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JUNE O8
Unicorn Darts Youth
Academy
Top performers in June at the
Academy have been Jordan Edmonds,
Connor Bestford and Harry Lawton in
the junior boys with Amy Thorne,
Chloe Baird and Kelly Paine showing
excellent improvement in the girls.
At senior level, Sean White leads
the 29’s competition with a best of
508 followed by Arron Monk 377,
Dominic Ware 322 and Billy Day 271.
Fastest 701 leg: Sean White 23
darts, the 501 5 leg average is from
Arron Monk 25.99 and the top check
out is 99 by Richard Burgess. 180’s
have come from Adam Major, Arron
Monk and Sean White all 2 a-piece.
Group B singles leaders are Karl
Brooks and James Daley both on 12
wins from 15 ahead of Gavin Howard
on 11 and in Group C, Luke Goddard
leads on 7 from 9 from Ray Lockington on 6.
Top lady
performances have come from
Charlotte Burgess 26 dart 701 and a
6 dart 201 including a 160 finish.
Christine and Sam Pike tie the June
singles with 7 wins each followed by
Mel Oakley on 6.
Unicorn Darts Youth Academy
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Junior Squad |
The Academy
celebrated its second
birthday last week at the Entertainer by welcoming
parents and partners to an open Academy session.
The Academy has
been supported by Unicorn Darts, Testway Housing,
Testway 7’s, Hampshire Police, Test Valley Borough
Council and the Hampshire Youth Opportunity Fund and
many were there to witness the new white and black
senior shirt presentation presided over by Unicorn’s
owner and managing director Mr Edward Lowy
A delegation
from Testway Housing was on hand to enjoy an exhibition
by the youngsters on stage and there was a buffet
enjoyed by all.
On a normal
night 5 boards are used for both junior and senior
sessions with a range of disciplines to sharpen their
skills. Sometimes the stage is used to give experience
of what it is like to play in a final (the Academy had 5
players on stage at the recent Essex Open).
There is a seven
week cycle which includes not only singles and pairs but
also team games building team ethics, there is a 29’s
competition based on all of the board’s doubles, and an
‘outshot clinic’ which teaches players how to finish the
game as quickly as possible.
There is a
handicap system that allows the beginner to compete with
an elite player and a Darts-athlon that challenges the
players to hone their accuracy around the board by
playing traditional games such as Shanghai, Golf and
Bulls-eyes etc.
With a coach’s
assistance even beginners chalk games which improves
confidence, their adding and subtraction.
Every dart in
the above is recorded with analysis being produced to
see where a player may be excelling or needs practice.
Over the past
two years the Academy has taken on and shone against the
County youth team and dominated numerous regional
individual competitions but this all comes at a cost and
are forever looking to increase funding which will allow
a full darting calendar to be realised.
The Academy has
indeed raised over £3000 itself with various events but
with average coach travel costing around £600 cannot
rely on the generosity of partners.
Over two dozen
have now established themselves either in local senior
leagues, starred at super league, county or
international level and two have joined the ranks of
Unicorn, the world’s ultimate darts team, with another
due this December. Nearly 90 youngsters have joined the
Academy since its inception and with a dedicated band of
coaches the doors remain open to youngsters that want to
learn one of Britain’s biggest participant sports.
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Young Mens Squad |
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Young Ladies Squad |
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