ESDA Open 2023 - Concluded

What a successful ESDA Open the past weekend. Not only did we have 113 Senior Registrations, we also managed to do things slightly different on our Open!

Before registration started, ESDA had a team building braai, hosted by Thea Prinsloo. We were all spoiled with a plate of pap and gravy, wors and pork rashers and it was delicious. Thank you Thea Prinsloo and Hugo Deysel for taking the initiative. We were all well fed for the day of play ahead of us.

We started the day off well, with registrations coming in at a steady pace and players adhering to the 13:00 registration cut-off time. This enabled our Tournament Director Rajesh Ramnund, Petro Saunders (who ran and controlled the Ladies Section) and Myndert Saunders (who ran and controlled the Juniors Section) to do the necessary draws for the Block Section in time and play commenced a couple of minutes after 14:00. And for once, the ladies played in the Main Hall whilst the overflow of men played in the Chapel. A very big thank you to Thea Prinsloo for the upgrade of the scoreboards in both the Chapel as well as the Juniors Hall.

Thanks to all our generous sponsors, we were able to present extra bonus prizes, having a bonus for the Highest Closing Men and Highest Closing Ladies. This bonus was kindly sponsored by Thea Prinsloo. It is ESDA's bragging right to say that Pie Badenhorst and Maryna Badenhorst individually won the highest closing, with Pie obtaining a 150 closing and Maryna obtaining a 115 closing. What a way to show everyone that the Blue Machine Family mean business. Congratulations to the both of you. We are extremely proud of you.

When we came to our ESDA Raffle draw, things were also done slightly differently. Our President, Boom Ferreira, stood two steps back from the oche and threw darts at a sheet containing all the raffle numbers. It was fun and unusual and we will definitely be doing draws like this again. (We posted a live video on Saturday for those of you reading here who wants to have a look on how we did this). We have to and wish to thank our generous sponsors Emperors Palace, The Palace of Dreams, for their sponsorship of our first, second and third prizes and wish to also thank Sandwich Baron for their sponsorship of our fourth and fifth prizes. Your generosity and sponsorship enabled ESDA to gather some much needed extra funds towards our DSA Nationals adventure.

Well done to the winners of the prizes and we hope that you enjoy your prizes!

We also had a record attendance of the Blue Machine Family, having a total of 35 members attending. It was with pride that we as the Committee looked over a sea of blue whilst play was on. Thank you to each and every member for your attendance, your show of sportsmanship and for keeping the ESDA name and flag flying sky high.

Our members who attended and their placements are as follows:

Juniors Section:

Tamia Naidu and Kayden Naidu (Jonathan Naidu) unfortunately could not make it out of the Block Section, however we are exceptionally proud of you as this was your first Open and a mere week after joining the ESDA Blue Machine Family.

Tienie Marais, Tyler Posthumus, Arrabella Rego (Carlos Rego) and Dwayne De Witt (Christa Vanzyl DeWitt) made it through to the Top 16. Wade Gertenbach (Bradley Gertenbach) made it further, reaching Top 8 and Nakita de Lange taking 4th Place overall. Well done to all our Juniors, we are extremely proud of you and for your achievements reached.

Ladies Section:

For the first time in a while, all of the ESDA ladies made it past the Block Section!!

Jen Bennett and Delian Bennett made it to the Top 32, Moira Cronje, Sally J'arlette-joy and Maryna Badenhorst made it to the Top 16 (and again we are making mention that she won the Highest Closing Bonus prize for a closing of 115). Thea Joubert, was the singular lady that made it to the Top 8, but unfortunately that is where the journey ended for all the ESDA ladies.

Men's Section:

Unfortunately, due to strong competition and darts just not falling correctly, Vincent Van Wyk, Michael Wilson, Brandon Thompson and Jonathan Naidu did not make it through the block section.

Mike Baas Hearn, Carlos Rego, Lukas Dreyer, Chipoyera Tinashe, Vaughn Brendon Smith, Angela Dries Posthumus, Alfred Ungerer, Jason Crook and Pie Badenhorst all made it through to the Top 64 (and again we are making mention that Pie won the Highest Closing Bonus Prize for a closing of 150).

Attie Botha, Grant Wepener, Bradley Gertenbach, Jacques Botha and Julian Kevin Ness continued their journey into the Top 32.

Jan Putter along with the others progressed and made Top 16, where unfortunately his journey came to an end.

Wayne Ellis played well and managed to take 4th place overall with Hugo Deysel steamrolling his way through again to take 2nd Place overall, losing in the final to Danie.

We are exceptionally proud of each of your individual achievements and for the great show of family support and sportmanship that each of you showed on Saturday. Our Open was definitely a huge and successful one due to your attendances.

Congratulations to our final Bronze, Silver and Gold medalists, who also received an additional prize money allocation and certificate of achievement. The extra prize money was kindly sponsored by Magma Security Consultants (Carlos Rego), MF Engineering (Boom Ferreira), TA Plant Hire (Angela Dries Posthumus) Ford 3PL (Jason Crook) and Rajesh Ramnund. Thank you for supporting this initiative, I know the recipients appreciated the extra cash as well.

Thank you to Barrick Management Services for their cash sponsorship which in turn was presented to the Juniors in the form of a voucher to spend their winnings at Dartsco (Morgan Govender).

Juniors:

(At the time of going to print, we have not obtained the Juniors' parental consent to publish their names or images)

Ladies Section:

Charmaine Johnston (JHB Central)- 4th Place;

Chatelle Kruger (Metsweding) - 3rd Place;

Patrys Louw (Buffels) - 2nd Place; and

Charmone Kruger (Buffels)- Winner

Men's Section:

Wayne Ellis (ESDA) - 4th Place;

Trevor Pillay (JHB West) - 3rd Place;

Hugo Deysel (ESDA) - 2nd Place; and

Danie Binneman (EEDA) - Winner.

Thank you to our Executive Committee Members, Boom Ferreira, Myndert Saunders, Petro Saunders, Delian Bennett, Thea Joubert, Rajesh Ramnund and Assistant Tournament Director Jen Bennett for all your preparation and hard work on Saturday to make the ESDA Open 2023 the huge success that it was. And thank you to each member of GDF who registered and joined us for a day filled with friendship, fierce competition, fun and enjoyment!