HARROGATE darts aces were to the fore in stage three of the Yorkshire Masters Open organised in association with Streamline Taxis (York) and sponsored by Red Dragon Darts.

No fewer than three of the town’s players negotiated the oche showdown at Starbeck Working Men’s Club to book a place in the grand finals at Huntington WMC in York in Saturday, January 26.

The qualifiers were: Chris Thompson (York), Keith Craggs (Scorton), Kirk Bevins (York), Ian Malkin (Harrogate), Steve Higgins (Harrogate), Shaun Smith (Harrogate), John Bowler (Kendry) and Brian Dawson (Barnsley).

Alex Pride (Harrogate) and Lutz Leutzsch (York) beat Johnny Law (York) and Colin Hendry (Ferrybridge) in the blind pairs final.

Stage four was held at the Eastway sports and social club in Scarborough, where the qualifiers were: Graham Elvidge, Jim Gordon (both Scarborough), Richard Heathcote, Barry Ballaban and Steve Rice (all Bridlington), Daz Mawer (Grimsby), Carl South (Hunmanby) and York’s Simon Rimmington.

Neil Hart (York) and Barry Ballaban (Bridlington) won the blind pairs beating Andy Jones (Bankend) and Sarah Abbott (Driffield) in the final.

The remaining four stage qualifiers are: stage five at Huntington WMC, York, on November 24; stage six at The Greyhound, Bridlington, on December 8; stage seven at the Townville recreation and social club in Castleford, on December 22; and stage eight at the East Leeds snooker club on January 12.

Other York Darts Promotions events include the Help for Heroes Open individuals, blind pairs and nine-dart challenge – sponsored by S R Washers – today at Huntington WMC in York and the YDP Turkey & Tinsel Xmas Open – sponsored by The Pit Stop sandwich and snack bar – at The Punch Bowl, Lowther Street, York, on Saturday, December 15.

Registration at all the above events closes at 12.30pm.