The presentation awards for the two-hour speed darts organised by Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club took place at the Highweek Village Inn, which representatives from the various teams attended.

The competition has now been organised by Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club for 28 years.

The funds raised are used to pay for the Santa Special Steam Train which takes some 800 disadvantaged or disabled local children from Buckfastleigh to Totnes then back again. Snacks are provided on the trip down then Santa and his elves join at Totnes to give the children an early Christmas present on the way back.

Fifteen darts teams took part in the darts challenge with up to six players allowed in each team to throw the highest score.

Players and landlords raised sponsorship, together with gift aid in excess of £9,000 which paid for the train trip as well as the food and presents.

Teams this year came from The Artichoke Inn, Christow; Cockhaven Arms, Bishopsteignton; Conservative Club, Ipplepen; Court Farm Inn, Abbotskerswell; Harbour View, Paignton; King William IV, Teignmouth; Park Inn, Kingskerswell; Ring of Bells, Bishopsteignton; Royal British Legion, Newton Abbot; Teignbridge 76 Club, Newton Abbot and the Ten Tors Inn, Kingsteignton.

The award ceremony allows for cups to be awarded to the highest scoring teams as well as the highest sponsorship. Certificates were also awarded to every team recording their sponsorship.

In the ladies’ section, runners-up for the highest score was the Park Inn, Kingskerswell, who were pipped at the post by Harbour View, Paignton, who also won the highest ladies’ sponsorship.

In the gents’ scoring competition, third were the Royal British Legion, Newton Abbot, closely behind The Ring of Bells, Bishopsteignton, with the winners being Harbour View, Paignton, who managed this with just four players.

For the highest sponsorship, second was The Court Farm, Abbotskerswell, with the Highweek Village Inn the winners for the second year running.

President of Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club, Chris Cullen, apologised that fellow Rotarian, Kevin Needham, who again organised this year’s competition, was unable to be at the awards ceremony as he had been called away at short notice due to a family illness.

Chris thanked all the guests who came to collect their prizes on the night and all those who had helped raise so much sponsorship to allow the 800 children, together with their families and helpers, to enjoy the train trip.