Best in the World Stories: Blyth Darts Club

Gary

My son, Jai, he’s 11. He’s been playing in Youth County since he was 8. He plays in my darts team now, on a Wednesday night. He turns up and he beats adults now – he beats me! I keep a photo of him lifting a trophy in my darts case. It inspires me.

Jai

We won the league in my first season. We were unbeaten through the whole year – about 16 games. When I hit my winning double – it was a double 8 – I was so happy, knowing we’d be lifting the trophy.

James

My best moment in darts was hitting a 180 against Michael van Gerwen in front of a massive crowd. I don’t know how I done it in my 19 years of life! You should ask my Dad about his achievements though. He’s got loads.

After saying he didn’t really have achievements to talk about, James persuaded his Dad to talk:

Si

I qualified for a televised event. It was the Beast from the East at the time. I’d done all that work to get to the tournament, then just getting there was a challenge. It was in Minehead. We had to get towed out of towns because of the snow. It took us 14 hours to get there. I played one game. I played really well. But I’m an amateur and he was a professional. I got beat. 

I’ve been County Captain. I’ve played in the UK Open, but I’m not bothered about that. I prefer to focus on future things. Doing the Darts Academy. We’ve been going 5 years now. We set up 2 years after Covid. Kids had kind of forgot how to socialise. A lot of them had taken up darts during Covid. So they came along. 

For kids so young, they’re resilient. You have to be in darts. The margin is so fine. They deal with disappointment regularly. They have to get over it. Darts teaches you that. 

You’d expect the kids to be competitive. But they’re very supportive of each other. 

We’ve had 13 kids through the Darts Academy in World Championships. From a small town, people don’t realise the skills that’s come out. 

And the kids’ mathematics has come on. It’s great sending them to the World Championships, but hearing their parents say that their maths teacher is really happy with them. That’s great.

Sophy

I won mini league. My brother and sister are in the same league – I’m the youngest but I still beat them! I was 9 then. I’m 10 now.

Sky

I’m proud of getting myself to 2 darts academies – on a Monday and a Wednesday. It’s getting me to try and get out of my comfort zone. I do the counting now, the marking. It’s been nearly two years I’ve been coming here. My teacher says I’m doing better at maths now. I just turn it all into darts in my head.

Karen

I’ve been doing darts as long as I can remember. 30, 40 years now. I started when I was 17. Every day of the week is darts. Matches on a Sunday. Tuesday and Friday league. Here on a Monday. In one week I scored 180 four times. I’m actually hitting them now. It’s only taken this many years!

Oliver

My best moment was winning the Europe Cup with my England teammates. I qualified through England ranking events. The tournament was in Assen in The Netherlands. There were 20 other European countries represented. It’s like The Euros for youth darts. We lost in the final, but we won overall on points. I’ve still got the “Boys Overall Champion” sign up in my room! 

I’ve been signed by Target Darts. Same as Luke Littler and Phil Taylor. I’ve been given another contract for 3 years. You get bonuses for winning competitions, but the name is the big thing. I’ve got up to 4th in the England Grand Prix rankings. I’ve played Advanced Tour for 3 years. I’ve qualified for Gibralter 4 times. This will be my last year, because I’m 17. I’m a bit sad really. 

With these tournaments, you’re playing against normal kids, but they can do amazing things. When you get prodigies in football they get put in a little bubble. But it’s not like that in darts. You’re surrounded by so much talent, but it only stretches as far as the room. Outside they’re just normal kids. 

I’m working towards the PDC Development Tour. But I’ve had a plateau with my darts. I was struggling. You compare yourself to other darts players. It’s hard to step back and see what you’ve done. 

Doubt gets in. I know I can hit 9-darters. I’ve done it before. But doubt tells you, you can’t. You overthink. And the margins are so fine on a dartboard. You can release too fast and it goes too high. Or you delay and it goes too low. The psychology is the hardest part.  

I’ve had help from a sports psychologist. She was great. So, I’m working back up to it. I’ve had to go back to basics. I’m feeling good about my darts now. 

You know Gerwen Price with his big roar? I’ve never done that. I’m not that kind of player. I don’t get up on stage and roar and shout. But when I hit double top to win my match in the Europe Cup, I let out a proper Geordie scream. It was the relief. The pressure taken off my shoulders. When I was out having food later, my leg couldn’t stop shaking. 

I’ve been incredibly lucky. It all started by coming here on a Monday night. They put us through a pathway. When I travel to Gibralter, Hungary, The Netherlands – if someone had told me I’d be running around with kids from all over, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Sharon

My son scored his first 180 onstage on Sunday. I was proud of him. I hit my first 180 on 31 July 2025. I’ve never done it since! It’s like fishing – it took me 4 years before I caught a fish!

Alfie

I was playing a match in County League match somewhere in Durham. I went 3-0 down. I brought it back to 3-3, then checked out with a 170 in the last leg to win. I’ve played for England, but that match was my best.

Seth

Getting my letter to play for Northumberland County on the first time of asking. It was a shock if I’m being honest. I won my game when I got on, so I was happy about that.

