Yesterday's Darts Results: Bobby Short Hits 107.36, Andrew Hibbert Dominates and Jo Locke Wins WADC National Title – 18 October 2026

Sunday brought another 88 tournaments into the Q4QS database, and there was plenty to talk about. With ADC Vault 19 continuing around the country, the WADC National Singles Finals taking place and another busy programme of Junior Volts competitions, it was a proper Sunday of grassroots darts.

The graphic highlights Ryan Fuller's victory in Plymouth, Joseph Lauridsen's Junior Volts success in Exeter and Sharon McNulty's WADC win in Stroud. All thoroughly deserving of recognition.

But when I started looking further into the results, a few other performances really stood out.

Bobby Short produced a 107.36 average in Blaenavon, Andrew Hibbert recorded four averages above 90 on his way to victory at Bardon Hill, and there was another interesting result involving James Welding, who had won twice on Saturday.

And the women's darts certainly deserves its own section, particularly with a national title decided.

Bobby Short produces 107.36 in Blaenavon

One of Sunday's outstanding performances came at Blaenavon Constitutional Club, where Bobby Short defeated Ryan Davies 3–0 in the final.

Short finished with eight victories and produced an excellent 107.36 average against Mathew Howells.

But it wasn't a one-man show.

Davies recorded 103.66 against Dylan Ruck-Havard and another three-figure average of 100.20 against Bryan Wright. He finished with six victories.

That meant three averages above 100 between the two finalists, which is an impressive standard for a local Vault competition.

Short had also featured prominently in Saturday's results, so it was another productive weekend for him.

Andrew Hibbert dominates at Bardon Hill

If I were choosing one of the most complete tournament performances of Sunday, Andrew Hibbert would be right near the top.

At Bardon Hill Sports Club in Coalville, Hibbert defeated Elliott Neary 3–1 in the final and won eight matches.

His four leading averages were:

• 100.20 against Leon Baumber
• 96.97 against Will Ogg
• 94.33 against Elliott Neary
• 91.09 against Ben Hickling

Four averages above 90, including a ton-plus performance, is a particularly impressive collection.

Neary deserves credit too, reaching the final with seven victories, while Jack Beasley recorded 90.18 against Matthew Essex.

It is easy to get carried away by one exceptional average. Hibbert's performance was different because the quality appeared repeatedly throughout the competition.

Ryan Fuller wins a close final in Plymouth

At Legends Lounge in Plymouth, Ryan Fuller defeated Nick Miller 3–2 to claim the Vault 19 title.

Fuller recorded eight victories, with Miller collecting seven.

Interestingly, both players produced an identical highest average of 83.50.

Miller achieved his against Lennon Nicholls, while Fuller recorded his against Lee Noonan.

Miller also averaged 76.45 in the final, with Fuller producing 76.02 against Tyler Skews.

Andrew Cook was another player worth mentioning, recording 75.45 against Miller and finishing with five victories.

With 63 matches recorded, this was a substantial competition, and Fuller came through a closely contested final to take the title.

Dylan Cowley ends James Welding's winning run

One result I found particularly interesting came at the Hoop and Mallet in Warrington.

On Saturday, James Welding won two tournaments at the venue, collecting 14 victories across the two competitions.

On Sunday, he reached another final.

This time, however, Dylan Cowley defeated Welding 3–2 to claim the title.

Cowley finished with eight victories, while Welding added another six to his weekend's tally.

Welding recorded the highest average of the competition, 91.09 against Ian Woodward, and also produced 87.37 in the final.

Cowley averaged 88.58 in that deciding match.

That's quite a weekend for Welding, even though he couldn't complete a third tournament victory. Equally, Cowley deserves credit for coming through against a player who had clearly been in excellent form.

More excellent performances around the country

There were several other Vault results worth highlighting.

At Eastleigh Working Men's Club, Jason Collins defeated Mike Gillet 3–2, with eight victories for Collins and seven for Gillet. James Roberts recorded 107.36, while Gillet produced 100.20 and Collins 95.94.

At the Phoenix Club in Waterlooville, Leo Howard defeated Steve West 3–0 and finished with seven victories. Ricardo Ulrich produced 100.20, while West recorded 98.02 and 95.94.

At Longton Snooker and Pool Club in Stoke, William Gilchrist defeated Dylan Hulse Morgan 3–0. Bailey Ward recorded an excellent 103.66 and another average of 90.18.

At the Cue Club in South Wigston, Ben Flanagan-McClelland defeated Cayliss Fisher 3–0. His leading averages of 96.97, 93.94, 88.41 and 86.71 suggest another particularly consistent performance.

At the C's Club in Chelmsley Wood, Pete Hughes defeated Danny Lauby 3–1, recording 96.97 against David Barnett and finishing with seven victories.

And at Foots Cray Social Club, George Whyte defeated Dan Perfect 3–1, winning eight matches and recording two averages of 81.24.

It is a reminder of just how much competitive darts is taking place every Sunday, often with some very respectable standards.

WADC: Jo Locke wins the Red Dragon National Singles Finals

There was a major women's title decided on Sunday, with the WADC Red Dragon National Singles Finals, carrying an advertised £4,000 prize fund.

Jo Locke defeated Tracey Dean 5–2 in the final, completing six victories to take the title.

Locke also produced the competition's highest individual average, a superb 90.18 against Lauryn Salter.

She averaged 76.47 in the final and recorded further performances of 73.92 against Dean and 73.09 against Angela Barrow.

Lauren Bloomfield finished with five victories, while Bek Charles, Kerry O'Connor and Dean each collected four.

