What a great end to the first half of the 2012-13 season in the KDDL, as 64 players toed the oche for the festive open singles.
Ten non-registered players and 54 registered players battled it out for the top money and, more importantly, ranking points.
By the time the points-range was reached, only three non-registered players were left, with just one making the next round.
By semi-final time, it was very familiar players left and, after two very good semi-finals, where Stevie Linklater got past Michael Bain 3-2 and Kevin Gray put out defending champion Ivan Leslie 3-1.
After the terrific darts in the semi-finals, in the final Stevie won the title with a 4-2 win over Kevin Gray.
The first half of the Williamson’s ‘A’ League ended with the Legion still undefeated, as they thumped Sanday 10-2, and the isles boys are now well down the table.
Clear in second spot are the Golf Club after good wins, both by 10-2, over RBLM and Quoyburray ‘B’, who had a very good 7-5 defeat of the Wanderers, who were expected to do a bit better than they have done.
The Untouchables had mixed fortunes, beating Quoyburray 10-2 but going down 8-4 to Untouchables ‘A’, and are now down in ninth place in the league.
But there was joy for Quoyburray as, in the last game, they collected their first win and points with a 7-5 defeat of Meadowbank, who remain pointless.
In the Williamson’s ‘B’ League, Shapinsay remain on top, and still undefeated, after an 8-4 win over Sands ‘2’, but no result from their other game against the Likely Lads.
The Sands have done very well, and are in second spot after beating the Shore 7-5.
Not far behind are Tankerness, who beat the Bilco Boys 8-4 to leave the golfing boys in bottom spot.
The Murray Arms are still in the hunt, after beating the Nomads 7-5, who have done very well in their first season, as have the Legion Arrows, drawing six-all with the Sands ‘2’.
A 7-5 win for Shore ‘2’ over Deerness leaves them in mid-table.
Ranking points table: Kevin Gray 37; Stevie Linklater 33; Robbie Stanger 22; Ivan Leslie 21; George Low 11; Billy Ward 11; Keith Brumpton 10; Bruce Moar 10; Michael Bain 10; Jim Brown 10; Ian Wilkie 10; Alan Gray 10; a further 23 players have points ranging from 8 to 3.
There were 180s from Hamish Baillie (2), Mark Louttit, George Low, Kevin Wilson (2), Simon Parry, Jimmy Miller, Derek Firth, Alan Gray, Michael Muir Jnr, Neil Croy, Sean Stanger, Billy Ward, Ian Linklater, Colin Kirkpatrick, Neil Drever, Brian Murray, Ian Wilkie, Keith Brumpton, Bruce Moar, Gary Wilson, Allan Brown, and Ross Howe, and two from Brett Dickenson, Eddie Craigie, Mike Bain, Davy Henderson and Craig Taylor, and four each from Stevie Linklater and Kevin Gray.
That’s a total of 41 — a new record for a one week total, making the halfway mark 274. Michael Bain also had a 177 score.
High checkouts: 101 Bruce Moar; 108 Stevie Linklater; 110 Kevin Gray; 112 Andrew Rendall and Ryan Tulloch; 115 Allan Brown; 118 Greg Harrold and Billy Ward; 120 Colin Ross; 123 Olly Bethwaite; 124 Brian Stevenson; 129 Roy Foubister; 145 Colin Kirkpatrick; and 146 from Brian Murray.
Festive raffle winners were — first prize: Steven Moar; second prize: Kevin Gray.
Darts will resume on Monday, January 7, 2013, with the Swanney Cup for ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams.
Results
Festive Open Singles Final: Stevie Linklater beat Kevin Gray 4-2.
Williamson’s ‘A’ League: Untouchables 4, Untouchables ‘A’ 8; Meadowbank 5, Quoyburray 7; Sanday 2, Legion 10; Quoyburray ‘B’ 7, Wanderers 5; RBLM 2, OGC 10; Quoyburray 2, Untouchables 10; OGC 10, Quoyburray ‘B’ 2’; no game — Commodores.
Williamson’s ‘B’ League: Tankerness 8, Bilco Boys 4; Shapinsay v Likely Lands — no score; Legion Arrows 6, Sands ‘2’ 6; Nomads 5, Murray Arms 7; Shore 5, Sands 7; Shore ‘2’ 7, Deerness 5; Sands ‘2’ 4, Shapinsay 8.