Runner up Brian Moar, winner Ian Linklater and KDDL president Robbie Norquoy.
The ranking points events reached their conclusion on Friday evening in the Masonic with the League singles attracting 41 players, all trying to secure a place in this season's Intercounty and 'B' intercounty sides.
Usually a tense and nervy affair lacking real quality as a result, this year's singles would prove to be the polar opposite,with some of the highest overall standard of play all season. As names fell, the committee were hard at work figuring out the live points table, trying to see who was in, who was out and who could still make it?
By quarter final time the cream was beginning to rise to the top, with seven regular county players making it through. Ryan Wilkie made up the eight following a very good night of darts from the youngster.
On-form Robbie Stanger would have been one of the names deemed a favourite on the lips of all prior to the competition, but he lost out to last season's runner-up Brian Moar in a tremendous quarter-final tie. Bruce Moar has been another big hitter this year, but he found Erlend Lennie in great form and the Tankerness man found a route through to the semi's. Erland Ritch and Kevin Gray piled in the 180s in another superb match, with defending champion Kevin making it through and Ian Linklater completed the semi-final line-up with a win over Ryan Wilkie.
Erlend Lennie took an early 2-0 lead over Brian, missed his chances to go 3 up and ended up losing 4-2 in what was more a battle of attrition than a high quality game. That description was held by the other semi in which Ian produced some exceptional darts to beat Kevin 4-2.
A new name was guaranteed to be on the trophy prior to the final commencing, but would Brian go one step further than last season, or would Ian continue his sensational form on the night and take it? Ian answered that question straight away, flying out of the blocks with a 180, 177 and a 13 dart leg in the opening 3 legs as he cruised to a 3-0 lead. Brian was struggling to get any sort of grip on the game but did claw a leg back and missed his chance to get another in the following leg. The winning double is always the hardest to hit, would Ian falter as the finishing line drew near? The answer was a resounding no as Ian threw yet another scintillating leg, finished off with a brilliant 120 chekout to claim the league singles title, and a shot at the Orkney championship title next month. By far the best player on the night, Ian had saved his best until last with his 89.14 average one of the highest recorded in a final since the league started recording them.
On sunday evening, following a 9th place play-off between Bruce Moar and Wayne Monkman, the top 9 players plus captain Craig Taylor met to vote in the three wildcard picks for the intercounty team, as well as four reserves, the first two of whom play a warm-up doubles match before the main event.
The KDDL Orkney Intercounty team for 2026 is as follows: Craig Taylor (non-playing Captain), Robbie Stanger, Ian Linklater, Kevin Gray, Erland Ritch, Erlend Lennie, Brian Moar, Stevie Garner, Brett Dickinson, Bruce Moar, Wayne Monkman, Jamie Drever and Stevie Linklater.
Reserves: 1. George Low 2. Graham Firth 3. Leigh Shearer 4. Gary Wilson
Results:
League Singles Final: Ian Linklater 5, Brian Moar 1
'A' League:
Tankerness 4, Wanderers 8
Legion 6, OGC 6
'B' League:
Bilco Boys 6, Quoyburray 6
Muppets 2, Quoyburray 10
'C' League:
EMYFC 2, Nomads 10
Vikings 7, Sands '2' 5
180s were scored by: Erlend Lennie, Andy Green, Bruce Moar, Kevin Peace, Leigh Shearer, Wayne Monkman, Ian Findlay, Stephen Griffiths, Ryan Wilkie, Wilfie Tulloch, Mason Taylor, Alex Cooper, Damian Stout, Robbie Stanger, Brian Moar, Aaron Mitchell (two), Kevin Sarling (two), Ian Linklater (two), Erland Ritch (three) and Kevin Gray (four). Ian Linklater also registered a score of 177, with Aaron Wilkie and Bruce Moar hitting 171 each.
High Checkouts: Stevie Garner 100, John Garson 103, Stuart Thomson 110, Bruce Moar 111, Robbie Stanger 111, Ian Linklater 120, George Low 122, Kevin Gray 136, Gary Drever (100, 106) and Brian Moar (110, 124).
Short Legs: Robbie Stanger 15, Stevie Garner 15, Brian Moar 14, Bruce Moar 14, Erland Ritch 13, Kevin Gray/Wayne Monkman 15, 14, Paul Foubister 15, 14, Kevin Gray 15, 15, 14 and Ian Linklater 15, 15, 14, 13.
Fixtures:
'A' League:
OGC v Untouchables
Ale Stars v Exiles
Wanderers v Sanday
Legion v Tankerness
'B' League:
Quoyburray v Rough 'n' Rowdy
Bilco Boys v Sands
Quoyburray 'B' v Bellevue
Muppets v Young Loons
'C' League:
EMYFC v Exporters
Shandy Bass v Vikings
Nomads v Bull Hitters
Outcasts v Sands '2'
Friday March 27, Steven Flett Mixed Doubles, Legion, 7.30pm
Friday April 3, East v West, Pomona Inn, 7.30pm