FORMER world darts champion Les Wallace put a lengthy lay-off from the game behind him to produce some stunning arrows and win the Daily Echo/Novotel Hampshire Open.

The ex-Scottish international and winner of the Embassy World Championship in 1997 turned up at the competition with just five hours' practice under his belt this year.

In fact Wallace has barely thrown a serious dart since the turn of the century.

But the man nicknamed McDanger by darts legend Bobby George - who also described the Southampton building worker as "one of the most naturally talented players in the game" - took on a field of 400 and came out a clear winner.

He knew he would have his work cut out in the final where he faced Professional Darts Coporation's Andy Jenkins, but Wallace was in command on the oche and beat his one-time Hampshire teammate 5-2.

"Everybody had given up on me but I had not given up on myself," said Wallace, who revealed that he is seriously contemplating getting back into big-time darts with his former manager and partner Sonny Sonchhatla.

"I want to see out the summer on site (building) but I am going to sit down with Sonny and have a chat but we are thinking about having a dabble back in it."

It took seven hours of continual play on 32 boards to find a winner in the open which boasted some class men and women, including former champions Paul Carter, Paul Hogan, Colin Monk and youngster Laura Power.

Cambridgeshire's Andy Callaby looked favourite to grab the silverware as the day unfolded. He had not dropped a single leg in his amazing run to the semi-finals and was twice ahead of Wallace in the best-of-seven legs match.

But Wallace looked as cool as he did when he beat Marshall James at Frimley Green's famous Lakeside six years ago and when he picked up the World Masters title a year later after taking the scalp of Alan Warriner.

He pulled Callaby back to 3-3 before winning nearest the bull for the deciding leg that he took with ease.

Jenkins also grabbed advantage of his semi at 3-3 by being closest to the bull before seeing off strong competition from Somerset's Dave Weston.

Jenkins took an early lead in the final but Wallace had looked cool all day and took four legs on the trot for victory.

Dorset's Paul Carter won the competition - now the biggest county open in England - in 2000 but lost out to Keith House in round two. Carter's brother Richard put in a top performance and was unlucky not to make it to the last four.

Reigning champion Colin Monk had a "bad day at the office" and lost to Isle of Wight player Ian McLean in the last 32. Paul Hogan, winner in 2002, was beaten by Kieran Carter but felt lucky to get the opportunity to play him after just managing to beat Hampshire's Laura Power, who was in stunning form.