Gisborne darts players Irwin and Duncan win men’s pairs title

WINNING MEN'S PAIR: Thao Duncan (left) and Tahuna Irwin with their medals for winning the men's pairs title at the New Zealand Darts Council National Championships in Motueka this month. Picture supplied

Gisborne darts players Tahuna Irwin and Thao Duncan won the men's pairs title at the New Zealand Darts Council National Championships in Motueka this month.

The Turanganui a Kiwa and Gisborne Club darts associations combined to send a men's team and a women's team from this area (Region 7) to the nationals from August 2 to 6.

Irwin and Duncan defeated the Southern Raiders (Region 16) pairing of Warren Parry and Steve Padget 5-0 in the pairs final.

Irwin reached the last four in the John McCormick Memorial New Zealand men's singles but lost to eventual winner Ben Robb to finish third equal.

Mihi Awatere reached the last four of the Pat McCormick New Zealand women's singles and finished third equal after losing to eventual winner Desi Mercer.

Mother-and-son combination Ra Edwards and Tyson Eyles reached the last four of the mixed pairs. They lost to eventual winners Jacob Renata and Helen Makiha, of Region 10.

When the tournament teams were named, Tahuna Irwin and Tyson Eyles were in the men's Northern A Team, who played the Southern A Team in a first-to-33 contest won by the southern team.

Another Gisborne player, Te Kotahi Kaio, was named as a reserve for the men's Northern B Team.

Mihi Awatere was in the women's Northern A Team

Sixteen men's and 15 women's teams from around New Zealand contested the teams competition on the first two days of the nationals.

The Gisborne women's team of Mihi Awatere (captain), Riria Awatere-Kohunui, Ripeka Te Kira, Tangiwai Heurea, Kelly Hartley-Munro, Ra Edwards and Sina Brown went into the second division following section play and were eliminated by Aoraki in the first round of playoffs.

The men's team of Tahuna Irwin (captain), Thao Duncan, Corey Kaio, Irie Eyles, Hunter Eyles, Te Kotahi Kaio, Ihaka Kaio-Wynyard, Tamati Irwin and Tyson Eyles won two games out of three in section play but were knocked out by eventual winners Bay of Plenty in the first playoff round.

In the husband-and-wife section, Gisborne's Dylan and Sina Brown made it to the main round but not as far as the last 16.

Women's pair Riria Awatere-Kohunui and Tangiwai Heurea made the last 16 but lost to eventual runners-up J Fenton and W Harper.

Gisborne players threw 10 scores of 180 throughout the week.

180s: Te Kotahi Kaio 4, Ihaka Kaio-Wynyard (Rangatahi); Tracey Te Kira, Willie Edwards, Shiloh Henry, Ethine Reevs (Tigers); Mihi Awatere 2, Sin Tupene (Ruahine Tahi); Tahuna Irwin 2, Tamati Irwin (Falcons); Johnny Smith (Ruahine Rua).

Highest start, men (180): Te Kotahi Kaio 2, Ihaka Kaio-Wynyard (Rangatahi).

Highest start, women (156): Ripeka Te Kira (Ruahine Tahi).

Highest finishes, men (113): Ethine Reeves (Tigers); (108) Boyso Awatere (Ruahine Rua).

Most tons, men (37): Tahuna Irwin (Falcons); (34) John White (Whanau Magic).

Most tons, women (28): Mihi Awatere; (15) Sin Tupene (Rauhine Tahi).

Whanau Magic 5 Rangatahi 16: J White 140 (2), 125, 123, 121st, 120, 115, 106, 104, 100st (5), 100 (20); H Ratapu 135st (2), 115, 100st, 100 (4); J Waikawa-Nepe 133st, 133, 121, 117, 114, 112; K Waikawa 121, 100 (4); K White 115, 100; T Reeves 135 (2), 125st, 121 (3), 100st, 100 (6); I Kaio-Wynyard 180st, 140st, 140 (5), 135, 125 (2), 121 (2), 119, 104, 101, 100st (4), 100 (12); C Kaio 140 (2), 135, 133, 125, 101, 100st (2), 100 (10); T Kaio 180st (2), 180 (2), 170, 140st, 140 (3), 125st, 125, 121 (3), 100st, 100 (16).

Tigers 14 Ruahine Tahi 7: T Te Kira 180, 140st, 140 (9), 125, 121, 100st (2), 100 (15); W Edwards 180, 140 (2), 137, 133, 125 (3), 123, 100st, 100 (9); S Henry 180, 140st, 140 (2), 135, 119, 118, 103f, 100st, 100 (6); E Reeves 180, 140 (6), 125 (2), 120, 113f, 100 (6); M Awatere 180 (2), 140st, 140 (3), 135, 132, 125 (3), 100st (4), 100 (13); R Te Kira 156st, 140, 125st, 125 (2), 120, 100st (2); S Tupene 180, 140st, 140, 127, 125st, 121, 118, 105, 100st (2), 100 (5); P Haapu 174, 138, 133, 130, 114, 100.

Falcons 13 Ruahine Rua 8: T Irwin 180 (2), 140st (2), 140 (4), 114, 111, 106f, 101, 100st (4), 100 (21); P Waihape 140 (2), 138, 137, 125, 117, 100st (3), 100 (7); Tamati Irwin 180, 140 (2), 125st, 125 (2), 121, 119, 100st (2), 100 (6); P Tom 125st, 121, 116, 101, 100st, 100 (8); A Cashmore 140st, 140, 134, 131, 125, 121st, 121 (2), 119, 100st (2), 100 (6); B Awatere 174, 140 (5), 121 (2), 108f, 100st (2), 100 (5).

180s: Juanita Reeves (Knights).

Highest start, men (101): Jury Reedy (Waihape Whanau).

Highest start, women (140): Juanita Reeves (Knights).

Highest finishes (120, 116, 111): Juanita Reeves (Knights); (104) Carol Woods (Hummingbirds).

Most tons, men (16): Jury Reedy (Waihape Whanau).

Most tons, women (10): Chiarn Waikawa (Waihape Whanau).

Knights 11 Waihape Whanau 10: T Hindmarsh 111, 100 (10); L Edwards 126, 121, 120; J Reeves 180, 140st, 120f, 116f, 111f, 100 (2); R Pohio 120, 100st (4), 100 (4); J Reedy 140, 125, 120, 101st, 100st (2), 100 (10); M Waru-Young 128; C Waikawa 140 (2), 125, 120st, 120, 100st, 100 (4); F Waihape 140, 121, 100 (2).

Ruahine Toru 13 Hummingbirds 8: J Budd 140, 120, 100st, 100; C Te Moni 100; S Tom 100; C Woods 104f, 100st, 100 (2); M Kaio 120 (2), 100 (3).

Falcons v Whanau Magic, Ruahine Tahi v Ruahine Rua, Tiger's v Rangatahi.

Ruahine Toru v Waihape Whanau, Knights v Hummingbirds.