THERESA Darnell-Langton's glorious performance in retaining the Golden Charter English Women's Indoor BA singles title silenced once and for all the murmurs that she is a "one green" bowler.

When she won the crown 12 months ago at her own Loddon Vale club some people were of the opinion that she only became champion because she had the advantage of playing on her home carpet.

However, her brilliance at Nottingham showed that not only is she a true champion but she is also an exceptional one.

To qualify for this season's finals she had beaten the 2003 winner and England cap Doreen Hankin at Reading in the zone final and she swept to the trophy on the unfamiliar Nottingham surface by defeating two current England internationals, an under-25 international and a national pairs champion.

Not a bad list of scalps. Just how difficult it is to retain the singles is mirrored by the fact that only the legendary Teesider Norma Shaw has achieved it since the first competition in 1973 was won by the late Enid Fairhall of Atherley.

Darnell-Langton has now doubled the membership of a very exclusive club - what price the Basingstoke bowler going on to complete an precedented hat-trick, something not even Shaw could manage though her record seven titles did include a double double (1980 and 81, 1987 and 88)?

After her 21-14 triumph over Kent's Sian Gordon in the final, an elated Darnell-Langton said: "I am absolutely over the moon and there have been tears of joy. This is more special than last year because it is a real achievement to retain the title on another green.

"When I went into the last 16 I had a vision that I could do it again. I had a very tough draw but you can never write me off - what I lack in skill I make up for with huge determination."

Darnell-Langton opened with a 21-11 victory over Pat Bain, winner of the pairs crown with her Eastbourne teammate Carol Ashby two years ago.

That set up a quarter-final with Jayne Roylance, the 1993 champion from East Anglia. Darnell-Langton, however, always held the edge over her England colleague, leading 11-7 and edging through 21-19 after Roylance had pegged her back to 15-14 on the 14th end.

Darnell-Langton felt her best performance was in the semi-final, which she took 21-11 despite one of her characteristic tardy starts against Penny Strong, another international.

Trailing 6-1 to her Lincolnshire opponent she battled back to lead 8-7 at 10 ends before taking control.

Darnell-Langton was once more slowly into her stride for the final against 17-year-old Gordon from the Oyster club at Whitstable. The England junior opened up a 9-3 gap but the reigning champion signalled her recovery with a three which sparked a winning sequence of seven ends on longer jacks that secured her place in the EWIBA annals.

One difference in the record books will be her club. Although she was champion as a Loddon Vale bowler last season and still retains her membership there, she entered the women's nationals this winter from the West Berks club at Newbury.