ALL three defending champions have qualified for this year's Streamline Taxis York Open Darts Championship finals.

The 12 ranking events have now been played and the Order of Merit is complete.

The trophy trio are David Copley, from Thurnscoe, who won the Open Event, York's Jo Hodges, who won the Ladies gong, and Lincoln's Leighton Bennett, who won the Youth (under-18s) event.

Copley has recently been named captain of Yorkshire for the forthcoming 2017/18 Inter County season,

The overall Order of Merit winner, meanwhile, is Yorkshire's Mark Lawrence, who won two of the 11 events he played in, was runner-up three times and made two more semi-final appearances.

The highest ranked lady was Hodges and the highest ranked youth was Leeds' Tom Dawson.

York darts stars Richie Corner and Chris Quantock cannot make the grand finals as they are playing at a PDC event. Andy Cairns, from Hull, likewise qualified but has work commitments.

This trio are therefore omitted from the Order of Merit list and everyone moves up three spots, with the top 48 players set to compete at the finals which will take place at Huntington WMC on Saturday, August 5. Players have to be at the venue by 1pm for a 1.30pm start. Spectators are welcome and entry is free.

The top 48 in the Order of Merit are: Mark Lawrence, Andy Walshaw, Stephen Silver, Stuart Limbert, Jim Gordon, Simon Cass, Richard Yates, James Weldon, Mark McLoughlin, Mike Atkinson, Trevor Day, Lance Milburn, 12

(Rich Corner*), (Chris Quantock*), Neil Hart, Dave Lord, Billy Hague, Alex Pride, Ian Atkin, Neil Ward, Mark Hartley,19 Trevor Holtby, Jim Banister, Jonny Lester, John Holden, Tom Dawson (Y), Mark Hesletine, Lewis Pride, Andrew Cooper, Phil Hoggarth, Bill Pearson, Ryan Lea (Y), Jonathan Foyle, David Copley, (Andy Cairns*), Anthony Case, Steve Vine, Tony Pearce, Jo Hodges (L), Johnny Cooper, Rich Lee, Matty Pemberton, Tony Billett, Justin Hobson, Adam Pearce (Y),

Josh Clough, Linda Staveley (L), Graham Day, Val Wilson, Ken Norton, Adam Wingrove.

(*not involved on finals day so omitted from top 48.)

For the full Order of Merit list, visit www.yorkdartspromotions.com/streamline-taxis-open-order-of-meri