Locke had already featured prominently in Saturday's WADC results, winning the National Finals Money In, Money Out Knockout. That makes this a particularly impressive weekend, with two titles across the two days.

Seven more WADC Vault competitions

The National Finals weren't the only women's darts taking place.

• Sharon McNulty won at the Queen Victoria in Stroud, beating Rachel Gardiner 2–0 and collecting six victories.
• Susan Power won at Eastleigh WMC, defeating Elsie-Mai Tarrant 2–0, with both players recording a best average of 57.81.
• Kayleigh Brown won at Highways Sports and Social Club in Colchester, defeating Georgia Worrall 3–1.
• Danielle Evans won one of the Red Rose Darts Hub events in Preston, beating Andrea Holland 3–0.
• Eileen Harrison won the other Preston competition, defeating Danielle Evans 3–1.
• Susan Ramsay won at the Phoenix Club in Waterlooville, beating Caz Roberts 3–0 and recording a 66.80 average against Aimee Jeffery.
• Loz Jones won at Y Bodunig Inn in Dyserth, defeating Janet Hardman 3–1. Hardman recorded the competition's highest average of 66.80.

That's eight WADC competitions in total, including the National Singles Finals.

One thing I particularly like about these results is the mixture of players appearing at different levels. The national competitions provide the headlines, but the local Vault events are equally important in providing regular opportunities to compete.

Junior Volts: A busy Sunday for the next generation

Sunday's results also included 17 Junior Volts competitions, and there were some very encouraging performances.

Jack Taylor produces a 96.97 average in Leeds

At Woodhouse Cricket Club in Leeds, Jack Taylor defeated Max Priestman 3–1 in the final, finishing with eight victories.

Taylor produced the highest Junior Volts average I found in Sunday's report: 96.97 against William Sykes.

Priestman also impressed, recording 83.50 and collecting seven victories.

That is an excellent standard for a junior competition.

Leo Howard wins in Waterlooville

At the Phoenix Club, Leo Howard defeated Finley Lewis 3–0, winning seven matches.

Howard recorded a 91.09 average against Riley Pratt, along with 79.11 and 77.08 in other matches.

Interestingly, Howard also won the adult Vault 19 competition at the same venue, defeating Steve West 3–0.

Winning both a Junior Volts event and a Vault competition on the same day is a notable achievement.

Toby Clements impresses at Shepperton

At Shepperton Sports Club, Toby Clements defeated Harry Draper 3–0 and finished with seven victories.

His averages included 85.89, 83.50, 80.52 and 79.11.

That is another example of the consistency I often find more interesting than one exceptional performance.

Harvey-Lee Nelson-Harris continues his form

At Mossley Tavern in Rugeley, Harvey-Lee Nelson-Harris defeated Jake Whitehead 3–2, winning nine matches.

He produced averages of 77.74, 75.15 and 73.32.

Having also featured in Saturday's results, he is another junior enjoying a productive weekend.

Joseph Lauridsen wins in Exeter

At the Kings Pub in Exeter, Joseph Lauridsen defeated Aaron Rea 3–1.

Lauridsen recorded 70.31 in the final and 66.86 against George Miller.

Rea produced 61.21 in the final, making this one of the stronger South West junior performances of the day.

Other Junior Volts winners

There were plenty more young players to recognise:

Winner	Venue	Final opponent
Kyrun Davies	Cogan Coronation, Penarth	Archie Melhuish
Ethan Challis	Crawley Green, Luton	Jayden Major-Smith
Addison Hefferon	Hotshots, Milton Keynes	Mika Usher-Yu
Freddy Farmer	Nou Range, Waltham Abbey	Freddie Gould
Fraser Waterworth	Soccer Zone, Halesowen	Charlie Lowin
Rowan Chadwick	Gamlingay Social Club	Josh Lloyd
Joshua Pravato	Banckers Draught, Minehead	Teddy Corbett
Teddy Penston	The Big Fish, Leigh-on-Sea	Eddie Waters
Ethan Goudy	The Bull Room, Stowmarket	Aiden Fulcher
Louie Cobb	Rock Avenue Club, Gillingham	Tyler Harris
Archie Chippendale	Tong Moor, Bolton	Leo Rowe
Evan Matthews	Towy Sports Bar, Carmarthen	Efan Pugh

The range of locations is encouraging. Junior darts isn't confined to a handful of established centres, and the regular competition these players are getting should be a significant benefit as they develop.

Alan Slater wins a high-quality final in Gillingham

At the Plough & Cheques in Gillingham, Alan Slater defeated Freddy Turner 3–1 to win the Vault competition.

Both players finished with six victories, and the standard of darts was particularly good.

Slater recorded 103.66 against Charlie Smith, while Turner produced 100.20 against Harry Hannam and 93.94 against Smith.

Slater averaged 88.39 in the final.

This was another competition where both finalists deserve recognition, even though only one could take the title.

Sunday's standout averages

These are the leading individual match averages recorded in Sunday's results.

Player	Average	Venue
Bobby Short	107.36	Blaenavon Constitutional Club
James Roberts	107.36	Eastleigh WMC
Ryan Davies	103.66	Blaenavon Constitutional Club
Bailey Ward	103.66	Longton Snooker & Pool Club
Alan Slater	103.66	Plough & Cheques, Gillingham
Ricardo Ulrich	100.20	Phoenix Club, Waterlooville
Andrew Hibbert	100.20	Bardon Hill Sports Club
Ryan Davies	100.20	Blaenavon Constitutional Club
Mike Gillet	100.20	Eastleigh WMC
Freddy Turner	100.20	Plough & Cheques, Gillingham

These are individual match averages, rather than tournament-wide averages.

