Evening Sentinel from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England • 47

EZZUN Taylor's a rebel with applause! FORMER world champion Phil Taylor today welcomed news that the Embassy world professional championshi is to continue in January desp ite the fact he may be forced to play in a rival event. The British Darts Organisation have confirmed the £135,000 eight-day Embasssy tournament will run at Lakeside Country Club in Surrey between January 1-8 and will be televised by the BBC after months of uncertainty. And they have confirmed that top name professionals including reigning world title holder John Lowe, five times winner Eric Bristow from Leek and Bursiem's Taylor are unlikely starters. They are among a 16-strong group of rebel professionals who have sided with the World Darts Council a breakaway pressure group formed to run the professional sport. Now the WDC have countered the BDO CHESHIRE'S Robert Crawsbaw is le tomorrow's Heal 16 of the MIMI Talbot 'remota Haedieap at Black I (11am).

The YiSItY of the draw Is thi aiissing round sees Norma. Fletcher play Norman Cap semi-final draw for Saturday (3pm) Is: Fading Lasts' SC at Conslet's Carsenian; Craws PO Wllinalow NIL at Mutes Arum Runcorn. CIA STRONG local con- Regent is la Saturday's 16,0110 John Smiths Chunk at Faradon BC. 32 bowlen will coolest the Raab, with the wizen. rocelvias ELAM.

Rey Price, Man and Kerry Morris lead the North Staffordshire CILATE retries are beimg accepted for the Michael Collins doubles om Sunday at Caramelise. Details tree Jess Fors UM 271146. osacoND mond remits in the Jobe Weetmam Memorial Trophy at Milton Hayes BC: Cliff Shasta's (holder) 31, Williamson 26; Also Purcell 31, A Davies 15; Mu Framer 31, Kande 25; lam Bromley 31, I Baker 20. DARTS by Wayne Raker announcement by revealing plans for the rear orld professional championship. Tournament organiser for the and manager of Phil Taylor, Tommy Cox, said: "The fact that the BBC has supported the BDO is a body blow but how can a world professional championship be staged without any professionals? Our members between them have won all but one of the Embassy titles! We may consider taking legal action over the use of 'professional' in the title." He said plans for the WDC tournament, the venue, sponsor and staging date would be announced during the next month but he did sot rule out it on the same week as the official ip.

"We may even tun it in Surrey so the darting public can decide which event they would rather watch," said Cox. Plans revealed by the BDO create more chances for "unknowns" to win through to the Staffordshire is one of 63 counties to hold play-offs to find their champion who will win through the pre-tournament qualifier, which will also bring together 40 international champions plus other leading players from 30 increasing the number in the eliminator from tiO to 200. Taylor, former double winner of the Embassy, applauded the news the championship will be held. "It's the best news darts can have. It is a darts competition on network television but as things are at the moment an unknown will be crowned world champion and make a name for himself.

"I would love to be in the line-up at lakeside next January because the Embassy is special to me, but this seems unlikely. I am just waiting to hear the full details of the chaapionimp proposed by the WDC," said Taylor. Kirk scrapes through -i 6.4 00- z-4s oll 44 0 40 Birches Hood Gardeners wimp's of the CIU Knockout Trophy oiler Welton Control 'A' in the Snot. Photo: HUSTON SPRATT. THE second qualifying session of the Michelin Masters failed to produce any shock results.

Potteries county bowler Barry Kirk was given the only scare as he survived a 21-20 verdict against Stanley. ma scores: Lowe 21, Diglish r7 Owen 21, A Jones 19; A Francs 21, Davies Birrisford 21. Wilson 10; 14n Waiter 12; Bourne 1 2 i 4elsh 10; Joines 21, Welker 7. Cheaters from host club Crewe North Ward WMC produced a good performance to earn a subfinal place in the Floodlit Open. The home player beat former All England champion Phil Owen.

Other quilus: Tow, Eason, Hazeldiom I Howells, 0 Coates, Lewis, Hopkins, A Bonnlon, Pests, Evans, Hal, Jones, A Robinson, Parsonage, MBURSILEM Sallasslan provided Knypersley Sports (6.30). The eight bowlers are competing for prize money of £2OO. Dravr: Mick Weever Phil Clarke, Mick Kelher Geoff Bran, Harry Owen NM Evans, Joe Stanway Andy Brown. junior county star Nick Skelton features in tonight's Biddulph Labour Floodlit heat. He faces Crewe's Dave Money.

Other pairings: Cheaters Lloyd, Thorley Tideswell, Marshall vA Other. lITHE new Potteries Floodlit Bowling League has attracted 24 four teams in its inaugural season. Tomorrow's fixtures: Division Crewe PO Mlkon Hayes; London Rd Birches Head Moak I. Division II: Moir KA Rd II; Knowsley I Dlihome Rs I. Division III: addulph Labow While Cock; Alwyn II Michelin; Dllhoms II Mow Cop I.

