Local darts players will be able to mix it with the best in February in the 2002 Daily Echo Hampshire Open.

Professional and reigning champion Ronnie Baxter, pictured above winning last year, will be heading south to defend his title and the popular contest is sure to attract another top-class field at Southampton's Novotel on February 23.

The event will again be staged by the Hampshire Darts Organisation and spokesman Frank Branscombe is confident every place will be taken again. "The competition is becoming really well known and so many people want to take part," he said.

Several stars of the oche from both the British Darts Organisation and the Professional Darts Corporation make sure they are in the Hampshire Open along with the county's other regular stars of television.

The competition costs £5 to enter and application forms will appear in the Echo regularly.

Runner-up and former title holder Paul Carter will be aiming to go one step further. He was beaten by Baxter in the final in 2001 - the only Hampshire Open game he has lost in the last two years.

The day brings together players of all abilities and Branscombe says February will be no different. "That is the satisfying thing about organising an event as big as this," he said. "Even people who don't belong to a team come along and have the chance to share the oche with a professional, super league or county player and that makes them a star for the day."

See page 38 of today's Daily Echo for the entry form.