There were also strong performances in the Junior Volts competitions, particularly Jack Taylor's 96.97 and Leo Howard's 91.09.

My five standout performances

1. Bobby Short – Eight victories, a 107.36 average and the Blaenavon title.
2. Andrew Hibbert – Eight victories and four averages above 90 at Bardon Hill.
3. Jo Locke – WADC National Singles champion with a 90.18 average, completing a successful National Finals weekend.
4. Leo Howard – Winner of both the Junior Volts and adult Vault competitions at Waterlooville, including a 91.09 junior average.
5. James Welding – Another final in Warrington after winning twice on Saturday, even though Dylan Cowley took Sunday's title.

Special mentions go to Ryan Fuller, Alan Slater, Jack Taylor, Toby Clements and Sharon McNulty.

Another 88 tournaments added to Q4QS

Sunday's results really demonstrated the range of darts being played across the country.

We had established players producing three-figure averages, local regulars winning their Vault competitions, an important national women's title and junior players producing performances that would be competitive in plenty of adult tournaments.

And that's what I enjoy about looking through these results. There is always something beyond the obvious headline.

The highest average doesn't necessarily win the tournament. Sometimes the player with the most consistent performances takes the title. Sometimes a deciding leg separates two players who have barely been apart all evening.

With another 88 tournaments added to Q4QS, there is plenty more information going into the rankings and player statistics.

MODUS Super Series Week 12 Preview: Joe Hunt, Archie Self and Jack Aldridge Head a Strong Field

 

A recent PDC Challenge Tour champion, players fresh from ADC National Finals Weekend and some familiar rivalries make Week 12 of the MODUS Super Series an interesting prospect.

The MODUS Super Series returns for Week 12, and looking through the Q4QS database, there are several reasons why this could be a particularly competitive week.

Joe Hunt arrives with an impressive recent record, Archie Self has been collecting titles, Jack Aldridge has produced some excellent Challenge Tour performances, and Tommy Lishman has already demonstrated that he can beat some of the strongest players in the field.

There are also players arriving directly from the ADC National Finals Weekend, where several have enjoyed good runs.

What interests me most is the mixture of experience and recent form. Some have been competing regularly on the PDC Challenge Tour, others have been producing excellent performances in the ADC Vault competitions, and there are players who have been making progress through the Development Tour.

As usual, I've been looking at the available Q4QS figures to see what they might tell us about the week ahead.

Joe Hunt – The Man to Beat?

If we were choosing a favourite purely on recent results, Joe Hunt would have a very strong case.

He is the highest-ranked player in the supplied field, sitting at number 34 in the Q4QS rankings with an overall average of 88.97.

But it is his recent Challenge Tour form that really stands out.

Hunt won PDC Challenge Tour Event 23, winning all eight matches and averaging 95.71 across the tournament.

That is an exceptional standard to maintain over an entire event.

Among his victories were a 5-1 win over Jack Tweddell with a 99.48 average, a 5-3 victory over Harrison Leigh averaging 98.61, and a particularly interesting 5-4 win over Jack Aldridge, in which Hunt averaged 100.87.

He followed that success with another good run on the Challenge Tour and recently reached the final of a money-in, money-out competition during ADC National Finals Weekend.

There he averaged 87.87 across eight matches before losing to Roger Crook.

His last ten recorded matches show nine victories and just one defeat.

Of course, the MODUS format presents a different challenge. Producing one outstanding tournament is impressive, but sustaining a high standard across several days is another matter.

Nevertheless, Hunt arrives with plenty of reasons to feel confident.

Archie Self – Perhaps the Form Player

While Hunt's Challenge Tour victory is difficult to ignore, Archie Self has arguably been just as impressive in recent weeks.

Self won two events at the England Masters & Classic, averaging 92.49 and 91.50 respectively.

He also recorded a 96.61 tournament average in another event, despite eventually losing to Jarred Cole.

His recent results include a Vault victory at the Crucible Sports and Social Club in Newbury, where he averaged 88.00.

And during ADC National Finals Weekend, he reached the semi-finals of the UK & Ireland Classic, averaging 93.59 before losing to eventual champion Lewis Cook.

That is a substantial body of good form.

There is also an interesting connection with another Week 12 player.

Self defeated Nathan Potter in the semi-finals of PDC Development Tour Event 22, ending a run in which Potter had averaged 88.68.

Both now have another opportunity to test themselves against each other.

With nine wins in his last ten recorded matches, Self certainly deserves to be considered among the leading contenders.

Jack Aldridge – The Numbers Are Impressive

One player whose figures particularly caught my attention was Jack Aldridge.

His overall Q4QS average stands at 90.82, the highest of the players with established averages in this week's supplied field.

That doesn't necessarily make him the favourite, but it does suggest a player who is capable of producing a consistently high scoring standard.

Aldridge recently reached a PDC Challenge Tour final, losing to Patrik Williams after six victories.

He had previously reached the quarter-finals of Challenge Tour Event 23, where Joe Hunt defeated him.

Interestingly, the database also records Aldridge beating Hunt during their more recent Challenge Tour involvement.

So there is already some history between two of the strongest players in the competition.

Aldridge's most recent appearance came in a World Championship qualifier, where he averaged 93.84 across three matches before losing to Carl Wilson.

He has won eight of his last ten recorded matches.

If he can maintain something close to his overall average, he should be a difficult opponent throughout the week.

Tommy Lishman – A Player Who Can Beat Anybody

Tommy Lishman is another player who could have a major say.

Ranked 49 in the Q4QS database, Lishman has an overall average of 88.06.

His recent results include reaching the last 32 of a PDC Players Championship event, where he averaged 91.78 across four matches.

