Tag: Sid Waddell Trophy

  • Things you love to see

    Things you love to see

    This is not my favourite time of year. But, like everything in life, that’s a bit of a contradiction. Some of the favourite sporting events of the entire year take place around now. An avalanche of horse racing and the World Darts Championship. The former of the two disciplines mentioned above will be dealt with…

  • It rains maximums as The Asp avoids Monster Mash!

    It rains maximums as The Asp avoids Monster Mash!

    It’s hardly any secret to anybody who has visited this space for any length of time that the last two weeks of every year are endured rather than enjoyed by yours truly. This was the case long before the boss checked out for the fireside above. But as I’m sure you’ll understand, everything is now…

  • Rocky sets up a Riot with dominant display

    Rocky sets up a Riot with dominant display

    Earlier this week, in relation to players turning up to the Alexandra Palace laden down with expectations, the point was made that, regardless of any possibilities, producing on the greatest stage in the sport is another matter entirely. Or for most players it is. Evidently, nobody sent the memo to Josh Rock. The 21-year-old Antrim…

  • This Wizard got Christmas on the day he needed it

    This Wizard got Christmas on the day he needed it

    He may not quite be the Beard To Be Feared as much as he once was but the ever popular Simon Whitlock certainly lived up to the Wizard billing as he somehow extricated himself from what for very long periods looked a decidedly gluey situation against Christian Perez of the Philippines this afternoon at the…

  • A string to Willie’s bow as Brown drops down

    A string to Willie’s bow as Brown drops down

    A former inter county dual GAA player once said to me “There’s only one place to really judge a player’s character – Croke Park. I knew what he meant. For a golfer see Augusta National, anyone in National Hunt horse racing is judged by what they do – or don’t – at the Cheltenham Festival…

  • Big Boris back in the game and the Jackpot’s back on the table

    Big Boris back in the game and the Jackpot’s back on the table

    One of the worst drawbacks to dealing with any sort of mental health issue is the instinct to want to self isolate. To go into onion mode. Get as many layers between you and the outside world as possible. Couple that with the most severe cold snaps we’ve had in these parts for a long…

  • Barry bites the dust at first hurdle

    Barry bites the dust at first hurdle

    It was very much a mixed bag in terms of Irish interest on the opening night of the Cazoo World Championships of Darts at the Alexandra Palace in London. Veteran thrower Mickey Mansell threw the first darts and the first 180 of the tournament as the Ulsterman recorded a rare victory for himself on the…

  • Opening jousts in arrows action revealed

    Opening jousts in arrows action revealed

    This writer is by no means a fan of Christmas. Even less so of the build up thereto. However, the only thing which makes the Festive Season even slightly more palatable is the abundance of sporting action that punctuates the end of December and early January. With a plethora of Soccer, Rugby, American Football and…

  • Smith struck down by long lasting ‘Snakebite’

    Smith struck down by long lasting ‘Snakebite’

    When you want something really badly and have been striving to attain it for an elongated period of time, getting over the line for the first time – or if there’s been a sustantial interval between drinks – can be fiercely difficult. The St Peter’s, Dunboyne hurlers, who haven’t won the Meath SHC since 1914,…

  • Of jabs and arrows

    Of jabs and arrows

    At some point in the week leading up to the 1991 All Ireland SFC Final, it must have emerged that Colm O’Rourke was seriously doubtful. It’s highly umlikely anybody knew just how ill the legendary forward was. Now read on… On the Sunday evening after Down inflicted the pain that for some of us might…