New Forest landscape gardener and farmer Scott Mitchell can deservedly reap the rewards that his magnificent week at Frimley Green should bring him.

His astonishing victory in the biggest match of his life will propel him from an everyday darts player on the BDO circuit to one of the biggest names among darts stars and fans.

There has not been so much excitement among darts fans in the south since Southampton’s Les Wallace lifted the trophy back in 1997.

After years of trying, no one could have denied Mitchell last night’s opportunity to make a name for himself on the world famous Lakeside oche in front of live television cameras.

It was endless trips abroad and around Britain to accumulate enough ranking points that had given ‘Scotty Dog’ a place in the championships six years on the bounce.

At times he must have wondered if it was all worth it.

He went out in round one to Daryl Gurney in 2010 and was beaten 3-0 by Dutchman Jan Dekker at the same stage a year later.

Another first round exit followed in 2012 when he came up against yesterday’s opponent, Martin Adams.

He finally moved into round two in 2013 where he was defeated by this year’s top seed, Robbie Green, and was sent packing by England’s James Wilson in his second game last year.

Arguably he faced his toughest first round match this year – beating fellow England player Tony O’Shea in an exciting battle that was decided with a one-leg sudden death play-off.

Mitchell then beat Beglian Geert De Vos in round two, scored powerfully and was deadly on his doubles against Brian Dawson in the quarter-finals before going on to whitewash Canadian Jeff Smith in the semis.

This week’s performances have come on the back of a lot of hard work, with the dogged and hugely popular darts player having his best year on the circuit – picking up half a dozen titles, including the British Open.

Although prize money over the last 12 months have been welcome and gone some way to supplementing travel and accommodation costs not covered by his sponsors, they came nowhere near yesterday’s £100,00 pay day.

The question may now be – where Mitchell goes from here?

He has been a staunch supporter of the British Darts Organisation since he started playing and has represented Dorset in the British Inter County League for many years. He is even an accomplished commentator on the sport - but even more doors will open for him now.

It’s never long after the winning dart has been thrown that rumours circulate about the new champion moving to the Professional Darts Corporation. And for good reason – many have switched code to try their luck with the PDC.

Making a name for yourself on the PDC’s main tour can be a lucrative business, as former Lakside champions Raymond van Barneveld, Mark Webster, Jelle Klassen and Stephen Bunting, among others, have proved.

But there are plenty of players who have made the switch and found it not to be the land of milk and honey.

At 44 years old, Mitchell is experienced and wise enough to know any such ideas need to be thought out.

He is shrewd enough to know that one of the best ways to make money from darts is on the exhibition circuit – and Mitchell will have shot up that popularity list over the last seven days.

The landscape gardener and farmer may well be able to put his lawnmowers and tractors in the barn for a while – so he can make hay while the sun shines.