One of his most notable victories was a 6-5 win over Joe Hunt, with Lishman averaging 93.66.

That result is particularly relevant when assessing this week's field.

It demonstrates that Lishman is capable of matching one of the leading contenders in a competitive environment.

His recent form is a little less convincing than some of the others, with five wins and five defeats in his last ten recorded matches.

But I wouldn't read too much into that without considering the standard of opposition.

Players competing regularly at a high level are naturally going to encounter stronger opponents.

Lishman might not have the same winning momentum as Hunt or Self, but his scoring ability makes him a genuine threat.

Nathan Potter – Development Tour Form Worth Watching

Nathan Potter arrives with some strong recent Development Tour performances.

He reached the semi-finals of Event 22, winning seven matches and averaging 88.68 before losing to Archie Self.

During that run he defeated Kaya Baysal 5-3 with a 99.62 average.

Potter also competed in the World Youth Championship Finals, where he was eliminated by Arthur Allston.

His overall Q4QS average is 86.15, with seven victories in his last ten recorded matches.

I think Potter is one of the more interesting players in the field.

He has demonstrated that he can put together a long run against strong opposition, and his Development Tour performances suggest that his scoring is capable of reaching a considerably higher level than his overall average.

The question is whether he can reproduce that form consistently throughout the MODUS week.

Graham Usher – Plenty of Experience and Recent Success

Graham Usher is another player who arrives with a good recent record.

He won an event at the British Open & Classic, averaging 86.00 across eight victories.

He also reached another final during that competition, losing to Harry Lane.

His recent results include victories over Harrison Leigh, Jack Nankervis and Adam Winspear.

Usher has won eight of his last ten recorded matches, although his most recent appearance at ADC National Finals Weekend ended in defeat to Jack Walker.

His overall average of 85.22 might place him slightly behind the leading names statistically, but there is plenty of evidence that he can compete with them.

I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see him involved in the latter stages of the week.

Robbie Martin and Stuart Dutton – The ADC Connection

Two other players worth discussing are Robbie Martin and Stuart Dutton.

Martin has been enjoying an excellent run of results around the South and South West.

He won a Vault event at Dorchester Trinity Club with a 91.29 tournament average, reached the semi-finals at Stratford Social Club in Salisbury, and collected another title at The Newtown in Poole.

He also reached the final at St Ives Club in St Leonards.

Most recently, Martin made the quarter-finals of the UK & Ireland Classic, averaging 91.49 before losing to Lewis Cook.

That is a very encouraging result against a strong national field.

Dutton has also been playing well.

He won a Vault event at Danny's Bar in Banbury, averaging 89.76, and reached finals at both Bradmoor Farm and Riverside Club in Wycombe.

His recent record includes a 95.69 average in a victory over Chris Howse.

He reached the last 32 of the UK & Ireland Classic, where Sean McKeon ended his run.

Both players have been regularly competing in knockout and round-robin events, and both have demonstrated the ability to maintain good averages across a tournament.

That could prove useful in the MODUS environment.

Ricardo Ulrich, Graham Hall and Grant Sampson

The remaining players also bring some interesting backgrounds to the competition.

Ricardo Ulrich has been competing on the PDC Challenge Tour, reaching the quarter-finals of Event 20 with an 86.55 tournament average.

His recent results include victories over Harry Ward, Ryan O'Connor, Simon Stevenson and Jack Tweddell.

He also competed in a European Tour host-nation qualifier, averaging 90.31 in his most recent appearance before losing to Richard Veenstra.

Ulrich's overall Q4QS average of 84.92 puts him within reach of several players above him in the rankings.

Graham Hall has been competing on the Challenge Tour as well as in domestic competitions.

He recently reached a final at the Batchley Tuesday Open and made the last 32 of the UK & Ireland Classic, where he lost to Johnny Haines.

His overall Q4QS average is 84.72, although some of his recent domestic tournament figures have been lower.

That makes him a difficult player to assess, but certainly not one to dismiss.

Grant Sampson is the player for whom the database provides the least evidence.

His recorded appearances come from European Q-School, where he produced tournament averages of 74.51, 81.29 and 77.48.

He has wins over Stefan Schmitz and Leon Ebmeier in the available records.

With only three events represented in his Q4QS profile, I wouldn't want to draw too many conclusions about his overall standard.

And that is worth remembering when looking at statistics. A lack of data doesn't necessarily mean a lack of ability.

David O'Hara is also named in the supplied entry information, but without a matched Q4QS statistical profile. Rather than invent a form assessment, I'll leave him as an unknown quantity for now.

What Will Decide Week 12?

Looking at the overall averages, the leading players are reasonably close.

Jack Aldridge heads the established averages at 90.82, followed by Joe Hunt at 88.97 and Tommy Lishman at 88.06.

Archie Self, Nathan Potter, Graham Usher and Robbie Martin are all capable of producing tournament averages well above their overall figures.

That suggests we could see some excellent darts.

But the MODUS Super Series is not simply about producing one outstanding performance.

Players have to return to the board repeatedly, recover from defeats, and manage the pressure of a league table where every leg can become important.

A player who averages 95 in one match and 75 in the next may find himself struggling against somebody who consistently produces something in the mid-to-high 80s.

That is one of the things I enjoy about this format.

It rewards consistency, but still leaves room for somebody to find their best game at exactly the right moment.

Q4QS Six to Follow

After examining the available performances, these would be my six selections for Week 12.

Joe Hunt – The highest-ranked player in the supplied field, fresh from a Challenge Tour title with a 95.71 tournament average.

Archie Self – Multiple recent titles, excellent scoring figures and a semi-final appearance at the UK & Ireland Classic.

