October saw us start this round-up with a congratulations and introduction to Cori Wiltshire, who will
joining Team360 after graduating from the JDC Cadets scheme.
Cori has been a force in local competition in 2023 and recently making moves on the JDC circuit. He started his Team360 journey with a knockout run in the Burnham and Highbridge round robin, losing out in the last 16 to Mike Norton.
Hannah Meek reached the final of the England Youth Grand Prix over the weekend. After recording
wins over Ella Williams, Kacie O’Connor and Krystal O’Connor in the group stages, would then
average 70 in seeing off Amy-Leigh Tolley in the final four. It would be another impressive
performance in the final, despite losing out to Paige Pauling, where she took a leg off the young star
and once again averaged close to the 70 mark.
There would also be a knockout stage run for Fabian Tapner on Sunday, as he edged out of his group
with two wins from three matches. The Welshman would then face former JDC Advanced Tour
winner, Jack Nankervis, in the quarter-finals where he would lose out 3-0.
Elsewhere, Ben McCaffery would come oh so close in the Memorial Cup final in his home county.
After capturing the title 12 months ago, he would be edged out in a deciding leg after a strong
campaign which included an 11-darter!
Following the announcement of Cori Wiltshire last week, we now welcome two more new recruits to
the ranks as Rebecca Allen and Jack Nankervis join Team360. Nankervis, 12, has had heaps of success on the JDC foundation and more recently advanced tours, and steps up from the JDC cadets.
Allen makes a similar step having announced herself on the national stage with a win in the WDF
World Cup Team event and a final in the individual girl’s event. The Irish youngster continues to go
from strength to strength in the junior game.
As far as Team360 goes, Keelan Kay was back to his best at the North Devon Bideford Open at the
weekend, winning eleven out of eleven matches and even averaging 106 in his last 16 encounter.
Cayden Smith was a winner at county level, averaging around the 80 mark on his West Mids return.
This week also saw him nail an 11-dart leg en route to the last 16 in local action, losing out to PDC
tour card holder, Nick Fullwell.
Adam Dee reached the last 16 of the ADC Vault at Palatine House, losing out to eventual winner Niall
Culleton. The Irishman won three out to his four group stage matches to reach the knockouts. He
then defeated Nellie Brouder with three straight legs before losing out to Culleton by the same
scoreline.
November
Geordie starlet, Ryan Branley, headlines this week’s round-up following a successful double swoop in
Malta. The youngster mopped up two tournaments in little over 24 hours with the second coming
after a sensational run. A whitewash of Scotland’s Cameron Walsh was followed by wins over Amy
Evans Mathias Isaksen, before another whitewash win to end the weekend in style.
Jack Nankervis made his Team360 debut at the JDC Super 16 finals in Coventry, winning one of his
three group matches against some experienced JDC campaigners. There was a hugely promising run
from Cayden Smith as he missed out on a final place in Milton Keynes at the hands of Luke Littler.
Smith breezed through the group stages, winning all three of his matches, 3-0. He then made light
work of Callum Beddow in the last 16, before taking the last two legs in a 4-2 win over Lawrie
Mitchell. The West Midlander would get on the board against reigning Super 16 champ, Littler, but
missed doubles would cost him as Littler confirmed his spot in the Super 16 final.
It was a bumper week for Ireland’s Adam Dee as he was in top form at the Killarney Darts Festival.
Always a hectic week on the darts calendar, Dee was involved in men’s, youth and pairs events,
reaching the semi-finals on the Boy’s Irish Open.
After coming through his group unscathed, he put together three 3-0 wins on the spin to set up a
semi-final meeting with Aiden O’Hara. That’s where the run would end in the singles, Dee also added
a pair of last 16 run, which included several high 90’s averages, with partner Sean McKeon to his
ever-growing reputation.
It was also a successful weekend for Rebecca Allen in Kilarney as she reached the final of the girl’s
classic and semi-final of the open. Allen and fellow youngster Paige Pauling have build up quite a
rivalry of late, and she would be the only competitor to stop Allen on an excellent Irish Classic run.
Elsewhere, Jack Nankervis was victorious in the Tencreek Winter Juniors Championship, dropping
just two legs on route to the title. There was also a big win for Conor Hopkins, who defeated former
tour card holder Nick Kenny as he reached the semi-finals in local competition, following a pairs
victory earlier in the weekend.
Jurjen Van der Velde captured the WIN Casino Open pairs title in Drenthe, after another season of
PDC action, the young Dutchman will be looking to end the year in good fashion.
There was also a 3-0 win for Cayden Smith at senior county level as he ran away with a 90 average for the Black Country in a big darting weekend for the county. His performance earned him a call-up to the senior side the following day, where he lost out to experienced campaigner, Paul Hogan.
North-East darter, Ryan Branley, would continue his excellent form 90 average at youth county, and
there would also be a tick in victory column for Fabian Tapner, who got win as prepares for the JDC
World Championships in Gibraltar.
Ireland’s Adam Dee continued his preparation for the WDF World Championship Boy’s event at the
Lakeside with a semi-final run. He was eventually defeated by Niall Culleton after some excellent
performances in the early stages. After trailing in his last 32 encounter, Dee would land 15, 16 and
then another 15 darter to secure his last 16 place.
Dee would cruise into the semi-finals where he would face Culleton in a cracking encounter, the 3-0
scoreline wouldn’t reflect the performance from Dee as despite landing some monster checkouts he
would come up short. Rebecca Allen would also be in attendance, reaching the last 32 in a
competitive field.
—–ENDS—–
Words – JOSH GREEN and Winmau
