Darts: Toni Smallwood prevails in daring duel as finalists go to wire (From York Press)

Darts: Toni Smallwood prevails in daring duel as finalists go to wire

10:00am Tuesday 15th November 2011 in Darts

BURNHOLME’S Toni Smallwood was crowned York John Smith’s Ladies Darts League individual champion.

Smallwood won a close contest 2-0 against Cueball’s Tracey Farmeary, with both legs going down to the wire on finals night at Tramways Working Men’s Club.

Both players struggled with their finishing before Smallwood slotted in a double-two then a double-five to clinch the title.

Farmeary found consolation in the final of the Elsie Bell drawn pairs competition, partnering Leeman’s Shelagh Kenny to a 2-1 win over Flag’s Sharon Neads and Leeman captain Barbara Russell.

Farmeary hit a ton at a vital stage in the first leg and then closed on double-one with her next visit to the board.

Neads slotted in a double-top finish to set up the decider, where Kenny hit the tons and checked out on double-18 to snatch the title with their opponents waiting on an out shot.

Smallwood was joined by Burnholme colleague Marg Pearson in the pairs, where they defeated Five Lions duo Lynn Thompson and Anne Bass.

Smallwood hit the tons and closed both legs, with double-two and double-18, to take the title.

The Burnholme pair took on two more Lions players – Michelle Britton and Dawn Exton – in the captain and vice-captain final.

Pearson closed on double-six in the first leg after her partner had hit three tons.

Exton provided the finish in the second leg but, in the decider, a well-timed 122 from Britton gave Exton the chance to hit a 54 checkout.

Exton, Britton and Thompson lined up in the triples against a trio from division one champions Tramways – Roz Kerr, Jo Hodges and Ruth Norman.

In the first leg Hodges closed on double-eight, and Kerr hit two tons in the second leg before Norman shot out on 28 to secure the title.

Smallwood won the player of the finals award, pushed close by Leeman’s Kenny.