Darts: Double delight as Britton wins singles crown (From York Press)

Darts: Double delight as Michelle Britton wins singles crown

9:57am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in Sport

FIVE Lions’ Michelle Britton was crowned individual champion of the York John Smith’s Ladies Darts League after beating great rival Tracey Farmeary in the final.

Cueball’s Farmeary held a big advantage in the opening leg, only to find the all-important double elusive and Britton won a double-one shoot-out.

Britton started the next game with a maximum, but the snooker club captain kept pace and both players squandered chances before again double one saw the Lions skipper secure the title.

Sarah Jackson, who was crowned player of the night, was in action in the pairs with Flag colleague Sharon Neads, where they won a close-fought contest 2-1 against Jo Hodges and Ruth Norman, of Tramways.

Norman closed double 19 to go one up after missed chances from the Flag duo, who hit the tons before a double two finish from Jackson set up the decider.

Scores of 140, 100, 100 and 80 gave the Flag pair the edge, and Jackson closed on double seven for the title.

Neads and Jackson were joined in the triples by Jackson’s sister, Jane Dobson, where they met Cueball’s Farmeary, Lynne Clapham and Tina Platt.

The first leg was neck and neck, Clapham and Neads hitting the tons. Jackson, whose finishing was superb, closed on double eight.

High scoring saw the snooker club side gain an advantage, but their finishing let them down and Flag caught up, with Dobson slotting in double four to snatch the title.

Farmeary and Bev Harton united in the Captain and Vice-captain Cup against Linda Embleton and Jaquie Woods, of Burton WMC.

The Cueball duo were in awesome form, with Harton closing double top for 28-dart leg after Farmeary had narrowly missed a 120 checkout.

Again the snooker club pairing set off well, with 121, 135 and 116 knocking the wind out of Burton’s sails before Harton again checked out with double four.

Embleton and Platt were brought together in the drawn pairs, where they faced Flag’s Toni Smallwood and Shepherd’s Rosie Hattee.

Embleton missed a bull finish in the first leg, letting in Smallwood to close double two. Hattee hit some good 80s and 90s as they shot into a commanding lead and Smallwood secured the title by closing on 23.

• Division three teams in the Winter League should note number seven is now White Horse, Poppleton.