The British Pentathlon is a professional darts event consisting of five different disciplines. It was first established in 1975, run by the British Darts Organisation and subsequently the World Darts Federation. A women's event was established in 2004.
The event is invitational and has twenty competitors. Martin Adams has won it 13 times and John Lowe won it ten times. The women's event has been won eight times by Trina Gulliver. Other multiple winners include Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor, John Walton and Andy Fordham.
Format The Pentathlon has a unique format among darts events. Competitors play 24 games of darts over the course of the day: a two-legged 501 match against each of the other players (a total of 19 matches), single legs from 1001 and 2001, then games of halve-it, Shanghai and round the board on doubles. Points are awarded based on performances in each of the events. The champion is the player who accumulates the highest number of points.
The Pentathlon has been described as "the toughest and most gruelling darts event on the calendar," whose aim is "to reduce luck to a minimum and ensure that talent, skill and determination are rewarded with success." Trina Gulliver called it "probably the most difficult darts competition ever." Bobby George described it as "like darts' version of Superstars without any cycling, shooting or swimming." He also thought it a "ridiculous event", which "had no appeal to me whatsoever", and "one long, hard, boring slog". John Lowe, on the other hand, enjoyed the event, but eventually stopped playing in it because the prizemoney hadn't increased in years.
Gameplay The exact rules can vary across events. In the British pentathlon, the rules are as follows: Each invited player plays each other over two legs from the standard 501 start. Points are awarded for high scoring visits, for completing the leg within a set number of darts, and for winning the leg. Each player plays a single leg of darts starting from both 1001 and 2001. Points are awarded for high scoring visits and there are bonus points for completing the leg within a set number of darts. Shanghai - The player throws three darts at each segment from 1 through 9. One point is awarded for hitting the correct single number, two for the double and three for the treble. Bonus points are awarded for hitting one single, one double and one treble of the target number ("Shanghai"). Halve it - Players have three darts at each of the designated numbers in turn: 20s, 16s, double 7, 14s, treble 10, 17s, bullseye. Scoring is standard, but as the game progresses, missing a target number results in the player's score being halved. For pentathlon points, players are awarded one point for hitting each correct single, two for a double, three for a treble and two for a bullseye. Round the board on doubles - Players have 42 darts to hit every double on the board starting on 1 and continuing sequentially until 20. Two points are awarded for each double hit and bonus points are awarded for completing the challenge with darts to spare.
British Pentathlon winners Men
Year1st place2nd placeRound the board on doublesShanghaiHalve-it2021Neil DuffLuke LittlerNeil DuffNeil DuffDean Winstanley/James Richardson2020Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic2019Martin AdamsKyle McKinstryDave ParlettiJim Withers/Keith MontgomeryMartin Adams2018Kyle McKinstryAndy BaetensSven VerdonckDave ParlettiJim McEwan2017Martin AdamsWillem MandigersJay ForemanAndy BaetensPaul Dawkins2016Martin AdamsJamie HughesJamie HughesTed HankeyTatu Pehkonen2015Jamie HughesJohn WaltonJohn WaltonJamie HughesJamie Hughes2014Martin AdamsJohn WaltonPip Blackwell/Sven VerdonckJohn WaltonGarry Thompson2013James HurrellJay Foreman/Paul DawkinsRune David/Joe LaceyJay Foreman/Dirk HespeelsJay Foreman2012Robert WagnerMartin AdamsMartin Adams/Steve Douglas/James Hurrell/Jim WithersPaul SnowsillJani Haavisto/Joe Lacey2011Martin AdamsDean WinstanleyDirk HespeelsMartin AdamsDanny Russell2010John