TONY WHITCHER has battled his way past Hampshire's best to win himself the honour of representing his county in the Gold Cup.

The prestigious competition will be held at the home of darts at Frimley Green's Lakeside Country Club on July 23.

Sue Lowther will be flying the flag for Hampshire's women and hoping to emulate the success of former county player and four times Gold Cup winner Mandy Solomons.

Roy Brown and Graham Hardy are Hampshire's men's pairing at the Lakeside while Amanda Humphreys and Wendy Reinstadtler will toe the oche for the women.

Hampshire's Andy Jenkins and Colin Monk and Les Wallace and and Martin Dunford have won the pairs before but the men's singles title has always evaded the county.

Skill League

During the 2004 season Imperial B, then playing out of Breezer's, won just six games from 28 to finish bottom of the heap. Now they have won three games from five and sit in mid-table. Dockers are the latest team to fall.

Mandy Kerr, Ali Benzey, Lena Roling and Rita Baldacchino were all winners. Joan Painter, Pauline Laird and Gill Maunders were the winners for Woolston.

Itchen & District Men

Danny Husband (Grove) hit a 15-dart leg and a brace of maximums as league action got under way.

Steve Hillman (Fox & Hounds), Chris Witt (Grove), Colin Douglas (Roll Call) and R Sturgess (Bulls Eye) all hit maximums. Witt threw a 14-dart leg and there were 15-darters from Colin Douglas and Bob Edwards (Roll Call).

Eastleigh Town & Guests

Bob Crawley turned in a 2-0 win to beat Pete Luffman in the singles final. Crawley set up the final with a 2-1 semi-final win over Steve Perren. Luffman recorded a 2-0 win over Rob Newland for his place in the final.

Bishop's Waltham Men

Nick Hallett (Cricketers) recorded a maximum. Martin Chalk (Black Dog A) hit a 110 finish. Ollie Fowler (Shamblehurst) went out on 119.

West End Open

Paul Hogan tasted double success in the first West End Open, coming out tops in the singles and pairs.

Hogan beat Kevin Ede in the singles after defeating R Roberts and semi-finalist Steve Perren.

In a pairs competition Hogan partnered N Fisher to victory, beating Gene Bagley/Pete Collins in the final.

Singles results - quarter-finals: Steve Perren bt Martin Woodford, Paul Hogan bt R Roberts, Kevin Ede bt Dave Cross, Rob Newland bt D Wheeler. Semi-finals: Hogan bt Perren, Ede bt Newland. Final: Paul Hogan bt Kevin Ede.

Cobweb Solutions Fareham Men

John Kirby Memorial Cup - preliminary round, Wednesday, May 4: Funtley Social Club v Gordon Arms B, Q Battery v Lock, Stock & Barrel, Seagull v Duke Of Connaught, Admiral Cunningham v LSSC, Vospers Social Club v Limes.

Freemantle Shirley & District

Osborne ran out winners of Division 1 by two clear points from Englishman.

Duchess of Wellington won Division 2 by four clear points. Martin Philpott had the quickest leg of the season with just 15-darts. D Ridout (Redbridge) hit the top finish of 144. More than 40 maximums were recorded.

Romsey & District Ladies

Debbie Pearce (Comrades A) has won the individuals' title with victory over Carol Rickman (Malthouse). Sisters G and S Strange won the pairs title.