Proud Andy Jenkins fulfilled a long-time ambition when he won the Daily Echo Hampshire Open at the weekend.

Delighted ‘Jenks’ showed some rare emotion when he lifted the coveted trophy in a field of almost 300 players at Southampton’s Novotel.

The PDC player, who honed his skills with Hampshire’s county squad and the British Darts Organisation, has won many competitions around the world, but success in his home competition had always eluded him.

He came close to winning in 2004 when he was beaten in the final by Les Wallace and finally achieved his goal on Sunday when he beat Devon’s Mike Beal in the final.

Jenkins said: “If you are a serious darts player there are lots of competitions you want to win but the one I wanted most was to win my home county one. It has been going for a few years now but I have never been able to win it.

“You can go out and win ten grand but this means so much to me, you just don’t know how much. It has taken me a while but it was worth the wait.”

Jenkins had to play his way past some fierce competition on the oche with former winners and plenty of world championship experienced players taking part - such as current Lakeside title holder Scott Mitchell, PDC’s Dennis Smith experienced Paul Hogan, Paul Gibbs and Gary Stafford.

In-form Hogan looked as if he was going to match Colin Monk’s record of winning three Hampshire Opens. He knocked out Mitchell in a nailbiting last 16 tie that could have gone either way before losing out to Beal who, along with the two losing semi-finalists, Devon’s Antony Hayman and Ryan Palmer from Bristol, plays on the PDC Challenge tour.

But it was Jenkins who showed consistency throughout the day – scoring steadily and hitting plenty of three-dart finishes when he needed them.

He went a leg down in the final but his single dart average of almost 30 over the best of 11 legs was enough to give him a 6-3 victory, the £1,000 winner’s cheque and the trophy he had longed to hold for many years.

Jenkins added: “I’m Hampshire through and through and they (the organisers) do so well. I’m just glad I finally won it.”

Joint organiser Frank Branscombe said: “Andy has been one of the Hampshire Open’s best supporters and always taken part when he could and today he got his just reward. Without doubt he played the best in a strong field and it’s absolutely brilliant.”

Last 16: Richard North 3 Steve Omarah 1, Paul Cook 1 Andy Jenkins 3, Chas Barstow 3 Jamie Robinson 0, Antony Hayman 3 Dennis Smith 1, Ryan Palmer 3 Ron Atwill 1, Sam Head 3 Conner Bevis 0, Paul Hogan 3 Scott Mitchell 2, Mike Beal 3 John Newland 2.

Quarter-finals: Jenkins 4 North 1, Hayman 4 Barstow 1, Palmer 4 Head 2, Hogan 2 Beal 4.

Semi-finals: Jenkins 5 Hayman 2, Beal 5 Palmer 1.

Final: Jenkins 6 Beal 3.