The inaugural Wairarapa Region 11 darts tournament, to be played at the South Wairarapa Workingmen's Club in Greytown on the Saturday and Sunday of Labour weekend, is set to be a roaring success.
Organiser John Bright reported yesterday that entries had already climbed over the 60 mark and included three members of the New Zealand squad, Porirua duo Polly Thompson and Craig Caldwell and Jonathan Silcock of Wainuiomata.
Silcock will arguably be the main drawcard. At just 21 years old he is regarded as one of the best prospects to have come out of this country in years and indicated he was in peak form by winning the men's singles and mixed pairs titles at the national under-24 championships last weekend.
Victory in Greytown will not come easily though. Not only will Silcock have Caldwell to contend with in the men's singles but also a group of past New Zealand representatives, including the father-and-son Masterton combination of Neville and Greg Moss, Peter Hunt (Palmerston North) and Wayne Carey (Wainuiomata).
Greg Moss, especially, will fancy his chances. He played off for the national men's singles title against Silcock in August last year and it was Moss who took a 4-2 victory.