The happy champion, David Allen (Colne), held aloft by his colleagues. A previously unpublished image.

From a report by Don Smith:
Surprise night in the Grand Final of the Golden Arrow at a packed Imperial, Nelson, on Monday 28th April 1975, meant the defeat of Burnley area's best. Not for the first time a darter from Colne quietly stepped in to take over the coveted trophy. New champion David Allen, of the North Valley Hotel, beat Ronnie Martin, hope of the Peel's Arms in a closely contested final.

Ronnie won his semi-final against Jack North who, by the bad luck of the draw, had met Jack Hook (Glen View) in the quarter-final - a match which proved to be one of the best ever in the eleven year history of the competition. It proved a classic with 14 scores of 100 and over and lasted a bare ten minutes. North won 2-1. Ronnie Martin beat Nelson area champion David Sourbutts of the Greyhound, Brierfield, 2-1 after losing the first leg. He had two tons and a 124 in the third. Although Jimmy Howard recorded 177 he was beaten by David Allen, who registered a startling 120 finish and went on to knock out Kelbrook's Keith Walling in the semi-final. Jack North won the first leg against Ronnie Martin then faded, Martin taking the lead in the third and holding it despite North's late recovery with successive tens.

Martin delighted his supporters by winning the first leg of the final, but Dave Allen drew level. In an even last leg amid tense excitement, both wanted double 16. Allen took it. Most poignant spectacle of the night was that moment, for as the Colner was throwing, Ronnie turned away from the board not daring to look until the silence was broken by the roar of the crowd which told him the worst. Awards were presented by Mr K. Nightingale, director and general manager of the Burnley Express, Nelson Leader-Colne Times series, who was introduced by Peter Wilson the compere. Caller was Len Cookson and the markers Allan Wood (Padiham), J. Kennedy (Colne), J. Sayers (Nelson) and Alan Dyster (Burnley). Electric scoreboard operators were Dorothy Barker and Nellie O'Higgins.