem brow from 39 claimed the leg and with that leg a place in the final.

The second semi final saw Anderson and Ball up against another pairing from Western Australia in Beau Anderson and Samara Ash (pictured left). This was a real battle between these two combinations. State against State, brother against brother. The first three legs went with the darts. Both pairs were evenly matched and it was just the odd dart that was separating the two pairings in each leg. Beau Anderson threw back-to-back 180's in the first leg while Kyle Anderson threw back-to-back 140's. Ash pegged the first leg to win in 22 darts, Ball finished from 2 to win leg two and Beau pegged leg three on double 10. Leg four and another 180 to Beau Anderson set this pair for the first break in the semi final with Beau hitting double 20 to take the lead 3 - 1. Anderson and Ball claimed the next two legs in 22 and 21 darts with some big scores being thrown by both players. This tied the final up at 3 - 3. The tiebreaking leg saw Anderson and Ball away first. All players were matching each other with the scoring. From 164 Kyle left 26 with Beau Anderson leaving Ash with 20 on his next shot. Taking three darts Ball managed to finish from 26 to win a great exciting contest of the highest quality to move into the final.

Final:
Neil Hembrow (28.50) & Kim Kelly (21.021) (WA) defeated Kyle Anderson (30.228) & Louise Ball (21.021) (WA) 5 - 4

Semi Finals:
Neil Hembrow (26.260) & Kim Kelly (17.968) (WA) defeated Steve Duke (24.657) & Janine Cesar (17.049) (VIC) 4 - 1
Kyle Anderson (28.896) & Louise Ball (21.50) (WA) defeated Beau Anderson (29.377) & Samara Ash (19.405) (WA) 4 - 3.

Quarter final results:
Neil Hem brow (32.147) & Kim Kelly (24.483) (WA) defeated Kerry Whear (21.060) & Vicki Hepple (21.481) (WA) 3 - 0
Steve Duke (25.196) & Janine Cesar (23.723) (VIC) defeated Mitchell Clegg (21.759) & Corrine Hammond (20.666) (NSW) 3 - 1
Kyle Anderson (25.025) & Louise Ball (25.843) (WA) defeated Dan Chapman (26.972) & Becca Heidke (19.933) (NT) 3 - 0
Beau Anderson (28.764) & Samara Ash (19.488) (WA) defeated Damon Heta (24.34) & Stephanie Moriarty 17.452) (WA) 3 - 1