Scotsman Glen McGrandle and Kim Bellay of Canada captured the men’s and women’s singles titles, when the curtain came down on the 16th Harrows Barbados Darts Festival at Solidarity House on Sunday night.
On a day that produced compelling drama and world-class darts in both tournaments, McGrandle defeated Canadian Dennis Latimer in the men’s final, while Bellay prevailed over Sarah Roberts of England in the women’s equivalent.
Barbadian Anthony Forde, Guyanese Sudesh Fitzgerald and Trinidadian James Walkins advanced to the quarter-finals, but found the going tough against opponents from either the UK or Canada.
In the final, Latimer came up against an inspired and relentless McGrandle. Although the Canadian hit three-figure scores on his first two visits to the oche, he was unable to maintain this momentum.
McGrandle took this leg and then legs two and three in 17 and 15 darts, respectively, with a stunning 156 in the third leg. He wrapped up the match to claim the title in the fourth leg as there was little that Latimer could do in the face of such a barnstorming performance from the Scot.
The women’s final produced a match that went to the wire and was a superb advert for the game. Played at pace, skill and great sportsmanship, Canadian international Bellay and English international Roberts reeled off three-figure scores and explosive checkouts on a regular basis as they fought to gain the upper hand. But neither would give an inch.
In the first leg Roberts hit three tons, but could not hit the 60 checkout she required. Bellay needed a 121 checkout, knowing that her opponent would more than likely take the leg on her next visit to the oche.
The Canadian drew gasps from the crowd by hitting the numbers to give her one final dart to give her a shot at the bull to finish and she hit it dead centre.
Roberts took the second leg against the darts, and in the third hit a maximum before getting down to a 115 checkout. She then hit bull, 25 and double top to take the leg and a 2-1 lead.
Bellay fought back to level at 2-2 and took the fifth leg for the lead. Roberts now needed to win the sixth leg without the advantage of the darts. With Bellay waiting on a finish, Roberts needed to hit a 135 checkout to stay in the match. She was unable to do so and Bellay, predictably, hit double top with her first dart to take the title. (PR/HG)