Dom

I’m a family man. For me the best thing is the bairn. With darts you’ve got the social side – the camaraderie. I come here two times a week – on Wednesdays and Friday. I have a bit of banter with the lads. Winning does count. But that comes second.

Best in the World Stories: Blyth Market Pavilion

Karen

I passed my driving test. People thought I wouldn’t be able to drive because I was disabled, but I passed first time. Travelling is really important to me. I’ve been on a tuk-tuk, a helicopter, a hovercraft. Even though I’m in a wheelchair, I’ve not let it stop me.

Mary

I’m proud of my daughter. Of her learning to drive. Of her going to university and getting a job. (And her daughter is proud that I’m her mum.)

Rita

Getting my sociology degree. I never thought I’d go to uni. Then, when I was 38, after I’d had the kids, I thought, I’ll see if my brain still works!

Henry

I failed my driving test. Then I failed it the second time. But I kept going and I did it. I passed third time!

Joan

My three kids.

Anonymous

I went to college at 45 to get my NVQs. I was back working in schools I decided to better myself.

Anonymous

Recovering from a stroke five years ago. I had to relearn everything. I kept going out on walks with my son – some of them were too long! But I did it. Then I supported my mate when he had stroke a few years later.

Ann

I’ve climbed all the highest peaks of England, Scotland and Wales. Scarfell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon. Scarfell Pike was my Mother’s Day present. My sons said they’d booked a hotel. I had a vision of a spa! But it was great. I had my boys to myself for the whole weekend.

Clare

I was driving and I saw someone on the path. Other people were driving past. I stopped. She’d come off her scooter. I called an ambulance and stayed with her.

Sue

My son’s passing out parade. And being at the birth of my granddaughter, Jessica.

Jessica

I went up the Eiffel Tower and conquered my fear of heights.

Helen

I was on an arts board at a school I worked at. There was this opportunity to do acting classes through RADA. They were due to come to the North East to do the assessment, but then they cancelled. They said we should come to RADA instead. I was there, looking up at the pictures of John Gielgud and all the famous actors. It was beyond terrifying. But I did it. I got my certificate.

Best in the World Stories: Blyth Newsham Youth Club  

Reece

Getting picked to go on Children in Need. I sang with my choir. We sang ‘Stargazing’ and ‘You’ve Got The Love’. I was scared when I got picked. They filmed me with the choir and at home. It was scary but I’m proud too.

Anonymous

Painting a canvas. I made it at Youth Club and took it home.

Harley

I’ve got epilepsy absent seizures and I’m really proud of how I’ve overcome my fears. I’ve not let it hold me back. I’ve got on with my life. Thanks to my friend Katana I’ve built my confidence with horses. When I first went, I was really scared, but now I ride the horses and I’m really proud. We’re both in love with horses!

Katana

I’m proud of my horse-riding. There’s a competition where they come to your farm and you can do jumping. I won a rosette. You get one for your horse and one for yourself. I’ve got two horses. Queenie is my oldest. She’s 27. You can’t trot her anymore, she’s too old. My cob is called Dylan. He’s the horse I won with.

Anonymous

Standing up for myself. Defending my brother.

Andie

My gold medal moment is whenever I speak. Because I’ve got a stutter. I don’t know if I’m going to stutter or not. Last summer, I sang karaoke on the microphone on holiday in Turkey. I didn’t stutter once. My Mam was surprised and she was proud of me.

Alnahari

I play for Blyth Rangers. One day we were playing a match between ourselves. I went past everyone and scored an amazing goal.

Anonymous

Passing my SATs. I thought I’d fail but I passed them all. Science was hard but I passed that too.

Mel

I went back and did my English and Maths GCSE in my mid 30s. It wasn’t easy but I did it.

RipDemonic

I do voices for cartoons drawn by my friend. I’m a voice actor. I draw too. We put them on YouTube sometimes. When I watch them back I feel really proud.

Anonymous

I’m proud of diving off a five-metre diving board. I came first in a diving competition in Sheffield.

Anonymous

Doing an axel for the first time last Sunday at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.

Frankie

I scored twenty goals in football outside my house with my friends.

Heather

When I was a kid, I was walking with my Dad, and we saw a sapling that had been pulled out of the ground. I picked it up and said we had to plant it. My Dad said, “Alright then.” So, we went down to the Dene and found a spot and we planted it. Over the years, it’s grown into a big horse-chestnut tree. It’s massive now. I go and collect conkers there with my grandkids every Autumn. I did the same with my kids when they were little. I always say, “That’s my tree.” And I always think of my Dad. It must be over 50 years now.

Finalist: Total Theatre Awards 2012

Developed at BAC and Northern Stage with support from ARC Stockton Arts Centre, Arts Centre Washington and Northumbria University.

Creative Team

Director
Annie Rigby

Writer
Carina Rodney

Performer
Alex Elliott

Designer
Andrew Stephenson

Lighting Designer
Kevin Tweedy

Production Team
Simon Henderson, Carl Moir

Photography
Reed Ingram Weir

Graphic Design
Wayne Gamble