WDF Europe Cup Men Teams 1988

From 6 to 8 October 1988, the British Darts Organisation hosted the WDF Europe Cup VI, which took place in the English port city of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Initially, this event would take place in the West German town of Heidelberg but the withdrawal of the main sponsor at the last moment forced the World Darts Federation to find another host. Denmark volunteered to organise the tournament but the BDO eventually got the organisation.

Thus, was the European Cup VI played in the Seashore Holiday Centre in Great Yarmouth. It is the second time, after 1982, England hosts a WDF Europe Cup, this time with fifteen countries on the starting list, including for the first time Italy and Malta.

In the team event, the British teams reached the semi-finals. England with John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Bob Anderson & Mike Gregory had to compete against the Scottish quartet Jocky Wilson, Trevor Nurse, Peter MacDonald & Peter Masson at 9:30 in the early morning. The Tartan Army soon ran to a 5-1 lead. The English fought back to 7-4, but then Peter Masson beat John Lowe and the Scots needed only one more leg for a place in the final. At a score of 8-5 it was the young Peter MacDonald who had to play against the experienced Eric Bristow. The Crafty Cockney who had not managed to win a single leg in the semi-final yet. MacDonald seemed untenable and when Bristow also bust from 130, it was a breeze for the Scotsman to secure the 9-5 victory.

The second semi-final was between Northern Ireland with Ray Farrell, Roy Bailie, Geoff Wylie & Fred McMullan and the foursome Eric Burden, Geraint Wilson, Richie Burnett & Chris Johns from Wales. The Northern Irish went 4-2 up but Burnett and Wilson pulled it back to 4-4. Geoff Wylie brought the Northern Irish the lead again, aided by Burnett who missed four darts on the wire. Yet Wales came back again to lead 5-6 courtesy of Johns and Burden. Thanks to a nice 13 dart leg Farrell made it 6-6 with McMullan and Burden making it 7-7. Leg 15 proved crucial, Geraint Wilson beat Roy Bailie and Ray Farrell now had to win to keep Wales from reaching the final. Burnett however would not be stopped and via a 12 darter (140-180-125-56 finish) put Wales in the final.

The public expected a Scottish victory in the final, especially after the convincing semi-final, but Wales didn’t want to participate in that party. From start to finish, the lead is for the Wales team. The Wales squad took a 6-3 lead and a little later 8-6. Jocky Wilson brings the Scots back into the game by taking the 15th leg, but it's again young Richie Burnett who wins the game for Wales. Although via double one, Wales wins the team event. It is the first time Wales has won the team event, after England has won it four times in a row and Scotland won the first edition.

WDF Europe Cup Men Teams

About WDF Europe Cup Men Teams 1988

Competitors Of WDF Europe Cup Men Teams 1988

Reijo Ahokas

Bob Anderson

Roy Baillie

Beat Basler

Umberto Battara

Andree Bomander

Roger Boyesen

Eric Bristow

Eric Burden

Richie Burnett

Vincent Busuttil

Magnus Caris

Joe Caruana

Luciano-Alfio Caserta

Gaudenz Coray

Marcel De Vuyst

Johnny Deley

John Dunne

Ray Farrell

Charles Ghiller

Mike Gregory

Joe Grima

Karl-Heinz Grosser

Bert Hansen

Bernd Hebecker

Svein-Arne Hjelmeland

Jann Hoffmann

Mick Hogg

Chris Johns

Lars-Erik Karlsson

Ari Kokko

Alfred Kuechler

Bruno Ladovaz

Michael Larsson

Leo Laurens

Stefan Lord

John Lowe

Peter Masson

Peter McDonald

Jack McKenna

Fred McMullan

Knud Nilsen

Aulis Nissinen

Trevor Nurse

Tony O'Neill

Jan-Erik Paulsen

Troels Rusel

Giorgio Sartor

Kari Saukkonen

Per Skau

Felix Smout

Pierre Steiner

Walter Tschudin

Jilles Vermaat

Bert Vlaardingerbroek

Ronald Wensveen

Jocky Wilson

Geraint Wilson

Geoff Wylie

Raymond van Barneveld

Callers Of WDF Europe Cup Men Teams 1988

Tony Green

Freddie Williams

WDF Europe Cup Men Teams 1988