PDC World Championship 2017 - 2

Aeronautics and Darts
For all who think those topics are not related in any way - you should perhaps read from time to time the Uniboffin blogs on the Unicorn site. Air drag, trajectory and the improvement of flight characteristics are important when producing darts as well. And aeronautics marginally is involved with the Alexandra Palace as well as here a pioneer of British aeronautics, Francis Alexander Barton built and airship which flew 1905 from Alexandra Palace to Romford - a dart connection as well as Wayne Mardle lives in Romford.


Barton was born in Dover, educated in Harrow and studied in Cambridge. He was an excellent oarsman and started early to be interested in mechanics. In 1899 he already had 15 years of experience with navigable balloons and was asked by the government to develop an airship. It took much longer than expected and the government cut the financial support. Barton soon was bankrupt and had not been abele to solve his biggest problem - how to control his airships. So he moved to South France and passed his time with music, free masonry and the production of alcohol free wines and beside made various inventions. The British government hadn't forgotten him and he was engaged shortly before World War I. He built the Britannia airship which in the end no one wanted and worked as doctor during the war. He never returned to aeronautics after that but stayed into medicine till his dead in 1939.


The second day of the World Championship started with the first Preliminary Round match between experienced and more quiet Warren Parry from New Zealand and the seemingly high spirited Dutchman Jerry Hendriks. At the start of the match Parry looked like he would win without problems but Hendriks improved and had less weak scores. Both averages improved during the match and settled at around 86. Hendriks won the first set but Parry didn't give in and secured himself the first two legs of the second set. Hendriks recovered and was back hitting high scores. He won 2:0 against a disappointed Parry and will be able as a reward to dance for a second time to the stage before the last match of the evening.

Though the second match was a First Round match the Welsh duel between Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton started slower then the Preliminary Round match and after the first two sets the averages were only just below and just above 80. The first set Price won with some luck as Clayton had problems to hit his doubles. Both players improved and to the end the averages were very similar to the Preliminary Round match averages. Clayton found his doubles and settled more and more and in the end won with 3:1. The next match brought another impeccable appearance of Steve Beaton and he defeated Devon Petersen with 3:1. Beaton was not really happy with his performance.
The till now best match of the tournament ended the night. Even the walk-ons were entertaining - first again Jerry Hendriks danced to the stage, then Peter Wright danced on the stage - not only enjoyable for the crowd! Peter Wright dominated from the start and won the first set. Hendriks had chances to win the second set but didn't manage to use them. Might be that would have changed the match.So Wright won the second set and the third set for a 3:0 win. It was a deserved win, the first over 100 average of the tournament, a good quote on the doubles distinguished Wright's excellent performance. Jerry Hendriks looked like he enjoyed it as much as the crowd and after the match Wright and Hendriks danced together on stage . A really entertaining evening!!!












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