IT WAS somehow fitting that Scott Mitchell would endure a marathon to lift the BDO World Darts Championship.

Victorious treks to Romania, Germany, Belgium, Jersey and Bridlington had secured his slot at Lakeside but those journeys had nothing on this slog.

 Dorset Echo: Scotty Mitchell

The throw was broken no fewer than 27 times as old hand and three-time world champion Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams and Mitchell contrived to throw away promising positions in a tit-for-tat showpiece.

But in the end the man with the greater average and better finishing held his nerve with a whopping 158 checkout against the throw in the final set, with double 10 and double top sealing his destiny.

As Mitchell would say, not bad for a big kid from a little village.

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During the build-up, the nerves of the Bransgore-based thrower were present but controlled. Over a pre-match pint, he greeted family, friends and well-wishers with a customary kind smile.

In went the earphones as he stepped up to the practice board with trusted sidekick and doubles partner Richie George, son of darts legend Bobby George, by his side.

Speedway fan Mitchell was chomping at the bit and could not resist a reference to his beloved Poole Pirates.

“I can only imagine this is like warming up for heat 15,” he said.

And that was just how it started with Adams landing a 180 with his first three arrows, quickly followed by another, only for Mitchell to snare a maximum of his own.

‘Wolfie’ lost his range and missed five doubles with 'Scotty Dog' breaking his opponent at the first attempt. The look on Mitchell’s face said it all.

Mitchell settled the next with a double 12 and pounced on more sloppy finishing to take the first set in straight legs.

But Adams was alive to a sluggish start to the second and despite more uncertain finishing, hit straight back with a three-leg victory to level matters.

A nervy third went all the way with Adams landing a 116 finish on the bull before missing two at double top in the fifth.

Mitchell almost regained the advantage with a remarkable 123 checkout but having landed two trebles hit double 12 whilst aiming for double nine.

So near, yet so far. Adams won the set.

A brief interval looked to have helped Mitchell who saw it through to level it at 2-2 before both men broke each other at the start of the fifth.

It was another tense affair which went all the way but Adams held his nerve with double eight with his final dart.

Undeterred, Mitchell held his throw and planted home a deadly double 16 to go two up in the sixth but the errant manner of this final took another twist as Adams broke back with a double six.

With the pressure on, Mitchell nearly contrived to blow the fourth leg by hitting double top instead of single 20 but without hesitation, rattled home double 10 for 3-3. Game on.

A steely bull against the throw helped the 44-year-old move in front for the first time since the opening set with victory in the seventh.

With his spot firmly in driving seat, Mitchell almost went two up with the throw, missing double eight for a 136 checkout before Adams levelled the eighth.

And unbelievably, Mitchell then missed four darts for a two-set lead with Adams landing double top for four all in sets.

Adams then marched into a two-leg lead in the ninth but Mitchell rescued it with a 94 checkout on the bull and smashed home double top at the second attempt to secure a third leg in a row.

‘Scotty Dog’ punched the air having gone 5-4 up against the throw but predictably, Adams hit back. Five-all.

It was crunch time and the composed Mitchell pulled an 11-darter out of the bag and went on to take the 11th set with a double six.

Adams refused to lie down and hit a 13-dart leg to break back, although Mitchell might have won it in the 12th with an outshot of 91 before missing double 16 for the match.

'Wolfie' made no mistake and took it to the final set but Mitchell’s stupendous 158 finish under pressure broke Adams at the last.

Double 10 made it 2-0 and while he could not break Adams a second time, double top was Mitchell’s friend.

The big lad from Bransgore hit the deck in tears. Dorset’s favourite son had realised the dream.

Savour the moment, Scotty.