TRACEY Farmeary retained the York John Smith's Ladies Darts League winter season individual title with a 3-0 victory.

Toni Smallwood, being one of the new players on the circuit, relies on natural talent and she matched Farmeary down to the double in each of the games. But Farmeary's fully developed stylish poise and composure won the day.

The championship clincher was crucially taken by the Cueball ace in 20 darts after Smallwood narrowly missed checking 18.

Farmeary has now won three of the last four championships.

Cygnet's Dawn Exton and Anne Bass won the tons count 7-3 and the Captains'-Vice Captains' Cup 2-1 from Crystal Palace duo Sue Lowery and Roz Kerr.

Bass bagged both the first and deciding game finishes, while Kerr clinically closed the equaliser with 20, treble 12, double 18.

Bass also produced the vital darts to pick up the pairs' title trophy. Again partnering Exton, they beat Palace's Michelle Britton and Karen Richardson 2-1.

Kerr, Britton and Julie Coyle recovered from a game down, taken by Carole Layne, who was teamed with Lowery and Richardson, to win the triples.

Britton (127, 135, 100, 100) and Kerr (140, 140, 100) shot the impressive scores, but Layne was outstanding on the losing side, throwing four 100s and 125, which put her in with top marks toward the player of the night award.

It was consolidated beyond doubt by her drawn-pairs performance.

Partnering Clifton's Jan Wilberham, Layne brilliantly clocked 100, 140, 140, 140, 121, 123 and checked both finishes to beat Smallwood and Cueball's Carole Pipes.

With an aggregate of 60, Roz Kerr collected the season's Three Fastest Finishes award.

John Smith's Brewery sales manager Paula Reed presented the prizes.

Volunteer hit the front of York Phoenix Open League division one with an 8-1 win at Pack, whose winner was Greg Robinson. Mike Harris was a 180 scorer.

Howden Arms had Mick Harris making a maximum, then partnering Andy Cass to a 5-4 win over Cygnet, who salvaged the aggregate due to a timely maximum from John Miller.

Mitre had a 101 finish from Russ Armstrong, following 19 darts by Andy Lawson and 21 from John Pickering, to take the aggregate, but Golden Slipper sealed the match 6-3.

Pete Turnbull threw a tremendous 15 darts and Ian Johnstone-Trevor Platt secured the victory.

There's only one way to finish 110 with two darts and Pete Heffernan found it to put division two leaders Three Cranes ahead at Clifton 'B'. Frank Cartin-Geoff Dawson then took the winner.

Mal Muncaster was a mainstay but Crescent crumbled 6-3 to Ebor, while Simon Jackson-Steve Rice took the decider for Hospital Social at Huntington 'B', whose best was Keith Elliott.

Leeman's 6-3 win over Clarence included a 180 score from Steve Parkinson, while Jackdaw took the division three match at Burton within the singles, Ali Cham preventing a straight six.

Ken Newsome (21) shone in Falcon's 7-2 over Bay Horse 'B', while Bishopthorpe's decider at Indoor Bowls was settled by Eric Sleightholme-Dave Raymond.

Marston Moor Villages Doubles-Board League conclude their season with the Browns of York and Helmsley sponsored Challenge Cup at Lord Collingwood on Thursday.

League champions Tankard, Rufforth, take on a Rest of the League side comprising Andy Hill, Gary Stead, Andy Carter (Royal Oak), Steve Wragg, Nick Brown (Collingwood), Simon Jackson, Chris Hall, Johnny O'Mara (Alice Hawthorn), Jamie Taylor, Dave Richardson (Spotted Ox) and Dave Stoakes (Hammerton Social).

The match is six singles and three pairs, and all selected will play.

Updated: 11:49 Tuesday, May 06, 2003