A record entry of 74 players turned up for the last event of the year – the Festive Singles – well up on last year.
It was also a ranking points event, with only registered players getting points.
There were 51 registered and 23 non-registered players, but, before the main event, the KDDL presented two cheques of £300 each to the Fishermen’s Mission and RNLI.
Back to the darts and, as usual, there were some big names going out early, such as Billy Ward, the defending champion, but, even with all the non-registered players in, only two survived going in to the last 16. They were Clive Hewison and Jim Brown, from Westray, who was playing great darts, but went out in the quarter-finals by Kevin Gray, who was joined in the semi-finals by team-mates Ivan Leslie and Derek Firth, along with Ian Linklater.
It was Ivan and Ian who made the final. On the way there, Ivan had 11 and 12-dart legs, and Kevin also had a 12-dart leg.
In the final, Ivan went one leg up, only for Ian to equal. But that was all he got, as Ivan rattled off the next three legs to win 4-1.
But it was far from being one-sided. Only sharper finishing on the doubles won it for Ivan.
In all, 13 180s were scored, and 11 over 100s finishes.
There were 180s from Kevin Gray, Robbie Rendall, Alan Johnston, Ian Linklater, Willie Bremner, Martin Peace, Derek Firth, and two each from Ivan Leslie, Jim Brown and Roy Foubister.
High finishes: 100 and 111 from Ivan Leslie; 105 Derek Firth; 106 Michael Moodie; 108 Michael Muir Jnr; 109 Trevor Shearer; 112 James Flett; 121 Kevin Gray; 128 Stevie Linklater; 129 Wayne Small; and 130 from Ian Wilkie.
Top 12 places in the ranking table are: Derek Firth 38; Ivan Leslie 30; Kevin Gray 24; Robbie Stanger 19; Bruce Moar 15; Brian Moar 15; Ian Linklater 14; Roy Foubister 13; Michael Moodie 11; Stevie Linklater 10; Paddy and Trevor Shearer both have eight.
Another 18 players have points, ranging from six to three, and there’s three more ranking events to go. The next one is the E. R. & T. Craigie Singles, which takes place on JAN 27, not 2nd as wrongly stated in The Orcadian.
The Williamson’s ‘B’ League has finally been completed, with Shapinsay beating the Likely Lads 9-3 and Shore ‘2’ getting the better of the Shore 8-4.
The festive raffle was also held on Friday. The winners of the two main prizes were, first, “Muggins”, and second, Fraser Laird. Another 15 prizes were spread all over Orkney.
Thanks to everyone who sold or bought tickets.
Well, that’s it for this year, the committee wish all the players and friends a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.
RESULTS
Festive Open Singles, semi-finals
Ivan Leslie beat Derek Firth 3-1; Ian Linklater beat Kevin Gray 3-2.
Final
Ivan Leslie beat Ian Linklater 4-1.
Williamson’s ‘B’ League
Shapinsay 9, Likely Lads 3; Shore ‘2’ 8, Shore 4.