Jack Aldridge – The highest established overall average in the field at 90.82, with recent Challenge Tour final experience.

Tommy Lishman – Proven scoring ability at Players Championship level and a previous victory over Joe Hunt.

Nathan Potter – A Development Tour semi-finalist capable of producing averages approaching 100.

Robbie Martin – My slightly less obvious selection, with excellent Vault form and a 91.49 average at the UK & Ireland Classic.

Graham Usher and Stuart Dutton would be very close to making that list.

My Prediction

If I had to choose one player based purely on the available figures, I would probably lean towards Joe Hunt.

Winning a Challenge Tour event with a 95.71 average is difficult to ignore, particularly when followed by another final during ADC National Finals Weekend.

But Archie Self's recent consistency is equally impressive, and Jack Aldridge has the overall scoring figures to challenge both.

I also think Tommy Lishman could be a dangerous opponent if he finds the form he showed on the Players Championship circuit.

The interesting thing is that this doesn't look like a week where one player stands miles ahead of the others.

There are several players capable of winning, and I suspect the opening group matches will tell us quite a lot about who has settled into the format.

I'll be following the results through the week, particularly to see whether the recent Challenge Tour and ADC form carries over into the MODUS Super Series.

Q4QS will be keeping an eye on Week 12 as the action unfolds, with results and performances helping to build the picture of who is emerging as the strongest contender.

This preview uses the Q4QS Database and the supplied Week 12 player export. Rankings, averages and form refer to recorded performances and are statistical indicators rather than guarantees of future results.

Q4QS Weekly Spotlight: Three Players Who Caught My Eye This Week

 Another week of grassroots darts, and another three players who caught my eye.

This week has been a little different, with the ADC National Finals Weekend providing some of the biggest stories alongside the usual programme of local Vault tournaments and junior competitions.

As always, I've tried to look beyond simply counting tournament victories or picking out the biggest averages.

There's more to a good week of darts than that.

Sometimes it's about reaching a final when nobody particularly expected you to. Sometimes it's about playing consistently across several events. And sometimes it's about a younger player proving that they can compete with experienced opposition.

This week's selections are Juliet Findley, Joey Cole and Rhodri Phillips.

Three players with very different stories, but all three deserving a little recognition.

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Juliet Findley — Q4QS Rank #9,671

Player Profile

Juliet Findley might not have the largest statistical record in the Q4QS database, but there's already enough there to suggest she's capable of competing with some very established names.

From 48 recorded matches, Juliet has won 30, giving her a 62.5% win rate.

She's appeared in 15 recorded events, collecting three tournament victories and reaching another two finals.

Her overall match average is 58.47, with a Q4QS Average of 56.40. Her highest recorded average is 81.64.

But averages don't tell the whole story.

Among her previous results are victories over Trina Gulliver, Tracey Dean and Mandy Smith.

Beating somebody with the experience and reputation of Trina Gulliver is certainly something worth having on your record.

And this week, Juliet added another chapter to her darts story.

This Week

Juliet began by winning Wednesday's WADC Vault 3.0 tournament at The Men of March.

She defeated Millie Jolley 3–0 in the final, producing an excellent 79.11 average.

That would have been a perfectly respectable week's work on its own.

But Saturday was something else entirely.

Competing at the ADC National Finals Weekend, Juliet reached the final of the Women's Vault National Finals, an event carrying a £3,000 prize fund.

Her route included victories over Caroline Breen, Sarah-Louise Kennedy, Rachel Harrison and Peri Yarrow.

She was particularly convincing in the latter stages, beating both Rachel Harrison and Peri Yarrow 4–0.

The final proved a step too far, with Gemma Hayter winning 5–1, although Juliet still averaged 64.59.

For many players, reaching a national final would be the highlight of their weekend.

Juliet wasn't finished.

She also reached the final of the WADC Money In, Money Out Knockout.

This time she defeated Nikki Eburne, Sue Davies, Tracey Dean and Millie Jolley.

Her 4–1 victory over Tracey Dean came with a 63.97 average, while the semi-final against Millie Jolley went all the way to a deciding leg.

The final against Jo Locke was another close contest, with Juliet narrowly losing 4–3, despite producing a 70.68 average.

Two major finals on the same day.

Two runner-up finishes.

And a tournament victory earlier in the week.

It's quite a remarkable return, particularly for someone who has only 15 recorded events in the Q4QS database.

I suspect Juliet will be disappointed not to have collected one of those Saturday titles.

But reaching two finals against strong opposition on the same day is an achievement in itself.

And it's exactly the sort of performance that deserves recognition.

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Joey Cole — Q4QS Rank #958

Player Profile

Joey Cole is one of those players whose statistics suggest he's become a very difficult opponent on the local circuit.

He's won 230 of his 268 recorded matches, giving him an excellent 85.8% win rate.

Across 37 recorded events, he's collected 13 tournament victories and another 12 runner-up finishes.

That means he's reached the final in 25 of his 37 recorded tournaments.

An impressive level of consistency.

His overall match average stands at 77.33, with a Q4QS Average of 76.94.

He's also produced a highest recorded average of 103.66, a figure he's achieved on three occasions.

Among his notable victories are wins over Lloyd Walker, Jason Collins and Gemma Hayter.

So there's no question about Joey's ability.

But what particularly caught my attention this week was how regularly he was finding himself in the latter stages of tournaments.

This Week

Joey started his run on Tuesday by winning the Vault tournament at Locomotive Engineers Social Club in Eastleigh.

That gave him a tournament victory to begin what would become a very productive few days.

