GAVIN NEWLANDS MP was the winner of the inaugural Parliamentary Darts Championship final as he defeated Scott Mann MP 2-0 at Alexandra Palace on Thursday.
The pair took to the stage ahead of the night's William Hill World Darts Championship action, experiencing the atmosphere of the sport's biggest tournament.
Having won through earlier rounds held at the Houses of Parliament - following the presentation of a dartboard to MPs at a special reception attended by World Champion Gary Anderson and PDC Chairman Barry Hearn earlier this year - Newlands and Mann took part in a best-of-three leg final.
Newlands, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, hit double eight and double six to take a 2-0 victory and the trophy, as well as a £1,000 donation from William Hill which will be shared between his nominated charities, Brightest Star and Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal.
"It was petrifying to be quite honest, but once you got over that it was thoroughly enjoyable," said Newlands. "I'd love to do it again, it was brilliant.
"Scott was throwing a lot better in practice so I was delighted just to win, let alone win 2-0."
Mann, the MP for North Cornwall, will present his £500 runner-up donation to the Cornwall Children's Hospice South-West.
"I think nerves got the better of me on the stage - it's very different throwing in front of half a dozen people than throwing in front of 3,000 people," said Mann. "It was really enjoyable though, I'm grateful to be here."
With World Champion Gary Anderson also hailing from Scotland, Newlands admits to having following the world number two's progress.
"Gary's been magnificent over the last couple of years," he added. "Barney was always my favourite player, but Gary's right up there and so consistent these days as well, the consistent level he's at now is amazing."
Both MPs stayed to watch Thursday's darts as Jelle Klaasen, Max Hopp, Dave Chisnall and Kim Huybrechts enjoyed victories - with Chisnall later being congratulated by Conor McGinn, the MP for St Helens North.
The Parliamentary Darts Championship final followed Saturday's visit to Alexandra Palace by Edith Schippers, Minister for Health, Welfare & Sport in the Netherlands and Simon Smits, the Dutch Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
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