Winstanley in heroic world final defeat

ROTHERHAM darts player Dean Winstanley did himself proud with a battling performance in the BDO World Darts final at Frimley Green.

The Swinton-born ace pushed number one seed Martin Adams all the way last night before going down 7-5, pocketing a £30,000 consolation prize in the process.

Father-of-five Winstanley, who now lives in Conisbrough, pulled back from 2-0 down to lead 4-3 and then 5-4 before Adams peeled off three seats in a row to take the championship, his third after lifting the title in 2007 and 2010.

Winstanley said: “The better man won on the night but I put up a good fight in my first ever final.”

Adams acknowledged: “I had to dig deep. Deano had me in all sorts of problems.

“I thought ‘what do I have to do now?’”

Winstanley has now set his sights on more success in 2011 having won the German Open and the England and Belgium Open Singles and Pairs championships in 2010.