22 year old darts player Kieron Leighton from Hereford will be bidding for darting success as he joins the PDC youth development tour later this year.
Leighton will look to follow in the footsteps of local players Terry Jenkins, Jim Williams and Luke Woodhouse who have had great success over the years on the oche.
Matt Healey popped over to the Commercial to speak to him ahead of him taking part on Monday night darts.
Kieron told Your Herefordshire how he got involved in the sport.
“When I was five I got given my first soft tip darts board, then a couple of years later my grandparents bought me my first proper dartboard. I even managed to score my first 180 when I was eight, my family have been really supportive of me and my dad and girlfriend regularly watch me play”
Kieron plays for The Commercial darts team on a Monday night “They are a great set of lads and they really look after me. I am looking to go to the PDC Q School next year and I just want to keep learning and getting better. I’m also playing in the local Herefordshire Super League at the Herdsman and I also play in competitions in Wales”
In the meantime it will be the PDC youth development tour that Kieron has his sights set on “It gets underway in the spring and it will be five weekends scattered over the year, I’m looking for sponsors as it will involve travelling abroad and there is a huge cost aspect, but I cant wait to get started and it will be a brilliant experience for me”
With the emergence of Luke Littler who at 16 made it the PDC World Darts Championship final this year the interest in the sport has risen massively.
“What Luke did was brilliant and he has now got himself into the top 32of the PDC which means he will now automatically qualify for most of the major tournaments, the money in darts is incredible and I would love to be a full time professional”
We asked Kieron who his darts idol is. He told us “I’m a big fan of Nathan Aspinall. He is a top player and someone I admire in the game”