Division IV: Rommel Crave PO Leek SC Credo; Mow Cos Knyprieleri Gmtn WL NlZwy three of the four latest Fegg Hayes final day qualifiers. Third round winners: Fred Booth, Harry Churton, Keith Evans (Suburban), Dean Ferris (Kingsley). lISTAFFORD's top mixed doubles duo Julie Evans cruised into the third round of the Leek BC Floodlit pairs. Scores: Bradley 21. Love Aston 21, 8 Allen 19; Alcock 21, Adams Hancock 21, Cullen 13.

bowler Paul Charlesworth and partner Barry Harding were the winners of the Cricket Club one day 32 doubles. the final they beat Smith OTONIGHT sees tit Amateur League Individual Merit final at EVENING SENTINEL. Thursday. September 16. 1993 47 In adagios Is their Saturday deb Banns they have aid conspeatim essapusest os the preliminary resod of the County Cup at Wolverhansptos is the mends.

after which the squad will be Mediae tar the Old Waltruskuts monad sia-a-dde tournament is the 10111111111111. Last "tura tilaY HOCKEY by beat 2.1 Inv wish Isr- swiSeliall tram left-half to centre-half sad crowned a coafideet ebsei rlaaaee by searthe socan ce ttt o. a 16 year-old rightwinger, gave a notable display as did Dave Escombe making his debut after his soave from Stafford to job his wife Jame, a maber of the North Stafford women's Atm is hat-biek her bass avid bladed Baas bet flailed it the wrests ead of a 4-4 moralise. It was a dramatic see-saw match. Uttozeter were 3-0 dowe early ea.

had I l4elloalkse off 3-3 for half time, wage 4.3 ahead aad then cascaded three late pie. North titglb Waggon like their ass cons- Iseparts aim have as importnat mach as tre pniiminary essud of tha Al anti Cum at loddllch. Results and balm Resift women: MeNook Bellew, 6, Mossier North Stafford 3 (3 Chidlow, Brooks, Harper). Slone II 0 Rising Brook 0, Tettenhell II Risine ad II 1 (J Brooks), Tonneau' 111 Stafford II 1 (P Wolverhampton II Stone 0, North Stafford 4 (4 Hunter, Cordon. Dyke 2); Stone 111 1 (A Myatt).

North illallord 111 2 (J Campbell, Roberts); Monier II 1 (P Goodell). Mallodc Balloons II 1, Stallard 1 (K Akkett); Wolventempion W4 111 O. Mare 0, North Stafford 2 (L Kimbeney, Lawns); Klngswinford 6. Stafford 1 (G Spencer); Kingswlnford 111 2. Stafford 11l 1 (A Marsh); Maccleadeld NI 12.

North Stafford 111 0: North Stefford II 3, Steele 2 (C Graham). Gongtalon II ONon and West Warwick 2, Slone 2 (Darlington. Wawa); Olson and Wast Warwick 111 3, Stone 111 2 (Barrington. Bradshaw); Olson and West Warwick 1, Slone Stafford II 0, Kingewinford II Stone II 1 (D Ridge), Olson and West Warwick II Stone IV 2 (Jonas, Mean), Olson and West Warwick IV 1. Teams Woman: Meager (v Rising Brook away, 1.30, mast MR 12 noon): Cartsr, Tna nn, i Aspinal, Wilcox.

A Norman, Kenyon, Brown, A Pepper. Foot. BIC Mahan (v Kklegrove away, 2.30): WlNcirmon, Ferguson, Wesenin Bolton, Crisp, Clarke. Hear, A Reynolds. Williams, Rehm, Holding.

(v Seim home. Saturday University 12 noon. meet 11.15 and Redden. Ail England Cup away 11am meet 8.15): Haden. Rocky, Cordon.

Escombe. PA Wood. IA Hurst, Wagg, Dyke. Irving. Sharpley, Ferringr ax Haley.

'reek (v homy Simpson. Rigby, seworM, Warburton. Rigby. Elakar, Millard. Parkin, Glovor Woodyard.

Stafford (opposition being arranged): Sanderson. Legh, Parsons, Wesimen, Huhes, 0111111161, SeddOn, Almond. Moss. Aldred, Constantin. Uttoxster(v Cannock home, 2pm): Francis, 0 Sneyd, Clarke, Dodd.

Edwards. Thompson. Sayers, Bailey, Whaeldon. Whittaker, Bradshaw. 131herMeichee: AW iiddepss 111 Stone 111 (2.30 meet 1pm); Sartori under ssdwood Stafford II (Shobnall IPm); Cannock II Uttozetor II: Rising Brook II Cannock IV; Stallord 111 Market Drayton; Saone II Crewe Vagrants (11.45).

Men: North Stafford (v Bramhall home, 1.30 Univorsity, meet 12.45 and Wolverhampton away. County Championship preliminary round, 11am Sunday meet 9.15): I Obwn, I SuWilb, 0 Rushton, A Hood. lawrfs, Baker. Coidcogh, Escombe. I McOusds.

Graham, Harper, Steele. Stafford (v Wednesbury at Cannock 11.30 meet 10.30): Stevenson. Sudele, A Webb. Pulpitt, Lambert. Paling, Grady, A Denney, I Russell Stone (v Bridgenorth away.

meet 2.30): Jones, Cameron, White. Kelsall, I Huhn', Williams, Dadlnglon, SMckhouse.Watars. HulmeetZ2e. NORTH Stafford misa an having a batik start to die sew mama othir itisoommi: meat 2pm); Bramhall Bad are North Stamm Nadirs (2pm mat 12.300; Mons CrrN Mona blizersilh VI Slone Vt. i 111 1111erd NI iladord 11 Vv slorn Wil tr a VII; Wed 111 Iswarrord 111 (apm).

latiaday Women. Under 18 OWiosn '1 1 annock. Under 111 7 1: Vagrants (11.30). lidsa: Noll side (squad Ipml. Ab.

lOU A .411 Talbot handy work Map time POTTERIES Orienteering Club start the new season with an event on SundZ i tithpool Park, e. This wi I combine an introductory event with a fun event for club members. The We Midlands Junior Squad will also be using the course. I.