Bristol’s Hangar 61 recently hosted an electrifying England Youth Grand Prix, a double-header darts event showcasing incredible young talent. The weekend was packed with high-quality play, culminating in four new champions and a truly spectacular nine-dart finish. Toby Clements and Yazmine Ruck-Havard claimed the first day’s Boys’ and Girls’ titles respectively, while Jed Walkinshaw and Ruby Grey dominated on the second day. The highlight, however, was Jack Bellingham’s perfect nine-dart leg, a rare feat that thrilled spectators and perfectly capped a memorable tournament.
A Weekend of Darts Excellence at Hangar 61
The vibrant city of Bristol once again became the epicenter of youth darts, as the state-of-the-art Hangar 61 venue welcomed the latest installment of the England Youth Grand Prix. This double-header series delivered two full days of competition, revealing a rich pool of emerging talent and providing moments of breathtaking skill, including a legendary nine-darter.
Hangar 61, supported by major darts brands like Winmau, Red Dragon Darts, and the JDC, is rapidly establishing itself as a premier hub for youth darts events in England, offering a fantastic environment for future stars to hone their craft.
Day 1: Saturday’s Champions Emerge
Boys’ Event: Toby Clements’ Unstoppable Form
The opening Boys’ title was seized by the remarkably composed Toby Clements. The Surrey prodigy delivered a masterclass in consistent darts, navigating his group stage with absolute authority, dropping a mere three legs on his path to the knockout rounds.
- Group Stage Dominance: Conceded only 3 legs.
- Knockout Power: Secured three consecutive whitewash victories.
- Path to Final: Defeated fellow English talents Mitchell Atkins and Mattie Ambage.
- Final Triumph: Sealed the title with a controlled 5-2 win over Wales’ Harley Glycos, repeating an earlier success against him.
Clements’ performance was a testament to his focus and skill, marking him as a formidable player to watch.
Girls’ Event: Yazmine Ruck-Havard’s Resilient Comeback
In the Girls’ competition, Welsh pride shone through with Yazmine Ruck-Havard’s incredible victory. Yazmine, fresh from her recent Tri-Nations experiences, showed remarkable resilience and a dramatic turnaround in form.
Her journey was one of stark contrast:
- Turbulent Group Phase: Won only a single match, making progression seem unlikely.
- Knockout Transformation: Underwent a complete change, not conceding a single leg throughout the entire knockout stage.
- Dominant Wins: Secured clinical whitewash victories against Lucy Shepherd, Lola Wheeler, and Sinead Tucker.
- All-Welsh Final: Emphatically dispatched Miley Morgan to claim a richly deserved title, showcasing her mental fortitude and skill when it mattered most.
Day 2: Sunday’s Thrills and a Perfect Game
Boys’ Event: Jed Walkinshaw’s Gritty Victory
Sunday’s Boys’ event saw Jed Walkinshaw emerge victorious after a truly gripping and finely balanced final against Arthur Allston, which Jed edged out with a narrow 5-4 scoreline. Walkinshaw proved his mettle in a particularly demanding format, successfully navigating seven round-robin fixtures and winning six to assert his dominance.
He carried this strong momentum into the knockout phase, advancing comfortably and dropping only a handful of legs before facing Allston in a final where both players fought for every inch.
Girls’ Event: Ruby Grey’s Unstoppable Streak
Ruby Grey once again underscored her immense potential, delivering an exceptional performance throughout her campaign. Her journey to the title was marked by overwhelming control, as she surrendered a mere five legs across the entire tournament.
Her polished 5-2 success over Abbi Ettridge in the final was a fitting end to an outstanding run. This victory continues an exceptional period for Grey, who recently played a pivotal role alongside fellow rising star Paige Pauling in spearheading England Girl’s triumph at the Tri-Nations, solidifying her status as a top young talent.
The Moment of Magic: Jack Bellingham’s Nine-Darter!
Adding a truly unforgettable flourish to an already memorable weekend, Jack Bellingham produced a moment of sheer darts brilliance. In his early Sunday victory over Freddie Owens, Bellingham achieved the ultimate feat in darts: a sublime nine-dart finish.
For those unfamiliar, a nine-darter is darts’ equivalent of a perfect game in baseball or a 147 break in snooker. It’s the fewest possible darts (nine) to check out from a score of 501, usually achieved by hitting three triple 20s, then three more triple 20s, and finishing with a triple 20, triple 19, and double 12. This incredibly rare and difficult achievement sent ripples of excitement through the venue, serving as a spectacular highlight and a perfect way to conclude his match.
A Bright Future for Youth Darts
The England Youth Grand Prix at Hangar 61 once again proved to be a fertile ground for future darts champions. With such talent on display and moments of pure sporting magic like Bellingham’s nine-darter, the future of darts looks incredibly bright, promising many more thrilling tournaments to come.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
