Living in Bristol, I’ve always felt fortunate when it comes to darts. The city has a thriving scene, countless local competitions, and an unbelievable pool of talent to learn from. But what’s happening right now around Hangar 61 and the JDC Southern Hub feels like something different , something bigger.
With Bristol now officially the home of the JDC’s Southern Hub and with former Pro Tour player Steve Brown, its founder and chairman, driving youth darts forward, the pathway for young players has never looked healthier. The passion behind the setup has sparked a genuine surge in young talent, some of whom already look frighteningly good.
And with the hub officially opening at Hangar 61 in March, we may genuinely be watching the next generation of stars being moulded right in our backyard.
A Venue Built for the Future
Hangar 61 is an incredible venue.
For Saturday’s first ever Open competition, it immediately impressed:
-
18 match boards in the main competition area
-
Additional boards across the bars and function rooms for practice
-
A genuine professional feel ,the kind you associate with major youth or development events
It’s exactly the kind of environment that shows where youth darts is heading: structured, serious, and driven by people who genuinely care about the next generation.
Over 100 Players – All Levels Represented
The tournament attracted more than 100 players, starting with a round-robin phase before moving into the knockout stages. The field was brilliantly mixed:
-
Former Tour players such as John Brown and Arron Monk
-
Modus Super Series regulars
-
Challenge Tour talent
-
Some of the best current JDC prospects
-
Reigning WDF Women’s World Champion Deta Hedman
-
And, of course, players like me, improving, competing, and seeing how far we can go
It made for a proper test. Every group match felt meaningful, and every board had something worth watching.
A Slow Start… Then My Darts Came Alive
I’ll be honest I was running on fumes early on.
The night before, I’d only just made it home before midnight after marking at the Development Tour in Leicester, and it took a few matches to settle in.
I didn’t qualify for the knockout stages, but toward the end of the round robin something definitely clicked. The throw loosened up, the scoring improved, and everything started to flow naturally.
And then came the highlight of the day:
A 143 Checkout – My Highest in Any Competition
That one won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Moments like that make all the hours of practice worthwhile. The scoring across the session was consistent, a few strong legs were built well, and that checkout stood out like a gem.
It wasn’t a tournament-winning performance, but it felt like progress.
The Winner and the Wider Picture
Arron Monk took the title, a reminder of the class he still possesses when in full flow. His composure and experience shone through in a very strong field.
But just as impressive were the performances from the younger players. Several JDC prospects picked up excellent wins and looked fearless in tough matches. The depth of talent coming through the Southern system is remarkable.
Bristol’s Darting Boom
If Saturday proved anything, it’s that Bristol is rapidly becoming one of the most important cities in the UK for youth and development darts.
With the JDC Southern Hub about to open fully, and venues like Hangar 61 embracing the sport in a professional, forward-thinking way, the region feels primed to produce real success stories in the years ahead.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if many of them start with the same sentence:
“It all began at Hangar 61.”
