Shaun Carroll back in Belgium with the BDO
Bloxwich's Shaun Carroll went back to Belgium and picked up more BDO ranking points in the BDO Antwerp Open.
Carroll returned to the city feeling buoyant after encouraging progress in the previous weekend's Belgium Open,
The 39-year-old couldn't emulate that best-ever run in BDO men's singles competition, a quarter-final, but did reach the last 16.
A 4-3 defeat to Melvin de Fijter put him out of the running and another last leg loss befell him in the last 32 of the men's pairs, alongside West Midlands county team-mate Mark Craddock.
His exploits have took him to 32nd in the BDO world rankings, with 144 points. His ultimate goal is to qualify for the World Championship at Lakeside.
Craddock, Wednesbury's Matthew Dicken and Wolverhampton's Michael Baker also made the return trip to compete. Tipton's Jamie Hughes did not travel.
Craddock first prevailed from the last 512 of the men's singles, beating Raoul Meijer 4-0. Baker whitewashed Willy van Casteren by the same verdict at that stage.
Dicken got a bye to the last 256, but went down 4-2 to Madars Razma. Baker also bowed out at that stage, 4-3 to Craig Hill.
Craddock edged past Davy van Baelen 4-3, while Carroll thumped by Junior Asselman Hans 4-0 whitewash as both progressed.
Both got past the last 128 by 4-0 landslide, Craddock vanquishing Jean-Pierre De Jonghe while Carroll eased past Richard Huizinga.
But the last 64 was where the journey ended for Craddock, who won just a leg as he was downed 4-1 by Adam Beck. Carroll eliminated Baker's conqueror Hill 4-3.
The England international kept up his form to see off James Hurrell 4-2 in the last 32, but the clash with de Fijter went the other way.
A narrow score-line spelled closure for Carroll and Craddock in the men's pairs, 3-2 to Ross Montgomery and Jimmy Hendriks.
Baker also played in the pairs, teaming up with Mick Connerton, coming off second best 3-0 in a last 64 clash with Richard Luigjes and Tonne Brouwer.
