HISTORY was made during the York John Smith's Mixed League competition finals.

A brother-sister partnership, Dean and Toni Smallwood won the main prize, the mixed pairs title, by beating Cygnet's Dave Gibbons-Lynne Thompson 2-1.

Dean hit the tons-plus to collect the opener but the Cygnet duo levelled. Then, when out in front, they fluffed the chance to polish it off and Toni narrowly missed bull for a 104 check but Dean was there to take it next time.

Fortune had it that Gibbons drew Toni to partner in the blind-draw pairs, and after beating Pete Leake-Sharon Neads 2-1, repeated the score to snatch the title 2-1 from Kev O'Hara-Tracey Farmeary in which Gibbons contributed three 140s, three tons, 137 and 180, his second maximum.

The men's individual trophy was retained by Slipper's Barry Noble, who tomorrow dons an England shirt for the first time in the Home Internationals in Wales.

Noble brilliantly threw 180 for 14 darts, then 17, to eliminate Gibbons before chalking up 20, 15 dart games against Cue Ball's Pete Leake, a 2-1 semi-final victor of Mick Willsden (Cygnet).

Tracey Farmeary (Huntington) was foiled in her bid to bag the women's individual title in successive seasons.

A close 1-0 scoreline over Karen Richardson (Cue Ball) took her through but Cygnet's Dawn Exton hammered the big scores to beat Jane Dobson (Slipper) and again to deny Farmeary who equalised at one apiece with a splendid 21-darter.

Clifton's Martyn Turner is the York Unique-Phoenix League division one individual champion.

He toppled Tap's John Quantock 2-0 with a superb 16 darts to capture the title after magnificent 14, 18 dart semi-final games, each including maximums, disposed of Shepherd's Mick Willsden.

Quantock's road to the final saw him take out Tap colleague Jim Wallis in a close 2-1 tussle.

Paul Cooper (Cygnet 'B') was favourite to collect the division two title but Tap's Kevin O'Hara upset the odds when equalising with a splendid 17 darts. He took his chance when Cooper narrowly missed bull for a 126 title-finish.

Cooper took out Ged McMahon (Rose and Crown) with convincing 20, 21 darts, 180 included, while O'Hara was 1-0 down to colleague Shaun Clappison, but after levelling, shot a fine 100 finish to game in 18.

The best of three 1001 up triples competition final pitched the hot favourites, Clifton, against Tap 'A'.

Clifton hit six ton-plus scores in the first seven throws to open up a huge lead. But double trouble took hold and Tap stole the leg and Darren Bailey came up with a title-clinching finish for a 2-0 win.

John Smith-Quantock defeated McMahon-Andy Carruthers to pick up the pairs trophy. They booked a place in the final by beating Sean Robinson-Andy Mason (Phoenix) 2-0, while Turner-Martin Waddington went down 2-1 in the other semi final.

The blind-draw pairs final saw Graham Sanderson (Clifton)-Trevor Platt (Slipper) defeated by O'Hara and Acomb's Mike Harris, while the team KO trophy was won by Clifton.

Turner (15, 15, 16) and Bishopthorpe's Tony Raymond (14, 16, 16) shared the Three Fastest Finishes trophy. O'Hara received the 'player of the night' award and Mark Hartley (Cygnet 'A') was judged 'player of the season'.

Tomorrow is the closing date for summer season entries.

Bay Horse 'A' team's emphatic 8-1 over Six Bells virtually guarantees the York Open League division one championship.

Rich Corner (19) and Paul Cooper (16) were in excellent form, while Andy Lawson added a 20-darter before Allan Galley wrapped it up within the singles. Bells' only reply came from John Quantock (20).

Title rivals Greyhound, lost their way after Dave Pilmoor had given them a fantastic 16-dart start. Cygnet's John Clemit-Steve Lane secured the decider but Greyhound held the aggregate.

An 18-darter from Tony Raymond and 20 from Dave King gave Bishopthorpe hope but Trevor Platt-Ian Johnstone settled the win for Slipper.

In division two, Pack beat Mount 'A' within the singles, while leaders Howden strengthened their grip with a fine 6-3 victory over Huntington 'A'.

Reindeer, still without a win, went close against Crescent 'B' whose Eric Barker-Nathan Bamford were match-winners, while a 115 bull finish from Vic Reed saved the aggregate point for Woolpack at Ebor.

Huntington 'B' are division three champions after a 6-3 win over Yearsley. Fulford Arms recorded a fine 6-3 win at Ship.

Ali Wray hit the tons as Bay Horse 'B' beat Winning Post 6-3, while Burton's Paul Tallon-Steve Simpson were match-winners at Jackdaw, whose Mark Sommerville's efforts salvaged the aggregate.

Nick Harteveld's 21-darter inspired Mount 'B' against Little John, whose Jacqui Richford was their only singles success.

The closing date for summer season entries is tomorrow.

Updated: 11:13 Friday, March 28, 2003