On Thursday, he was at Fareham Social Club, where he reached another final.

His route included a 3–1 quarter-final victory over Bailey Wilkinson and a convincing 3–0 semi-final win against Brandon Harper.

The final against Lloyd Walker was a particularly good contest.

Joey averaged 91.92, but narrowly lost 3–2.

It's worth remembering that a player can produce one of their better performances and still end up on the losing side.

And in this case, Joey had little time to dwell on it.

On Friday, he was back in action at Sarisbury Green Social Club in Southampton.

Once again, he reached the final.

He opened his campaign with a 91.57 average against Thomas Lacey and later defeated Michael Phillips 3–0 in the quarter-final, averaging 81.98.

A 3–0 semi-final victory over Lionel Webster followed.

But another title proved elusive, with Jason Collins winning the final 3–1.

So Joey finished the week with three finals in four days, including one tournament victory.

And while he might have hoped for another trophy or two, there's something to be said for regularly giving yourself the opportunity to win.

With 25 finals from 37 recorded events, Joey is clearly doing that rather well.

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Rhodri Phillips — Q4QS Rank #2,238

Player Profile

Rhodri Phillips is another young player whose record is becoming increasingly interesting.

Across 358 recorded matches, he's recorded 264 victories, giving him a 73.7% win rate.

He's competed in 65 recorded events, winning 13 tournaments and reaching another 12 finals.

He's also made 12 semi-finals and 10 quarter-finals.

His overall match average stands at 66.19, with a Q4QS Average of 64.62.

His highest recorded average is an impressive 104.86, achieved against Llion Goddard in August.

And he's already recorded some notable victories over experienced opposition, particularly Sion Thomas.

That last point is especially relevant to this week's performances.

This Week

Rhodri enjoyed an excellent Sunday, winning the Junior Volts tournament at Towy Sports Bar.

But he also made his mark in open competition.

At The Glanyrafon Arms in Llandysul, he won the Vault 19 event, defeating Sion Thomas 3–1 in the final.

He averaged 73.22 in that match, having earlier beaten the same opponent 2–0 during the tournament.

His semi-final victory over Jamie Lee Evans was particularly impressive, coming with an 88.41 average.

Winning a junior event is always encouraging.

Winning an open tournament against established players is another matter.

And it suggests Rhodri is developing the ability to compete successfully beyond junior darts.

Later in the week, he also took part in the ADC National Finals Weekend.

He recorded victories in the Level Up qualifying competitions before exiting in the last 128 on both occasions.

Those results might not grab the headlines, but gaining experience in larger competitions can be valuable.

Then on Saturday, Rhodri returned to familiar surroundings at Glanyrafon Arms, where he won another Junior Volts event.

He defeated Steffan Thomas 3–2 in the semi-final, averaging 78.84, before beating Oliver Williams 3–2 in the final.

That completed a week featuring two junior tournament victories and an open Vault title.

For me, the most encouraging part isn't necessarily the number of trophies.

It's the fact that Rhodri is already demonstrating that his game can transfer into open competition.

There will undoubtedly be tougher tests ahead, but weeks like this suggest he's moving in the right direction.

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Three Different Stories, One Common Theme

This week's three players couldn't really have been more different.

Juliet Findley reached two national finals on the same day, coming agonisingly close to a title in the WADC Money In, Money Out competition.

Joey Cole demonstrated the sort of consistency that many grassroots players would love to achieve, reaching three finals in four days.

And Rhodri Phillips continued to make progress in junior darts while also proving capable of winning against experienced open-circuit opposition.

There were plenty of other players who could have been included this week.

Some won more tournaments. Others produced higher averages.

But I don't want the Weekly Spotlight to become another rankings table.

We've already got plenty of those.

The idea is to recognise performances and stories that deserve a mention, whether that's a national finalist, a consistent local competitor or a young player beginning to make an impression.

And this week, Juliet, Joey and Rhodri certainly caught my eye.

Congratulations to all three.

Vault 19 Tournament Strength: Pinches Hits 1.350 Again as New Challengers Shake Up the Top 10

 

Week 5 update | Week ending 17 October 2026

Five weeks into Vault 19, and just when I thought the Tournament Strength picture was beginning to settle, we've had another interesting week.

Some of the familiar names remain near the top, but there are new challengers appearing, and one venue has produced a particularly impressive response to a slight drop in its recent figures.

Pinches Cue Club in Norwich has recorded another Tournament Strength of 1.350.

That's exactly the same as its opening Vault 19 score, which has led the rankings since the beginning.

Meanwhile, Cressex Social Club has made a big move, Coppenhall and Bostin Darts have entered the leading group, and WADC Vault 3.0 has produced another strong Welsh result.

The more tournaments I look at, the more interesting the comparison becomes between venues producing one exceptional field and those doing it repeatedly.

How the rankings work

As with the previous updates, each venue appears only once in the rankings, using its highest Tournament Strength recorded during the current Vault series.

Other results are still important because they help me judge consistency, but they don't give a venue additional positions.

I'm also continuing to treat Penybanc RFC #1 and #2 as one venue.

Vault 19 – Strongest Venues After Five Weeks

Rank	Venue	Tournament Strength
1	Pinches Cue Club, Norwich	1.350
2	Faringdon Football Club	1.329
3	Cressex Social Club, High Wycombe	1.317
4	Tipton Sports Academy	1.297
5=	Coppenhall WMC, Crewe	1.292
5=	Bostin Darts 180 Bar, Blackheath	1.292
7	Bedlinog Rugby Club	1.285
8	Bagley Sports & Social Club	1.280
9=	The Brookside, Syston	1.278
9=	Pendlebury Social Club, Manchester	1.278

Highest individual Tournament Strength per venue, through 17 October. Equal scores share a position.

