Darts: Blackwood and Macintosh pair up for glory

Only three pairs short of last year’s record turnout, 58 players took to the oche to try for the title.

With none of last year’s finalists taking part this year, it would be down to previous champions to try to take the title again.

The early rounds saw some big scalps with previous champions and semi-finalists being knocked out.

The first semi-final saw Karen Wilson and Andy Stubbs (Chi Snooker B) take on Laura Macintosh and Gary Blackwood (Claremont Cobras). Wilson, a winner in 2010, and Stubbs lost in this round last year to the eventual winners, and couldn’t go further this year as Macintosh and Blackwood made a move into the final.

The second semi-final saw Serena Lee and Dave Bourne (The Battleships) up against Paula Duckett (Richmond Rebels) and Dave Owens (POW Z).

Lee and Bourne were on a roll after beating a top ladies’ county player and her partner in their previous match, but even after Bourne hit a 180, both of them missed double two and let Duckett and Owens through to the final.

In the final, despite Duckett leaving double top for Owens, Blackwood hit a 180 and the double on the way to taking the first leg. The second leg was just as close and as Blackwood hit 119 to leave 24 for Macintosh, Duckett was going for a 60 out shot, but bust it in one dart by hitting treble 20 with her first dart.

Macintosh then missed double 12, Owens left 10, and Blackwood took two darts at double 12 to take the leg, making him and Macintosh the Summer League mixed pairs champions.