THE resurrected Evening Mail Darts Championship has seen more than 70 of the area's best male and female throwers battle it out over the past few months.

And after what is expected to be a an evening of high drama at the oche tonight, another player's name will be added to the illustrious list of winners.

A gleaming new trophy has been made especially to commemorate the return of a tournament which attracted top players and captivated audiences for six decades from 1951 to 2010, and is back by popular demand.

Eight players have the chance to claim the spoils at The Nines, Barrow, with James Kempster, Tommy Richardson, Chris Irvine, Paul Harris, Rikki Lavery, Kevin Hubbold, Steve Woodburn and Gary Ryce contesting the Grand Final.

They won through preliminary rounds and the district area finals held at Dalton CC and the Cottages Club, to give themselves a chance of lifting the trophy and pocketing £300 in prize money.

The Evening Mail is a competition which has a special place in the sporting history of South Cumbria. Winner of that first final back in 1951 was Jimmy Burnett, from Millom, and the ladies’ inaugural champion in 1974 was Barbara Farrer, from Dalton.

The most prolific players in the competition's history are the late John ‘Ticker’ Hermann, of Barrow, who won the men's tournament six times, and Barrow's Dee Bateman, who triumphed on 11 occasions in the women's event.

Admission to tomorrow's Grand Final is £1, which includes a programme.

Previous winners

1951 J Burnett (Millom), 1952 J Wallace (Workington), 1953 L Gidney (Barrow), 1954 L Gidney (Barrow), 1955 K Evans (Barrow), 1956 H Scott (Barrow), 1957 S Fry (Millom),1958 W Thompson (Barrow), 1959 G Speers (Barrow).

1960 J Herrmann (Barrow), 1961 J Ward (Cleator Moor), 1962 J Herrmann (Dalton), 1963 R Musson (Whitehaven), 1964 V Wilson (Ulverston), 1965 E Dawson (Whitehaven), 1966 W Dalkin (Millom),1967 R Musson (Whitehaven), 1968 J Earley (Barrow), 1969 T Tinnion (Workington).

1970 R Hendley (Barrow), 1971 J Herrmann (Barrow), 1972 J Herrmann (Barrow), 1973 G Speers (Barrow), 1974 R Musson (Whitehaven), 1975 K Giles (Millom), 1976 R Musson (Whitehaven), 1977 J Herrmann (Barrow), 1978 N Harvey (Frizington), 1979 J Herrmann (Barrow).

1980 T Finlay (Barrow), 1981 A Ward (Barrow), 1982 C Athersmith (Ulverston), 1983 N Harvey (Whitehaven), 1984 P Gale (Whitehaven), 1985 J Kane (Whitehaven), 1986 J Kane (Whitehaven), 1987 R Smith (Hensingham), 1988 D Brewer (Askam), 1989 A Ward (Barrow).

1990 J Kane (Whitehaven), 1991 J Kane (Whitehaven), 1992 J Jackson (Coniston), 1993 J Kane (Whitehaven), 1994 T Managh (Barrow), 1995 I Shuttleworth (Ulverston), 1996 D Pratt (Barrow), 1997 F Grydziuszko (Barrow), 1998 S Kane (Barrow), 1999 F Grydziuszko (Barrow).

2000 M Brooks (Barrow), 2001 G Clamp (Barrow), 2002 G Vincent (Barrow), 2004 I Shuttleworth (Ulverston), 2004 S Barlow (Barrow), 2005 F Toal (Ulverston), 2006 B Caine (Barrow), 2007 D Pratt (Barrow), 2008 Shaun Brand (Barrow), D Pratt (Barrow), 2010 Steve Callister (Askam).

WINNERS OF THE HARRY MURRAY LADIES TROPHY

1974 B Farrer (Dalton), 1975 S Proctor (Stainton), 1976 J Nelson (Dalton), 1977 S Proctor (Ulverston), 1978 D Bell (Whitehaven), 1979 S Garner (Dalton).

1980 S Proctor (Ulverston), 1981 S Proctor (Ulverston), 1982 D Bell (Whitehaven), 1983 D Kane (Whitehaven), 1984 D Kane (Whitehaven), 1985 S Tyson (Lindal), 1986 J Burns (Whitehaven), 1987 S Tyson (Lindal), 1988 N Aston (Millom), 1989 C McCormack (Barrow).

1990 K Atkinson (Dalton), 1991 A Johnson (Whitehaven), 1992 S Tyson (Lindal), 1993 A Johnson (Whitehaven), 1994 S Tyson (Lindal), 1995 S Tyson (Lindal), 1996 C Liness (Barrow), 1997 Z Kane (Barrow), 1998 D Bateman (Barrow), 1999 D Bateman (Barrow).

2000 D Bateman (Barrow), 2001 Z Walker (Dalton), 2002 D Bateman (Barrow), 2003 C McCormack (Barrow), 2004 D Bateman (Barrow), 2005 D Bateman (Barrow), 2006 D Bateman (Barrow), 2007 D Bateman (Barrow), 2008 D Bateman (Barrow), 2009 D Bateman (Barrow), 2010 D Bateman (Barrow).