Pinches Is Still the Venue to Beat

I've written quite a bit about Pinches over the past month, but it keeps giving me a reason to return to it.

Its opening three events produced:

1.350 → 1.340 → 1.331

It subsequently recorded 1.324 and then 1.304.

There was a gradual reduction, although even that lowest figure remained above 1.300.

Then, on 15 October, Pinches returned to 1.350.

That gives it six consecutive Vault 19 tournaments with a Tournament Strength above 1.300.

And two of those have reached 1.350.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to argue that Pinches' original score was simply one exceptional night.

The venue has repeatedly attracted fields of a remarkably high standard.

I still wouldn't declare the competition settled after five weeks, but Pinches is building a very convincing case.

Cressex Makes the Biggest Move

One of the most eye-catching results this week came from Cressex Social Club in High Wycombe.

Its tournament on 15 October produced a Tournament Strength of 1.317.

That puts Cressex straight into third place, behind only Pinches and Faringdon.

What's particularly interesting is the difference between that figure and its previous results.

Its preceding four events had recorded 1.119, 1.119, 1.068 and 1.080.

So the latest 1.317 represents a substantial jump.

It's a good reminder that a venue can suddenly attract a much stronger field than it has been producing previously.

Whether Cressex can repeat that performance will be worth watching.

Coppenhall and Bostin Join the Leading Group

Two more venues have entered the Top 10 with identical best scores.

Coppenhall WMC in Crewe — 1.292

Bostin Darts 180 Bar in Blackheath — 1.292

Coppenhall is particularly interesting because it had already been producing respectable Tournament Strength figures before reaching this new high.

Its recent scores included 1.203, 1.182, 1.211 and 1.235 before its 1.292 on 15 October.

That suggests a venue capable of producing competitive fields fairly regularly.

Bostin's 1.292 came on 16 October, following several considerably lower scores.

Both have now moved into the leading group, but their routes there have been quite different.

That's another reason why I think the individual tournament histories are becoming as interesting as the rankings themselves.

Pendlebury Is Another New Name

Pendlebury Social Club in Manchester has also entered the Top 10.

Its two recorded Vault 19 figures are:

1.263 → 1.278

That's an encouraging start.

Two strong scores are more useful evidence than one, and Pendlebury now joins a growing group of venues that I'll be watching over the coming weeks.

What About Last Week's Leaders?

Faringdon remains second at 1.329, although it hasn't improved on that best score.

Tipton is fourth at 1.297.

Bedlinog, Bagley and The Brookside remain among the leading venues.

However, the arrival of Cressex, Coppenhall, Bostin and Pendlebury means some familiar names have slipped outside the Top 10.

That includes Sartan Club and Hethersett Social Club, both of which have best scores of 1.265.

Sartan's latest tournament dropped to 1.128, while Hethersett recorded 1.223.

Neither has suddenly become a weak venue. Their earlier strong performances still count.

But other venues have produced higher individual scores.

That's the nature of ranking by each venue's best event.

It also explains why I want to keep following the repeat performances rather than judging everything by the table alone.

WADC Vault 3.0 – Another Welsh Challenger Emerges

The WADC Tournament Strength rankings have been dominated by Wales throughout these updates.

Briton Ferry Workies has led since its outstanding 1.151, while Penybanc, The 9 Darter and Resolven have occupied the positions behind it.

This week, another Welsh venue has joined that leading group.

And this time the result has come from North Wales.

WADC Vault 3.0 – Strongest Venues After Five Weeks

Rank	Venue	Tournament Strength
1	Briton Ferry Workies	1.151
2	Penybanc RFC, Ammanford	1.077
3	Copa #2, Caernarfon	1.009
4	The 9 Darter, Port Talbot	0.997
5	Arrows Darts Venue #2, Resolven	0.986
6	Dereham Cricket Club	0.980
7	MK Cocktail Lounge, Bodmin	0.947
8	Castle Arms, Denbigh	0.944
9	Walton WMC	0.941
10	Copa #1, Caernarfon	0.936

Highest individual WADC Vault 3.0 Tournament Strength per venue. Penybanc entries are combined; Copa #1 and #2 are shown separately as recorded in the export.

Copa Gives North Wales a Place Among the Leaders

The major WADC development this week is Copa #2 in Caernarfon, which recorded 1.009 on 11 October.

That takes it straight into third place.

It also means that three WADC venues have now recorded Tournament Strength figures above 1.000:

Briton Ferry at 1.151, Penybanc at 1.077 and Copa #2 at 1.009.

All three are Welsh.

Until recently, much of the WADC story centred on South Wales.

But with Copa joining the leading group and Castle Arms in Denbigh also featuring, North Wales is beginning to make its presence felt.

Briton Ferry Remains Top

There is no change at No.1.

Briton Ferry's 1.151 remains comfortably ahead of the rest.

However, its latest event on 16 October produced 0.999.

That is an improvement on the previous week's 0.937 and another score very close to 1.000.

Briton Ferry has now recorded a variety of figures, including 0.961, 0.989, 1.151, 0.937 and 0.999.

That variation is perfectly normal.

But the fact it keeps returning to around 1.000 or better is another reason why it remains one of the standout WADC venues.

England Is Still Chasing

Dereham Cricket Club remains England's highest-ranked WADC venue at 0.980.

MK Cocktail Lounge in Bodmin follows at 0.947, while Walton WMC has a best of 0.941.

Those are strong figures, but Wales has now extended its advantage at the very top.

The first five positions are all Welsh.

And the Welsh strength is no longer coming exclusively from one part of the country.