WaltonMartin AdamsJohn WaltonJohn WaltonPip Blackwell2009Martin AdamsScott MitchellMartin AdamsMartin AdamsScott Mitchell2008Martin AdamsJohn WaltonMarko KanteleMartin AdamsRoss Smith2007Co StompeMarko KantelePhil WanstallDirk Hespeels/Co StompePaul Dawkins2006John WaltonTony EcclesRobert WagnerTony Eccles/John WaltonJim Withers2005Tony EcclesUlf CederPascal RabauPascal RabauUlf Ceder2004Martin AdamsTed HankeyMarko KanteleMartin AdamsPhill Nixon2003Andy FordhamTed HankeyMartin Adams/Andy FordhamJarkko KomulaVijay Kumar2002John WaltonMartin AdamsMartin Adams/Robert WagnerAndy FordhamChris Bowring2001Martin AdamsRonnie BaxterJarkko KomulaColin Monk/Phill NixonMartin Adams2000Martin AdamsPeter ManleyRonnie BaxterMartin AdamsRonnie Baxter1999Martin AdamsColin MonkJohn WaltonMartin AdamsJohn Walton1998Andy FordhamRonnie BaxterColin MonkAndy FordhamRonnie Baxter1997Ronnie BaxterMervyn KingMartin AdamsRonnie BaxterAndy Fordham1996Martin AdamsRonnie BaxterAndy JenkinsThor JohansenColin Monk1995Richie BurnettSteve BeatonRichie BurnettRichie BurnettMartin Adams1994Martin AdamsLes WallaceSteve BeatonAndy FordhamColin Monk1993Steve BeatonAndy FordhamSteve BeatonKevin PainterSteve Beaton1992Dennis PriestleyAlan WarrinerDennis PriestleyAndy FordhamRod Harrington1991Phil TaylorRonnie BaxterPeter EvisonPhil TaylorRitchie Gardner1990Phil TaylorAlan WarrinerPaul ReynoldsAlan WarrinerRonnie Baxter1989Eric BristowBob SinnaeveEric Bristow/Martin HurleyEric BristowShayne Burgess1988Alan WarrinerJohn LoweAlan WarrinerEric Bristow/Reg Harding/Alan WarrinerJohn Lowe1987John LoweRitchie GardnerPaul Lim/Gene RaymondGraham ScowcroftDon Dillon1986John LoweRobert MacKenzieJohn LoweRobert MacKenzieJohn Lowe1985John LoweRitchie GardnerJohn LoweTony LittlewoodJohn Lowe1984John LoweJocky WilsonKen SummersSteve Brennan/John LoweRitchie Gardner1983John LoweKeith DellerSteve Brennan/Alan GlazierAlan Glazier/John LoweTrevor Nurse1982John LoweJocky WilsonBrian LangworthSteve BrennanJohn Lowe1981Eric BristowJohn LoweCliff LazarenkoJohn LoweEric Bristow1980John LoweEric BristowBrian LangworthBrian LangworthDave Whitcombe1979John LoweEric BristowBobby George/Cliff LazarenkoEric BristowMick Banyard1978John LoweDave WhitcombeCliff LazarenkoDave WhitcombeJohn Lowe1977Rab SmithAlan GlazierGeorge SimmonsAlan GlazierKen Brown1976John LoweLeighton ReesGeorge SimmonsCliff LazarenkoLeighton Rees1975Conrad DanielsCliff InglisHarry Heenan/Phil Obbard/Tommy O'Regan/Noel Fowley/Phil Wakeman/Steve RollingsGeorge Foster/Kevin White/Jim McQuillan/Jack McKenna/Cyril Hayes/Boerge MadsenGeorge Cottle/Javier Gopar/John Kelly/Glyn Greenway/Douglas Melander/Bjørn Enqvist/John Riding
Women
Year1st place2nd placeRound the board on doublesShanghaiHalve-it2021Not held2020Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic2019Beau GreavesLaura TurnerLaura StockingsLaura TurnerVicky Pruim2018Aileen de GraafLorraine WinstanleyDeta Hedman/Sharon PrinsCasey GallagherLorraine Winstanley2017Deta HedmanLorraine WinstanleyRachna DavidAnca ZijlstraLorraine Winstanley2016Trina GulliverDeta HedmanClaire BrookinSarah RobertsRhian Griffiths2015Fallon SherrockLorraine Winstanley/Deta HedmanDeta HedmanFallon SherrockClaire Brookin2014Deta HedmanClaire BrookinElin AssestrandTrina GulliverWendy Reinstadtler2013Deta HedmanTrina GulliverDeta HedmanTrina GulliverDonna Rainsley2012Trina GulliverRachna DavidTrina Gulliver/Donna RainsleyAnna ForsmarkAnna Forsmark2011Trina GulliverZoe JonesMarlene BadgerZoe JonesLorraine Winstanley2010Deta HedmanLorraine WinstanleyDeta Hedman/Sue Gulliver/Tricia WrightDeta HedmanSue Gulliver2009Trina GulliverApylee JonesDonna RainsleyKaren LawmanViv Dundon2008Lisa AshtonTrina GulliverLisa AshtonLisa AshtonLisa Ashton2007Trina GulliverJulie GoreIrina ArmstrongJulie GoreSandra Pollett2006Trina GulliverKaren LawmanKaren LawmanKaren LawmanTrina Gulliver2005Trina GulliverApylee JonesInita Bite/Tricia WrightHege LokkenTrina Gulliver2004Trina GulliverKaren LawmanKaren LawmanTrina GulliverTrina Gulliver
References