DATING back to the post-war era, the Evening Mail Darts Championship had its own special place in the Furness sporting calendar.

Running for 60 years up to 2010, talented throwers from around the county battled for glory in front of capacity crowds in what was always a keenly-contested and popular tournament.

Now, after a seven-year hiatus, the Evening Mail competition is set to return as players get ready to fight for the men's and women's trophies.

It was back in 1951 when the men's competition got under way, and 1974 when ladies came into the frame.

Winner of the first final was Jimmy Burnett, from Millom, and the ladies’ inaugural champion was Barbara Farrer, from Dalton.

Many great names from the South Cumbrian darting world have lifted the coveted trophies, with the the late John ‘Ticker’ Hermann, of Barrow, winning the men's tournament six times, and Barrow's Dee Bateman triumphing on 11 occasions.

Millom has produced only three further champions since Burnett’s day. Stan Fry won in 1957, while Walter Dalkin took the title in 1966 and Ken Giles triumphed in 1975.

The other men's winners have come from Barrow, Dalton, Ulverston, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor, Frizington, Hensingham, Coniston and Askam.

There have been many great battles and rivalries over the years between the likes of Hermann and Dickie Musson and John Kane, both from Whitehaven. While Hermann is out in front with six victories, Kane won it five times and Musson three.

In more recent times, Dave Pratt pulled off a trio of victories in 1996, 2007 and 2009, and fellow Barrovian Frank Grydziuszko won it in 1997 and 1999.

While Bateman has lifted the women's Harry Murray Ladies Trophy an incredible 11 times, Lindal's Shelia Tyson (formerly Proctor) ran her close with nine victories in the 1980s and 1990s, and Dot Bell (later Kane) was victorious four times.

In days gone by, the finals attracted several hundred spectators at the old Public Hall and the Civic Hall in Barrow, before moving on to local working men's clubs, and it is hoped the rebirth of the competition will be greeted with similar enthusiasm this time around.

PREVIOUS EVENING MAIL CHAMPIONS

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).