Gail Abbott of Crook has qualified to play in the Ladies Darts Masters Tournament in Stoke-on-Trent on Sunday, November 4 after winning the Knock-out tournament among the Durham County Super League players.

A victory at Stoke would move Gail on to the prestigious Lakeside Tournament.

Gail hit top form in the final of the Durham County competition for she put three darts in the 60 and followed up with three in the 57 and went on to whitewash Shirley Bowden of the Welsh Harp, Trimdon in the best of five match.

There is no shortage of match practice for Gail, for she plays in the Durham County Ladies Super League for Brandon Cricket Club, she plays for Crook Queen's Head in the Crook Men's League and for Crook Coach and Horses in the Crook Ladies League.

Tow Law Bass

Newhouse Club won a tough match at Tow Law New Market A by three points to move nearer leaders, Esh Stag's Head, who were without a match. After the trebles were shared Arthur Atkinson took the first singles for the home team. However the Club took over to win the remaining singles through Tom McQuillan, Brian Jones, Stephen Turner, Keith Liddle and Alan Todd. The Market regained some respectability when they took two of the three doubles.

Tow Law Cattle Mart now have to share second place, nine points behind the Stag's Head, with Newhouse Club after they slipped up at home to Tow Law New Market B. The trebles were shared and the singles followed the same pattern when Malcolm Boughey, Stephen Boughey and Colin Boughey won for the Mart with Stephen Umpelby, Susan Humble and Wayne Anderson winning for the Market, who went to victory by taking two of the doubles.

The leading marksman of the week was Steve Wilkie, who hit a maximum and four 140s for Hamilton Row Black Horse.

Leading scorers: Lee Cullinan 3 140s (Moss Inn), George Hope 140 (Station), Carl Wilcockson 140 (Comedian), Pat Elliott and David Brown 140 (Hamilton Row).

Results: Sunniside Comedian 10 Cornsay Royal Oak 1; Esh Football Club 5 Hamilton Row Black Horse 6; Tow Law Station 4 Sunniside Moss Inn 7; Esh McKennas 5 Tow Law Rose and Crown 6; Tow Law New Market A 4 Newhouse Club 7; Tow Law Cattle Mart 5 Tow Law New Market B 6.

Willington League

Willington Burn fought a late recovery to force a draw on their visit to Willington Club. The singles were shared with Stephen Hutchinson, Colin Walker and David Rusby won for the Club with Gordon Foster, Tony Longhorne and Lyndon Taylor levelling. The Club went on to take all three doubles points but the Burn's late fight back came when they took the double pointed team game and then Colin Davison took the captain's game to force the draw.

The Prospect Club lead the table by two points from Hunwick Quarry Burn, who are three points ahead of Willington Black Horse Tavern.

Results: Victoria Club 11 Willington Cottles 1; Sunnybrow Brown Trout 3 Prospect Club 9.; Willington Brewer's Droop 2 Willington Black Horse Tavern 10; Hunwick Joiners Arms 5 Willington Black Horse Inn 7; Willington Commercial 6 Hunwick Quarry Burn 6; Willington Club 6 Willington Burn 6.

Crook Ladies League

Crook Coach and Horses continued their relentless unbeaten run when they only dropped one point to the visiting Crook Queen's Head to move 19 points clear at the top. Tow Law New Market B are in second place, 12 points ahead of Tow Law Black Horse and Crook Travellers Rest, who share third place.

Leading individual scorers: Rose Clement 140 (Queen's Head), Dorothy Storey 140 (Travellers Rest), Sharon Myers 137 (New Market A), Lynn Easton 134 (Belle Vue), Alice Winter 134 and Eileen Spencer 120 (Cattle Mart), Liz Tait 133 (Coach and Horses), Christine Dunn 132 (Olde Horse Shoe), Jean Forsyth 127 (Cricket Club), Michelle Heatherington 125, Christine Marley 120 (both New Market B).

