Sheppey Darts Classic singles winner Andy Belton with organiser Tony Cox and Lee Dunn, owner of Merlins

A host of late entries boosted the eighth Sheppey Darts Classic at Merlins Entertainment Complex, Leysdown, and some local success in the pairs helped to make the weekend a resounding success.

After a flurry of entries in the week building up to the event, the numbers for both the youth and the ladies’ competitions were up on last year, while despite the men’s draw being down, the standard remained high with several pro and county players taking part.

Peter Evison, Lee Cocks, Gavin Forsyth, Dave Solly, Dan Day, Vince Walsh, Bob Linton and John Auld went out in the last 16 but received £125 each while Clive Barden, Jimmy Allison, Richard Howson and John Ferrell received £250 each after their quarter-final exits.

In the last four, Norfolk’s Andy Belton – a two-time champion – hit two maximum 180s to overcome Paul Amos 5-3 while Lewis McGurn hit three in his 5-4 last-four win over Paul Dawkins. Both losing semi-finalists received £500.

McGurn looked set to spring a surprise in the final as he went 2-0 ahead but Belton battled back to win 6-4 and take the £2,000 prize and his third crown.

His average of 26.42 pipped McGurn’s 25.96, though the runner-up took home £1,000 for his trouble.

Paul Gould upset his fellow Kent player Ryan Sullivan 3-2 in the youth final while in the ladies’ final, Holly Glet beat Sally Rose 3-1.

Rose had overcome Andrea Walker in the last four while Glet beat Sue Holt in her semi-final.

Sheppey’s Ryan Hope and Nick Buckingham of Medway edged past Sheppey’s Fred Burton and Sittingbourne’s Steve Sidders in the semi-finals of the pairs compeittion.

Simon Lissenden and Steve March overcame their fellow Sheppey players Paul McDine and Mark Legg in the last four but lost 5-3 in the final to the in-form pair of Hope and Buckingham.