Michael Ogier is renowned on the island darts scene for giving a booming roar when he has something to celebrate.
And so one can imagine the epic boom that ensued when he won the inaugural Guernsey Series of Darts final on Saturday evening, coming away £2,000 and a major trophy richer.
The line-up for Saturday afternoon’s finals at the RAFA (Gremlin) Club contained most of Guernsey’s top players, all having either won one of the qualifying events held throughout the year or amassed enough points to make the cut.
Not matching some of the island’s most elite for lifetime title tallies, but capable of producing magic on his day, Ogier did just that – dropping just seven legs across the whole finals afternoon.
The heaviest resistance came in the best-of-11 final, where he overcame Leyton de la Mare 6-4.
De la Mare shot to a 2-0 lead, which looked a telling advantage for the usually unshakeable player.
But Ogier responded with a 12-darter – 140, 100, 180 and 81 check-out – and carried this inspired form through the rest of the match.
He struck another 180 in what could well have been another ‘12’ had he not struggled to get over the line, but he won that leg and then the next to go 3-2 up.
De la Mare got back into his game and made it 4-all, garnishing the eighth leg with a leading 88 finish, but he was running on fumes from there.
Ogier won the next two legs, taking out a 96 to finish, and erupted into celebration.
‘Massive congratulations to Michael,’ organiser Adam Gontier said.
‘He played steadily, consistently, all afternoon. He thoroughly deserved it.
‘He is capable of winning a lot more in the future – he’s certainly one to watch from now on.’
In consolation, de la Mare won £1,000, with the massive prize fund – raised almost entirely from entries during the series – extending down to those that lost in the semis and quarters.
And there were some big names who had already gone out by then.
The afternoon had started around 2.30pm with preliminaries and 48 total players in the mix, but this was gradually whittled down through the rounds.
By the round of 16, it was inevitable that top players would be falling left, right and centre, including Jason Allez taking out Phil Dodd 4-0, Adam Gontier eliminating Kieran Queripel 4-1, Kyle Hutchinson shooting down Shaun Allez 4-2 and Mick Le Gallic’s tight 4-3 victory over Jay Dalton. Dalton was one top talent unearthed when the series started in February.
All of the quarter-finals took exactly five legs to resolve, with Adie Exall upsetting Jason Allez, de la Mare removing Morgan Gontier, Kyle Hutchinson taking the scalp of Mick Le Gallic and Ogier ensuring Adam Gontier would not be winning his own event.
Gontier senior was the first player to even take a leg off the in-form Ogier.
De la Mare had made the final through dominating Exall 5-1, while Ogier beat Hutchinson 5-2.
The tournament went on past 11pm but ended with a deserving – if not quite predictable – winner.
The women were hard-pressed to make it deep into the finals afternoon, with Debbie Hamon proving the hardest to shake off after making the last 32 and even then taking Phil Martel to a seventh leg.
However, a special ‘lady of the series’ prize gave top qualifiers Hayley Wallace and Sophi Langford a little extra to fight for.
Both players are relatively new faces that have turned out to every round and amassed plenty of points over the series.
But Wallace proved a cut above in this special duel, winning the first two legs and ultimately taking it 3-1.
Gontier was pleased to provide this extra opportunity for the women’s players, feeling that going up against island men in the main competition can be ‘demoralising’.
‘There’s nothing to say that none of the ladies have got a chance,’ he said.
‘But this gives any lady the opportunity to play for something at the end.
‘That was a nice touch.’
Gontier thanked sponsors Euromarque, Refco, Island Formwork & Construction, Adie Exall Stonemasons and Clarity for supporting the event.
Receiving a big gift from the players for his organisational endeavours proved the cherry on top.
‘It was amazing. Everyone was excited and quite upbeat – I noticed a lot of people practising during the week, getting ready for it.
‘The atmosphere was the best it could have been.’
Gontier has already confirmed that next year’s series will start at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Saturday 3 January.
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