Results: Tow Law New Market A 7 Tow Law Rose and Crown 4; Tow Law Black Horse 10 Billy Row Royal George 1; Victoria Club 3 Tow Law New Market B 8; Tow Law Station 3 Tow Law Cattle Mart 8; Crook Travellers Rest 10 Willington Black Horse 1; Billy Row Green 7 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 4; Crook Belle Vue 6 Willington Commercial 5; Crook Coach and Horses 10 Crook Queen's Head 1; Crook Cricket Club 7 Crook Jelly's Bar 4.

Wear Valley Ladies League

Kim Pritchard of Crook Mill House became the first player this season to hit a 171. She was also the first to hit a maximum last week.

Leading individual scorers: Margaret Storey two 140s (Coach and Horses), Ann Taylor 140 (Bar 56), Gillian Thompson 140 (Mill House), Carol Haygarth 140 and Emma Bell 127 (both Royal Sun), Freda Gelson 133 (Croft Social Club), Shirley Bennett 123 (Oakenshaw), Gwen Varley 121 (White Swan).

Crook White Swan are the early leaders with a two points advantage over Crook Golden Fleece, who are one ahead of Oakenshaw.

Results: Crook Mill House 4 Crook Golden Fleece 5; Oakenshaw 7 Crook Crown 2; Crook Queen's Head 6 Croft Social Club 3; Crook Royal Sun 4 Crook Coach and Horses 5; Howden Sunnydene Lodge 2 Crook Bar 56 7; Crook White Swan 8 Crook King's Head 1.

Crook 4Ds League

The Presentation Evening was held at Crook Coach and Horses, where the Reynolds Shield was presented to League Champions, Crook Golden Fleece, who also took the darts title. The dominoes Champions were Crook Coach and Horses.

A total of 180 medals were also presented to Paul Knighton of the Golden Fleece for hitting three maximums, whilst Lee Airey and Colin Cranston of the White Swan, Jeff Sneath of the Golden Fleece, Kevin Storey of the Coach and Horses, Michael Thompson of the Crown Hotel and John Ward of the King's Head hit one each.

There was a mixed pairs darts competition held on the night. The winners were Jillian Scott & Jeff Sneath of the Golden Fleece. The runners up were Margaret & Kevin Storey of the Coach & Horses.

Darts

Trs. Prs. Sns. T

Coach & Horses 6 14 29 49

Crown Hotel 6 10 25 41

Golden Fleece 14 25 43 82

Kings Head 9 12 23 44

Royal Sun Inn 15 13 27 55

White Swan 10 16 33 59.

Dominoes

Sns Prs T

Coach & Horses 18 42 60

Royal Sun Inn 22 30 52

Crown Hotel 28 22 50

Golden Fleece 20 30 50

White Swan 18 30 48

King's Head 14 26 40

Points and positions: 1 Golden Fleece 132 points; 2 Coach & Horses 109; 3 equal Royal Sun Inn and White Swan 107 each; 5 Crown Hotel 91; 6 King's Head 84.

Weardale Ladies League

When the St Johns Chapel Kings Head closed the darts team relocated to the Golden Lion. Now playing under the Golden Lion B banner they top the table after winning both opening games.

The league has suffered a blow with the withdrawal of Stanhope Queens Head B.

Results: Eastgate Cross Keys 3 Wolsingham Mill Race 5; St Johns Chapel Blue Bell B 5 Wolsingham Black Lion A 3; Stanhope Grey Bull 3 Westgate Hare and Hounds 5; Rookhope A 3 Stanhope Bonny Moor Hen 5; Wolsingham Black Bull 6 Stanhope Queens Head A 2; St Johns Chapel Golden Lion B 7 Blanchland Sports Club 1; Stanhope Pack Horse 4 St Johns Chapel Golden Lion A 4; Wolsingham WMC 4 Rookhope WMC 4.

Top scores: Kirstie Watson 133 (Grey Bull); Kath Lennon 134 (Sports Club); Brenda Lonsdale 140 (Rookhope WMC); Maureen Stanton 140; Claire McCreanor 135 (Wolsingham WMC)