Once again we implemented the popular 5 week format.

Everyone seems to enjoy this format and it improves the players chances of qualifying with more chances of entering.

WEEK 1 Qualifiers.

Les Reid & Kerry Wilkinson set the standard for week 1 winning both half finals in convincing fashion. Reaching the 1st half final by only dropping 1 leg, they faced Mark Harris & Lesley Heaney. Although the scoring was very even, it was Les & Kerry's finishing that saw them to a 2-0 victory.

They reached the 2nd half final on a tougher route and needed the 3 legs in each round to eventually face Bill Hoskins & Sas Bode in the final. Even though Sas checked out on 97 to take the first leg, Les & Kerry came through again 2-1 winners.

In the play-off the scoring was high but Mark & Lesley managed to finish the better to join Les & Kerry going on through to finals night.

With 16 pairs turning out tonight we were always assured of some good quality darts and we weren't dissapointed.

Sas had the highest checkout on the night with a 97 which was quite suprising considering the quality of the darts.

But the high scores show exacly what went on with 6 x 180's, 31 x 140's and 134 x 100+ scores. Excellent stuff.

The 6 maximums came from Bill Hoskins (2), Les Reid, Mark Harris, Sas Bode, and Neil Linford.

WEEK 2 Qualifiers.

An even better turn out than the previous week with 17 entrants giving us plenty to watch tonight.

Reigning champions Steven & Dawn Stevenson were knocked out in both semi-finals in week 1, but they soon made amends in week 2. They reached the 1st half final and played Neil Linford & Leanne Howard. They won with a convincing 2-0 scoreline.

The 2nd half final was fought out by Mark Steele & Emma McGarvie against Gary Heaney & Michelle Black. Mark & Emma had just knocked out the Stivvy's in the 2nd half semi final and were playng well and this showed as they swept away their opponents 2-0 with consistent scoring and finishing.

Leanne Howard had the highest checkout this week with 118. This score would eventually win her the highest female checkout of the tournament.

Neil Linford was the highest scorer on the night with 2 x 180's, 8 x 140's and 9 x 100+ scores. Well Done.

Mike Reid and Mark Steele also hit maximum scores tonight.

Overall there were 4 x 180's, 36 x 140's and 119 x 100+ scores.

WEEK 3 Qualifiers.

This week saw a record number of attendees with 18 pairs turning up. A brilliant turn out and some excellent displays were on show.

Even though this many turned up it was still two pairs who shone through both halfs to qualify.

Richard Bell & Val Hargrave made both finals alongside Darren Lockhart & Angela Stott. This meant they both automatically qualified for finals night.

Both pairs made the 1st half final with considerable ease brushing aside all opponents in their way with Richard & Val having to play an extra preliminary match at the start of the night with so many entants.

Reaching the 2nd half final was much trickier for both pairs but showed their class in the end.

Gary Heaney had the highest checkout on the night with a 109 outshot.

Richard Bell was tonights high scorer with 1 x 180, 7 x 140's and 14 x 100+ scores.

Other maximums came from Mark Barlow and Bill Barnes.

In total there were 3 x 180's, 33 x 140's and 131 x 100+ scores.

WEEK 4 Qualifiers.

In the 1st half final, first time entrants Andy Goodfellow & Lorraine Green qualified with some excellent performances.

They won the final 2-1 against Gary Heaney & Michelle Black and that was the first leg that they had dropped in this half.

The 2nd half final was won by the ever-present pairing of Neil Linford & Leanne Howard. They had performed excellently throughout all 4 qualifying weeks and it was a mystery to most how they still hadnt made it through. They put that right though at the very last attempt beating Andrew Foster & Lydia Kerr 2-0 to put the record straight.

Bill Hoskins had the highest checkout tonight with a 133 and this was the highest of the tournament until Richard Bell beat it by 1 in the quarter final on finals night.

Highest scorer by far tonight was Neil Linford who hit 4 x 180's, 4 x 140's and 15 x 100+ scores. Excellent stuff from Neil who had played like this on many of the qualifying nights.

Other maximums came from John Blaney and Andy Goodfellow.

In total there were 6 x 180's, 23 x 140's and 107 x 100+ scores. Brilliant.

Other notable checkouts too were from Andy Goodfellow (109), Neil Linford (107) and Andrew Foster (80).

QUARTER FINALS.

Les Reid & Kerry Wilkinson versus Mark Steele & Emma McGarvie.

A quick start by Mark & Emma and a 19 dart leg and a 70 checkout from Mark soon secured leg 1.

Les & Kerry hit back with a quickfire 17 darts leg themselves to level the match.

Average scoring in the 3rd leg so both pairs with chances on doubles but it was Emma who checked out with a low 5 to put them 2-1 up.

A maximum from Mark left Emma with 77. In the meantime Les hit a 140 to put the pressure back on and Emma couldnt finish and left tops for Mark. With Kerry failing to finish off her score Mark hit double tops with his 3rd dart to give them a 3-1 victory.

Neil Linford & Leanne Howard versus Darren Lockhart & Angela Stott.

A close match which swung to and fro. An average start in leg 1 and Darren hit double 17 to take the 1st leg.

With Leanne scoring two tons and Neil hitting one they were on a finish and even though Darren & Anglea hit two tons themselves, Neil finished on 58 for a 17 dart leg. A great leg to win.

After that great leg, we were expecting more of the same. Unfortunately the wheels fell off so to speak. A very low scoring leg but Leanne eventually hit double 16 to take the lead 2-1.

The 4th leg improved slightly but again with nearlly 30 darts thrown at the dartboard each it was down to Darren to close the leg out with a creditable 86 finish to level the match.

