The Junior Darts Corporation Advanced Tour continued this weekend as many of the nation’s most prodigiously gifted young talents descended upon Bristol for another enthralling quartet of events (13-16) at the impressive Hanger 61 venue.
With Scottish sensation Mitchell Lawrie making the somewhat baffling decision to begin his weekend at a conflicting WDF youth event on home soil, the temporary absence of one of the tour’s dominant figures presented a golden opportunity for others to seize the spotlight.
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And in Saturday’s opener, that opportunity was grasped emphatically by English teenager Jack Johnson, who produced a wonderfully composed display to defeat compatriot Lewis Cook 6 – 3 with an exceptional average north of the 90 mark.
It proved a magnificent few hours work for the Kent youngster who, after surviving a tense last-leg decider against Alfie Cook in his opening encounter, grew in authority and confidence with every passing round. By the time he reached the final, Johnson looked every inch a deserving champion, combining clinical finishing with mature stage composure to secure the title in impressive fashion.
There is, however, another extraordinarily talented Scottish prospect rapidly establishing himself amongst the elite tier of junior darts, and Owen Bryceland once again demonstrated precisely why his reputation continues to soar. The Cumbernauld thrower claimed the second title of the day, once more leaving Lewis Cook to endure the frustration of a runners-up finish.
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Bryceland’s triumph was constructed upon resilience, nerve and remarkable tenacity. The young Scot was dragged the full distance on three separate occasions during a gruelling route to the final, yet continually discovered moments of quality when it mattered most. In the decider, he ultimately proved too strong for Cook, prevailing 6 – 4 to round off an excellent Saturday campaign.
Wee Sox Arrives For Sundays Darts
The sensational Mitchell Lawrie, meanwhile, eventually arrived in Bristol after his unusual decision to compete in the overlapping Scottish youth event, and once present, immediately reminded everybody exactly why he is regarded as one of the most electrifying teenage talents anywhere in world darts.
Sunday’s opening event began in utterly devastating fashion, Lawrie producing a colossal 107.36 average that instantly sent a thunderous statement reverberating throughout the venue. After safely navigating his way into the quarter-finals, the young Scot found himself embroiled in a fiercely competitive battle against Saturday champion Jack Johnson, eventually edging through by the finest of margins.
From there, the familiar avalanche of ton-plus performances returned. Lawrie dismantled compatriot Owen Bryceland 5 – 1 in the semi-finals before delivering another exhibition of ruthless brilliance in the final, dispatching Jack Nankervis 6 – 2 whilst registering a staggering 105.16 average.
A few hours later, Wee Sox was at it again. This time, however, there was significantly less drama attached to proceedings. Across six matches, only two players managed to take more than a solitary leg from the rampant Scot – Owen Bryceland and Arthur Allston the only competitors capable of offering even fleeting resistance.
The semi-final proved particularly ominous for the chasing pack, Lawrie completely dismantling Northern Ireland’s Christian Ennis without conceding a single leg. Then, in a pulsating conclusion to another exhilarating weekend of junior darts, the Scottish star eased serenely across the finish line with a commanding 6 – 1 victory over Kaya Baysal in the final.
From a purely Calcutta Cup perspective, the journey to Hanger 61 concluded with Scotland emerging triumphant by three events to one against their English rivals – another compelling reminder that the conveyor belt of elite Scottish darting talent shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.
—–ENDS—–
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