You can’t beat of a bit of bully, and there was plenty of action at the Manor Hotel, Willaston during the 13th Billy Moughtin darts tournament last Saturday.

Albeit entries were slightly down on last year’s numbers, inside the hostelry people were packed like sardines with the annual darts’ event proving as popular as ever.

The matches were the best out of three with the final being the best of five. It also saw both the men’s and women’s winners retain their respective crowns.

The finalists made their way to the oche with the pomp of music being belted out over the speakers and the boisterous and energetic atmosphere within the packed public house adding to the occasion.

In the men’s semi-finals, 2017 winner Kevin Lane defeated Wayne Harrison and Aaron Bradley reached his first final after beating John Senogles.

Lane really impressed in the final, showing why he is one of the top darts’ players in the island, defeating Bradley 3-0 and securing the title with a 112 finish in the final game.

In the women’s semis, Nikki Bardsley and Vicky Cannan (who also reached last year’s semis) earned their places in the finals after defeating Wendy Andrews and Janine Halsall respectively.

The final proved to be a dramatic affair. Bardsley took the lead twice - checking out with a score of 115 in one game - only for Cannan to come back on both occasions to level the scores. The deciding leg saw Bardsley in the ’mad house’, and when Cannan set herself up for a double 16 finish, it was Bardsley, at the final dart, who retained her title with a double one finish.

Prizes were handed out to the semi-finalists, finalists and winners, the men’s and women’s winners also securing the highest finishes. Kevin Lane had a 150 and Nikki Bardsley 115. There was an additional award for Paul ’Ticky’ Fick who registered a 180.

THANK YOUS

Special mentions go to local band N.O.D., for donating their fee, Wayne Harrison for donating his prize money into the charity pot, John ’Scales’ Halsall for the walk-on music, John Kinley for serving food all day and Aidy Hogg for marking the finals.

Also Jan and Tony plus all of the staff at the Manor, John Denny and his daughter Sarah for the smooth running of the competition, Margaret and Colin Kelly for engraving the trophies, Caroline, Sarah, Larna and Wendy for selling raffle tickets and football cards, and everyone who donated a raffle prize.

A special thank you goes to the Moughtin family for holding the tournament in memory of one of the local game’s great stalwarts.

Donations and the raffle raised a total of £1,724.93. This year’s chosen charity was Huntington’s Disease, Isle of Man. PAUL HATTON