Oxfordshire include new signing Deta Hedman, the No 8 ranked woman in the world, when they open their British Darts Organisation Inter Counties Championship against Dorset at the East Challow British Legion this weekend.

Hedman, who has joined Oxon from Essex, won last week’s British Open at Bridlington, beating seven-times world champion Trina Gulliver 3-1 in the final.

She has also qualified for next year's world championships.

After last season’s relegation, Oxon will be looking to bounce back.

They have Joe Palmer back after several seasons playing for Buckinghamshire, and Stuart Dutton returns after a few seasons in Bedfordshire.

Oxon have also recruited Mark Thomson, the former PDC star and Wiltshire county player, to make his debut.

Play starts at midday on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.

OXFORDSHIRE TEAM

Men’s A: R Anderson (Fox & Hounds), N Cobb (Challow British Legion), S Dutton, S Foster (Three Tuns Kings Sutton), R Haines, P Hall, J Jukes (D & J Rentals), P Krabben, A Larner (McCleans Coaches Ltd), J Palmer, M Thomson, O Varney.

Men’s B: P Cross, P Fisher, S Holly, G Manning (Sandvik Coromant), L Radford (Spread Eagle, Burger World), S Skelton, B Stratford, A Thomas, W Topley, S Tricker, K Wilkins, K Young.

Reserves: P Addison (Bicester Beers & Minerals), M Breakspear, D Butler, P Champ, P Cohen, J Fowler, M Stocker, D Smith, T Tricker, T Wood.

Ladies A: L Carroll, R Dixon, D Hedman, L Jones, K Williams, J Newman (Duke of Cumberland's Head).

Ladies B: Cali Birch, Cath Birch, S Cox, P Guy, B Manning, I Richardson.

Reserves: N Curzon, K Ledbury, G Mathews, H Prowton (Spar Eynsham), S Wells.

OXFORDSHIRE paid the price for missed doubles as they slipped to a 10-7 defeat away to reigning champions Essex in the British Darts Organisation Youth Championship.

Oxon Under 18s lost 5-4 in a game which went down to the last leg.

Their wins came from Lewis Bower (13.90 average), Sam Lewis (17.89), Scot Smith (22.02) and Steven Wright, who was man-of-the-match for the second time in a row, with a 24.44 average.

Oxon Under 21 ladies lost 3-0, but the under 21 men inflicted a rare defeat on the Essex side with a 3-2 win.

The match was decided in the last game with Dean Lockyer (21.52) beating England Youth international, James Jennings to secure victory and the man-of-the-match award.

Their other wins came from Dan Ford (21.17) and Tom Baughan (19.45).