Tributes are paid to one of the greats of Inverness Darts League
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A memorial service to a woman who was described as one of the greats of Highland darts will take place on Friday.
Tributes have been paid from across Scottish darts to Mandy Mackenzie who passed away last week.
A memorial service to Mandy will be held in the Village Hall in Muir of Ord this Friday.
The former BT Telecoms engineer was known as a prominent figure in darts circles and was an Inverness Singles champion, North of Scotland and Northern Area champion and Scottish Doubles champion with Donna Robertson.
She captained the Inverness Super League team to Scottish Championship victory and also led Highland Inter County team to two national titles.
Inverness Winter Darts League secretary Jim McNeil paid tribute to Mackenzie for the impact she had on Highland darts.
He said: "She was instrumental in the development of darts in the area over several decades and as well as being a talented darts player and champion she was a great motivator.
"Many of today’s players owe their start in darts to Mandy and she was always there with a comforting word or snippet of advice.
"In a varied career which saw her represent many teams in the area such as Smithton, Palace, 147 Club, Babarouskies and Portland as well as playing for her beloved Highland county team, she excelled at all levels.
"Mandy’s record in darts is up there with the best winning the Inverness Singles twice from four finals, the Ladies Doubles seven times in the Winter and twice in the Summer and losing in two Inverness Mixed Doubles finals. In addition she was involved in teams that lifted the Ladies Threes and Fours on numerous occasions.
She was the North of Scotland Singles champion in 1996 and took the Doubles title, playing with her great pal Donna Robertson, sadly no longer with us, on four occasions, with again many threes and fours titles.
"In addition to these North titles her Northern Area record is just as memorable with the Northern Area Singles title in 1998 and five Northern Area Doubles championships from seven finals again mostly with Donna Robertson.
"With such an amazing record in darts championships it was no surprise that Mandy went on to represent her county team on 130 occasions, winning 62 of them.
"She captained the Inverness Super League team to victory in 2002 taking the Scottish title with a previous runners-up spot in 1993.
"As manager of the ladies inter county team she also spearheaded a Scottish championship win for Highland in 2002 and 2003 and continued to manage the team up till the pandemic struck and put paid to competitive darts for a couple of years.
"Mandy did not just play and organise darts, she lived darts and would often be found at International matches throughout the country cheering on the National team and more especially so if Highland players were involved.
"The darts world will be a poorer place without Mandy, she will not be forgotten and will always be regarded as the Gaffer Bear to Highland ladies players."
