SUPER GLEN HITS TREBLE

Duzza’s teary tribute

HOUSING manager Glen Durrant turned his hattrick of BDO crowns into a new film script: Three Lettings and a Funeral.

Durrant became the first man since Eric Bristow in 1986 to win three consecutive BDO world titles with a 7-3 win against Scott Waites in last night’s Lakeside final.

But when asked how he would celebrate his feat, he said: “To be honest, I’ve got a funeral back home at 10.30am for Lee Beck, a friend I lost at Christmas. I really want to be there for him.

“Then I’ve got a meeting at work at 1.30pm, so it’s straight back on the horse, really.

“I am hoping my boss will send me a text telling me not to bother about the meeting.”

Durrant, an estate manager in Middlesbrough, had promised he would honour the memory of his pal who died suddenly on Boxing Day, a week after his 50th birthday.

He was as good as his word, and when he nailed double 16 to seal a rare treble in darts, ‘Duzza’ was blinking back tears.

He said: “To win this three years in a row like Eric is very special.

“To be fair, Eric won it when it was a unified organisation, I wasn’t playing Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson or Michael Smith. But I was up against a Lakeside legend.

“For the first five sets, he was much the better player and I got a bit lucky to stay with him, but once I’d got it back to 3-3, I could hear the Teesside voices in the crowd.

“I’m blessed to be surrounded by family and friends, and when I needed them most, they were here for me.”

Durrant, who won the last five sets without reply, hit 13 maximums and averaged 95.20.

That is almost exactly the same as beaten PDC finalist Smith at Ally Pally a fortnight ago.

If he gains a PDC Tour card at Q school later this month, this will be his farewell to the BDO circuit.

On the evidence of the last three years, Durrant will prosper if he switches codes.