The final leg however was great. Well for Neil & Leanne anyway. They hit 4 consecutive tons to leave Neil on double 16 after 15 darts. He missed with all 3 darts. With the gap so huge Leanne had her chance and she hit double 16 with her second dart to put them through 3-2.

Andy Goodfellow & Lorraine Green versus Richard Bell & Val Hargrave.

Both these pairings had qualified in real style and it was clear to see from the start that any of these pairs could eventually go on and win this tournament.

Plenty of tons in leg 1 saw Andy checkout on tops for a 1-0 lead.

It got worse for Richard & Val as even though they were scoring decently, Lorraine hit a 180 and Andy finished on double 7 for a 2-0 lead.

In leg 3 it looked all over for Richard & Val. Richard hit a ton to pull back the score and then Val hit a ton too to leave Richard on 134. Lorraine left Andy 60 and looking good to finish. He waited for Richard to throw expecting another chance but Richard checked out and saved the match at the last gasp to make it 2-1.

Richard & Val had a new lease of life and Richard hit two 99's and Val added with decent hits and they were soon down for Richard to finish off on tops to level the match at 2-2.

The final leg set off at a great pace, two 140's by Andy, a 110 by Lorraine, high 80's and tons by Richard & Val and after 18 darts both pairs were on a finish.

Suddenly, stage fright, perhaps. Andy missed double 10, Lorraine missed double 7, Richard missed double 10, Val missed double 5, Andy missed double 1, Richard missed double 5 and eventually Lorraine hit double 1 for a very entertaining victory. A match that really could have gone either way. Just how we like it.

Mark Harris & Lesley Heaney versus Steven & Dawn Stevenson

The reigning champions set off well with a ton and a 140 from Steven, but Mark scored a 139 and a 125 and then finished on tops in 19 darts to take the first leg.

The 2nd leg was worse as it took 36 darts before Steven hit double 1 to level the match at 1-1.

The standard improved slightly but the finishing wasnt there for either pairing up till now and eventually Dawn finished on double 10 in 32 darts to go 2-1 up.

Once again the scoring was average and the finishing seemed to remain the same and once again it took 31 darts before Steven took the match 3-1 with a double 7 finish.

SEMI FINALS

Mark Steele & Emma McGarvie versus Neil Linford & Leanne Howard.

Both pairs played well to get this far and now its down to who can do it on the night.

Emma & Mark were first out of the stalls hitting 2 tons, a 95 and a 99 in the first 4 visits to the oche. This set Emma up for a double tops finish in 19 darts.

Neil & Leanne soon hit back with Neil scoring a 140 and plenty of 80's and 90's from both of them left Leanne to finish on 56 after 18 darts.

Neil & Leanne were certainly in the grrove now and a few more tons set them up for an early 3rd leg to go into the lead. their finishing let them down though and Mark & Emma were left chances at double 16, double 8 and double 4 before Neil eventually hit double 2 to go 2-1 up from 1-0 down.

Mark & Emma had the perfect response to going behind. 2 tons from each player and a 140 from Mark set up Emma for a double 16 finish in 20 darts to level the match at 2-2.

Mark & Emma continued their rich vein of form in to the 5th leg and with a 135 and a 140 from Mark, he finshed off on 66 in 18 darts to secure their place in the final. A really excellent match throughout.

Andy Goodfellow & Lorraine Green versus Steven & Dawn Stevenson

the reigning champions needed to perform better than in the quarter final if they were to overcome the pairing of Andy & Lorraine.

A low scoring start to leg 1 and neither pair really scoring highly. It was Andy who hit double 19 to finish in 26 darts for a 1-0 lead.

This seemed to spur the Stivvy's into life with Dawn htting 140 and Steven hitting a 180 in their first visits they were in control and even though Andy scored highly a quick finish on 50 by Dawn levelled the match at 1-1.

The blue touch paper was well and truly lit now and a 180 from Andy and tons from the Stivvy's set the scene for leg 3. Andy checked out on 100 though for an 18 dart finish to go 2-1 up.

This was quickfire darts and the standard only dropped slightly with tons from both pairs quickly getting down to the low figures. Lorraine checked out on 68 in 2 darts as Steven was ready to pounce on 65 but never got the chance. A great match.

GRAND FINAL

Mark Steele & Emma McGarvie versus Andy Goodfellow & Lorraine Green.

With the defending champions out now, we knew we were getting new champions yet again as no-one has ever won this tournament twice in its 7 year history.

A best of 7 final and a flying start as we all expected. A ton from Emma and a 140 from Mark soon got them down to a finish. A 125 from Lorraine and steady scores from Andy kept them in it. Lorraine struck the first blow with a 60 finish in 18 darts.

Again good scoring ensued and Mark had first bite at the cherry trying to finish off 60. He failed and Andy came in to hit double 10 to make it 2-0.

Mark & Emma cant afford to go 3-0 down and set off great with a ton and a 121 both from Emma. Andy & Lorraine were playnig catch up but not for long as Emma sunk her dart into double 10 to make the scoreline 2-1.

High scoring continued with a 140 from Emma and a 130 from Mark a comeback looked likely. Lorraine hit a 140 too though. Mark was left with 66 but failed and Andy stepped to hit double tops to make it 3-1.

Will those missed double be Mark & Emma's undoing? At 3-1 they now need the final 3 legs to win.

What a response they gave too. 4 tons in 4 visits and Emma checking out on double tops in 19 darts with Andy & Lorraine's score just over 200.

At 3-2 the pressure was back on Andy & Lorraine but this final leg showed just what you can do when you need to under pressure.

A 180 from Andy, a 100 from Lorraine, a 140 from Andy and then a 53 checkout by Lorraine was testiment to their standard of darts and they couldnt have finished the match off any better than that.

What an excellent display by both pairs.