19-year-old Lewis Bell’s achievement of £800 first-place prizes in both the Classic and Open, and Jenna Avrill’s success in the women’s events, testified to the standard of player that the sister isle can produce.
Yet the high bar at the Mermaid Tavern was set not only by these two players but a host of classy visitors, who produced some lofty averages and, on occasion, started legs in such promising fashion that hopes of the elusive nine-darter were sparked.
For all that, Guernsey’s finest did manage to feature, with Ken Waters making the Open semi-finals, and Kate Flood joining Jo Fallaize as women’s finalists.
Although Bell also secured the highest check-out trophy with a 157, he just edged out Guernsey’s Michelle Roussel and her astounding individual accomplishment of a 151. Fallaize had a 120 to boot.
Saturday’s finals night had begun with the Classic.
Bell took on Hertfordshire’s Paul Jones in the first semi-final, which started slow but had the junior international raising his game from there for a 4-0 victory.
Bell finished in style with a 180 in a 14-dart leg.
But that paled to the fireworks produced by London players Tom McGhee and Steve Ferguson in their semi.
Ferguson won the first leg, only to be drawn back, setting the stage for an epic third.
McGhee struck two consecutive 180s, yet his blazing start fizzled out and Ferguson made the leg his with one maximum and a total of just 13 darts.
Ferguson ultimately prevailed 4-1 with a huge three-dart average of 86.31.
Following her hard-earned maiden finals spot, Guernsey’s Flood initially held Avrill to 1-1.
But ‘Ginge’ upped her game and hit some timely tons from there to win the title 4-1.
In the men’s final, a best-of-nine affair, Bell’s early 4-0 lead over Ferguson did not reflect the standard shown by both players.
Finally, two tidy legs from Ferguson – including one 180 – enabled him to claw back to 4-2.
But Bell quelled any potential comeback by racing ahead on the seventh to triumph 5-2. He averaged 83.75 to his opponent’s 79.40.
In his Open semi against the UK’s Jim Daley, Bell produced explosive starts to two of his legs and though they fell short of their ultimate potential, he still led 2-1.
When on the brink of a levelling check-out in the fourth leg, Daley fell just short and could only watch as his rival stole the leg.
An early maximum in the fifth leg helped Bell wrap up the game 4-1.
Waters had done well to make the other semi but could not hold up to the formidable Ferguson, who whitewashed him 4-0.
In the women’s final, Fallaize snatched the first leg amid Avrill’s check-out troubles.
But Avrill responded strongly and, despite Fallaize threatening a recovery on the fifth leg, prevailed 4-1.
The Jerseywoman was ‘absolutely chuffed’ after winning both main women’s titles for the third year running.
‘It’s always difficult playing my friends from Guernsey,’ she said.
‘Hats off to Kate – it’s the first time me and her have ever played against each other.
‘She’s never made the final, but she held her own against me.
‘Me and Jo have played on and off over a fair few years, and Jo’s beaten me once when I first started playing darts, but I think she got nervous.’
From a Jersey darts perspective, she reserved special praise for the ‘amazing’ Bell, alongside whom she plays mixed pairs.
‘It’s a good weekend for Jersey.’
An epic nine-leg men’s final between Bell and Ferguson proved a worthy conclusion.
Early on, the scores read 2-all, with Ferguson having already logged two 180s, and Bell having one of his own together with coming from behind on leg four by slamming a potentially critical check-out of 112.
After a 14-darter from Bell on the fifth, Ferguson scored his own game-saving check-out to make it 3-all.
Bell just missed a potential ‘big fish’ 170 check-out, leaving 25, en route to winning the seventh, and then the UK player edged an exceptionally close eighth leg to force a decider.
There, Bell forged ahead with an early 180 but struggled through the double digits as Ferguson attempted the Hail Mary with 132 left.
However, Ferguson came short, allowing the Caesarean to find the decisive finish and win 5-4.
‘I’m happy – I didn’t expect to win both,’ he said.
‘I was coming over here wanting to win one, and then I got through, and I thought “I’ve got this”.
‘A few boys from London have come over this year and they’re a lot better quality than what we’re used to.
‘You can’t fault it – it’s perfect. It’s always run well.’
Guernsey’s Steve King had joined visitors Tom McGhee and Nicky Wallace to win the mixed three-a-side earlier in the week.
The mostly Guernsey pairing of Andy Norman, Fallaize and Bell claimed runners-up.
Lewis’ absurdly successful weekend also included joining father Sid to win the pairs from the Guernsey-Jersey duo of Morgan Gontier and Dave Parlby.
Woeful weather left a small handful of the darts contingent stuck in Herm an extra day, and several UK players faced complications with return flights, yet the seventh annual Open can be considered a resounding success.
For the 2026 edition, organisers have already settled on an earlier start date of 1 October.
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