Rileys BDO Inter-County Championship

OXFORDSHIRE made a sensational start to life in the top flight of British darts with a stunning 22-14 success over Kent in Tonbridge.

Promoted to the Premier Division at the end of last season, Oxon romped home inspired by Deta Hedman and Kirk Shepherd.

Oxon ladies’ B got the ball roling with a 4-2 success.

They won the first four matches through Nicola Curzon, Babs Manning, Kim Ledbury and lady-of-the match Sandra Cox (20.12 average) .

Damien Kidd secured a victory on his Oxon men’s B debut.

This was followed by man-of -the-match Stuart White (28.88).

Oxon lost the next, but John Russell soon made it 3-1.

Then it was the turn of Ade Larner (26.58) who hit four 180s in winning his game.

With further successes from Antony Barrett, Andy Thomas and Aaron Stevens, the men’s B won 7-5 to give the visitors an 11-7 overnight lead.

On Sunday, Hedman, whose 27.83 this was the highest ladies’ average in the division for the weekend, gave Oxon women’s A a winning start.

However, they lost the next three before Leanne Jennings and Linda Jones took the last two secure a draw.

Oxon needed five points from the men’s A match for victory.

Kevin Lowe, on his debut, edge a close contest, while Dennis Smith romped in 4-0.

This paved the way for Shepherd, who produced a man-of-the-match display of 31.09.

With further successes coming from Pete Hall, Stuart Dutton, Joe Palmer, Nick Cobb , and Chris Aubrey, on his debut, the men’s A won 8-4.

The three bonus points gained put Oxon second in the table.

  • THE Oxfordshire Youth squads to play Middlesex at Hillingdon on Sunday (12) are: Under 18: S Smith, A Jones, J Lucas, J Bumpass, D Mobey, S Allmond, S Wright, R Bull, I Stallwood , J Robinson, S Humphries, K West , M Clarke.

Under 21 Ladies: C Adams, K Moore, S Hunt, M Lockyer, L Daniels.

Under 21 men: D Lockyer, M Burns, S Lewis, G Bishop, T Baughan, L Bower.