A CHESHIRE duo reached the semi finals of the British Darts Organisation’s Gold Cup, bowing out to the eventual runners-up.

Anastasia Dobromyslova and Bev Martin, who helped Rudheath retain their Cheshire Ladies’ Super League title last season, lost 4-2 against Ann Marie Potts and Angie Mann (Northumberland) in the women’s pairs at EventCity in Manchester.

They began their campaign with whitewash wins against Kaye Hales and Sharon Hill, then Kate Drake and Anne Wakefield, to reach the last eight.

A narrow 4-3 victory, secured in a deciding leg, ended the run of Cathryn Campbell and Sarah Chick.

But Potts and Mann denied them a crack at Oxfordshire’s Deta Hedman and Clare Bywaters in Saturday's final.

Martin and her Rudheath teammates attempt to defend their Champions Cup crown at the same venue next month.

Meanwhile Dobromyslova did savour success in the singles, beating Hedman (5-2) to claim the trophy.

Dave Bird, from Winsford, reached the second round of the men’s singles, where he succumbed 4-2 to Daffyd Edwards (Clwyd).

He had started his campaign with a slender 4-3 win against Reece Robinson (London) earlier in the day.

Another Winsford darter representing Cheshire, Andrea Hunt, comfortably saw off Sophie Singh (4-1) in the women’s singles before Gwent’s Chris Savvery ended her run.

The county’s best players continue their preparations for the two-day Cheshire Open, which will be hosted in Northwich by Rudheath Social Club, later this month.