Portland Darts Festival returns for 25th year as Craig Quinn retains singles title and nearly £9000 of prize money gets handed out
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The 25th edition of the Portland Darts Festival saw four nights of competition culminate in Craig Quinn being crowned the singles champion.
On the opening night last Thursday it was the fours competition that took centre stage.
In total, 18 teams battled it out for the crown, which was eventually taken by the Portland A1 team of James Fraser, Stevie Mitchell, Chris Wood and Lewis MacKenzie.
They defeated "The Boss and Co", consisting of Battlefield Bullies duo Derek MacLean and George Main alongside Alex Morrison from Lewis and East Kilbride's Ross Montgomery.
The losing semi finallists were The Young Uns (Still Game's Jordan MOrrison and Kyle MacLennan, Seaforth Club's Jack McNeilly and East End Arros' Jamie Fraser) and another Portland squad made up of tournament organiser Gordon Morison, Stevie Falconer and Craig Quinn alongside special gues – 2001 BDO WOrld Champion John Walton.
The Consolation Fours were won by the Battlefield Bullies A squad consisting of Steven MacIntyre, Tichard Boyd, Darren MacLean and John Duncanson. They overcame teammates Battlefield Bullies B, consisting of Derrick Morrison, Steve Brough, Peter Hay and Ian MacKinnon, in the final.
Losing semi finallists in the Consolation Cup were Rachel Dick, Charles Urquhart, Will Watts and Kyle Russell from the Conon Hotel, and Three Men and a Baby – Liam MacAskill (Clachnaharry), Martyn Cameron, Brian Barbour and Ross Mackenzie (all Fort William).
Day two saw the teams shrink slightly for the trios competition.
There, the team of Lewis Mackenzie, Jack McNeilly and Craig Morrison came out on top, beating David King, Ross Montgomery and Scott Winder in the final.
The losing semi finallists were Stevie Mitchell, Derek Maclean and George Main on one side of the draw, and Davie Fraser, Ally Ross and Gordy Mathieson on the other.
As well as team competition, there were three singles trophies to be decided too in the open, consolation and ladies' categories.
Gill Sharp claimed the ladies' crown, defeating Marian Ogg in the final.
Courtney McBain and Ann Johnstone had fallen short in the final four, but McBain did score a 170 checkout in her semi final against Ogg.
Stevie Mitchell won the Consolation Singles event, getting the better of Davie Fraser in the final.
There, Mark MacDonald and Davie Grant made up the final four.
The open singles saw prize money paid out for everyone who reached the last-16, as well as to Rachel Dick as the women who made it furthest in the draw.
When it got to the final stages, though, Scott Winder and Kevin MacGregor could not find a way through to the final.
Instead, it was left to two former finallists, as George Main matched his runners up placing from 2019 to leave defending champion Craig Quinn holding on to his title for another year, as well as claiming the £2000 prize.
On the final day of the festival, it was the turn of the pairs competition.
After some late night socialising ahead of Sunday's matches, a slightly reduced field of 21 pairs entered.
The duo coming out on top was Derek Maclean and Alex Morrison, so defeated Innes MacLean and Sandy Morrison 5-1 in the final.
The victors had earlier beaten Gordy Morison and George Calder 5-0 in the semi final, while the other last-four match was far closer as Michael MacLean and Don MacLean Junior lost 5-4.
The consolation doubles went to Jack McNeilly and Robbie Chalmers, who narrowly defeated Mark MacDonald and Robbie Campbell 3-2.
Again, the eventual winners had a much smoother time of it in the semi finals, beating Darren MacLean and John Duncanson 3-0 while their opponents in the final edged past Simon Forrest and George Smith 3-2.
Over the weekend, which saw players from across Scotland and England competing, close to £9000 in prize money was handed out.
