Gisborne-East Coast players dominate

DARTS

Gisborne-East Coast darts players dominated the titles at the Hawke’s Bay-East Coast Clubs Annual Darts Tournament in Hastings last weekend.

Hosted by the National Service Club, the tournament attracted players from 12 clubs — eight from Hawke’s Bay and four (Brezz’n Sports, RSA, Cosmopolitan and 2NZEF) from Gisborne-East Coast.

In the women’s open pairs final on Saturday, both pairs were from Brezz’n Sports Club. Kino White and Sin Tupene defeated 2019 title winners Mihi Awatere and Ripeka Te Kira 4-2.

In all, 25 women’s pairs took part.

From a field of 38 men’s pairs, Brezz’n Sports Club duo Tahuna Irwin and Corey Kaio emerged triumphant. In the final, they beat father-and-son combination Joe and Edward O’Sullivan, from Napier RSA Club, 4-0.

A closed singles tournament — open only to members of the 12 competing clubs — was held on Sunday. The women’s section drew 33 entrants; the men’s, 70.

In the women’s final, Gisborne RSA Club member Chiarn Waikawa defeated Kiri Fraser, of the Napier RSA Club, 4-3, in a game that was a treat to watch.

Gisborne players Mihi Awatere (Brezz’n Sports Club) and Juanita Reeves (Gisborne RSA Club) were third-equal.

Gisborne players contested the men’s final. Brezz’n Sports Club’s Tahuna Irwin was defending the title he won in 2019. However, young gun Hunter Eyles, from Gisborne 2NZEF, won the 2020 final 4-3.

Third-equal were Bob McKenzie, from Napier RSA Club, and Marcus Leach, from Gisborne RSA Club.