The League constitution for the 2024 Summer League season has been now been agreed by the Runcorn Darts League Committee and divisions for teams allocated accordingly.
The Summer and Winter leagues now play the same format, so promotion and relegation applies from one season to the next as opposed to the next Summer or Winter league season as used to be the case.
With the country undergoing something of a darts boom, this has been replicated in Runcorn and the Committee have received an unprecedented seven applications from newly formed clubs ahead of the Summer Season.
We have also received one resignation, that coming from Section One side Flying Bullets. This means that we will have 50 teams playing in the 2024 Summer League, making us the largest league in the North West and one of the largest in the country.
As a result, the Committee have opted to get rid of the No Match from each division and have ten teams in each of the five sections. With Flying Bullets' resignation, this means that no teams will be relegated from any division, with additional promotions taking place in each of the other divisions in order to fill the divisions accordingly.
Section One will see the top same teams as the Winter League, these being Bogey Flickers, Bully Dogs, Clarry B, Halfway Mixed, Northern Bar, The Lads, Total Confusion and Wanderers. Queen of Hearts have been promoted as Champions, however they have changed name and moved venues and will be now known as Runcorn Linnets. Beechwood Cavaliers have also been promoted as Runners Up.
Section Two sees seven teams from the last Winter who are Doo Waps, Halfway to the Fids, Has Beens, Nomads, Northern Starks, The Roundside and The Royal. Section Three Champions Windy Hill Bullys and Runners Up Halfway Peers are promoted, along with third placed Clarry Tats.
Section Three sees six teams from the Winter remain, these being Bang Tidies, Castle Double Tops, Northern R Souls, Norton Arms, The Willies and the newly renamed Wilsons Woodchuckers. They are joined by Section Four Champions The Con Artists and Runners Up Beechwood Bullets, with High Voltage and Quarrymen also promoted.
Section Four has just five teams from last season. These are Blue Oyster Bar, Golden Arrows, Halfway Bar, Lockdown Legends and Wine Bar. They are joined now by Section Five Champions Legacy Darts and Runners Up Lockdown Lizards, with Northern Flytes, The A Team and The Addy Chuckers all also promoted.
This brings us onto Section Five with just three teams remaining from last season. These are Bottom House, Queen of Hearts Mixed and The Warmy Wobblers. As always new teams start in the bottom section. We extend a warm welcome to the following seven teams who will be in Section Five:
Beechwood Originals - These will be playing from the Beechwood Pub
Flight Attendants - These will be playing from the Lockdown Bar
Linnets Chuckers - These will be playing from Runcorn Linnets
Low Voltage - These will be playing from the Wellington
The Fat 20s - These will be playing from Runcorn Sports Club
The Prospect - We dont really need to say where these will be playing... but its The Prospect!
The Unusual Suspects - These will be playing from the Lockdown Bar
There are a couple of other changes of venues for existing teams. Bogey Flickers have moved to the Bridge View with The Lads moving to The Prospect. Blue Oyster Bar have moved to the War Memorial, with Beechwood Cavaliers also moving to the Beechwood Pub.
Fixtures for the Summer League season have been done and they will be published nearer to the start of the season. There is a Secretaries Meeting at Runcorn War Memorial Club on Wednesday 24th April at 8.00pm where sheets will be handed out, with the season starting the following week on Thursday 2nd May.