That's probably the biggest development in the WADC picture this week.

A Word About Consistency

There's another interesting example further down the WADC rankings.

Derby Arms in Birkenhead has recorded Tournament Strength figures of 0.889 and 0.888.

Those numbers aren't enough to enter the Top 10, but they're almost identical.

That's precisely the kind of consistency I want to keep an eye on.

As more tournaments are played, it should become possible to identify venues that regularly attract fields of a particular standard, even if they never produce the single highest score.

Five Weeks In – What Have We Learned?

The main Vault 19 rankings have become considerably more competitive.

Pinches remains the benchmark, but the really impressive part is that it has now returned to its original 1.350 after several other strong performances.

Cressex has jumped into third place.

Coppenhall, Bostin and Pendlebury have joined the leading group.

And some established venues have slipped down the rankings without necessarily becoming any less competitive.

In WADC Vault 3.0, Briton Ferry remains the leader, but Copa's arrival in third place gives the Welsh story another dimension.

South Wales continues to provide some of the strongest fields, while North Wales is now making an impact too.

England has strong challengers, particularly Dereham and Bodmin, but the top five positions currently belong to Wales.

Five weeks ago, I was mainly interested in finding the biggest Tournament Strength numbers.

Now I'm beginning to see something much more useful.

Which venues are capable of producing strong tournaments again and again?

Pinches is setting an impressive example.

But with new challengers emerging every week, there is still plenty to discover before Vault 19 is over.

Yesterday's Darts Results: Lewis Cook Wins UK & Ireland Classic, James Welding Doubles Up and Paul Rowley Hits 111.33 – 17 October 2026

Saturday was a particularly interesting day for grassroots darts, with 60 tournaments added to the Q4QS database, including several major competitions from the ADC National Finals weekend.

There were big titles decided, some outstanding individual performances and plenty of familiar names appearing across the results. Lewis Cook took the UK & Ireland Classic, Gemma Hayter won the Women's Vault National Finals, and James Welding managed to win two tournaments at the same Warrington venue.

Closer to home, Shaun Carter won the Ilfracombe Autumn Open, Billy Maple came through the Under-65 Average Champion of Champions qualifier in Evesham, and the Pegasus in Taunton staged a busy programme of competitions.

And, as always, the WADC and Junior Volts results deserve their place in the roundup.

Lewis Cook wins the UK & Ireland Classic

The ADC UK & Ireland Classic, with its advertised £13,200 prize fund, was one of Saturday's headline competitions.

Cook defeated Chas Barstow 5–1 in the final, completing a five-win campaign and producing some of the best darts recorded anywhere during the day.

His highest average was a superb 108.22 against Shaun Fox. He also recorded 100.08 against Archie Self, 97.20 against Robbie Martin and 96.85 against Barry Watson.

That's an impressive collection of performances in a competition of this stature.

Self also deserves a mention, having recorded 101.80 against Alan Richards, while Jamie Owens reached three victories and Johnny Haines featured among the leading players.

For Cook, though, it was a combination of scoring power and results that made the difference.

Gemma Hayter takes the Women's Vault National Finals

The Women's Vault National Finals, carrying an advertised £3,000 prize fund, provided another important result from the ADC weekend.

Hayter defeated Juliet Findley 5–1 in the final, winning five matches to take the title.

Hayter produced an 81.17 average against Jo Locke and followed that with 78.74 in the final. She also recorded 76.10 against Karen Gallagher.

Locke actually produced the two highest individual averages in the competition, with 83.80 against Sue Davies and 82.36 against Emma Chubb.

Findley finished with four victories, while Peri Yarrow and Locke each collected three.

It's good to see the women's competitions occupying a prominent place at the National Finals. They deserve the same attention as the other major events, particularly when the standard of play is as competitive as this.

Roger Crook and Cooper/King take ADC titles

There were two further ADC competitions worth highlighting.

In the National Finals Money In, Money Out Knockout, Roger Crook defeated Joe Hunt 4–1 in the final.

Crook finished with eight victories, while Hunt collected seven. Lewis Pride produced the highest average of 101.90, followed by Thomas Heggie on 101.63 and Jack Main on 98.56.

With 351 matches recorded, this was a substantial competition, and winning eight matches is no small achievement.

Meanwhile, the Red Dragon Doubles Cup was won by the Cooper/King partnership, who defeated Haines/Court 5–3 in the final.

Cooper/King recorded the competition's highest average of 98.43 and finished with eight victories. Huntley/Self also produced an impressive 98.09.

Doubles deserves its own consideration rather than simply being treated as two singles players added together. Partnerships, finishing combinations and the ability to work together all matter, and it was encouraging to see a sizeable doubles event forming part of the weekend.

Paul Rowley produces Saturday's highest average

Away from the major ADC competitions, the highest individual average in Saturday's results came at the Inn On The Green in Shrewsbury.

Paul Rowley produced an exceptional 111.33 average against Nath Morris.

That wasn't his only strong performance, either. Rowley also recorded 93.94 against Martin Kearns, 92.02 against Soxy O Callaghan and 84.87 against Brett Cooper.

He went on to defeat Sam Morris 3–1 in the final, completing an eight-win evening.

Sam Morris collected six victories, with Kyle Jones and Brett Cooper each recording five.

The 111.33 will naturally attract attention, but what impressed me was Rowley's ability to produce several strong performances and finish the evening with the title.

James Welding wins twice in Warrington

One of Saturday's most impressive achievements came at the Hoop and Mallet in Warrington, where Welding won both recorded Vault competitions.

In the 16-and-over event, Welding defeated Connor Mather 3–1 in the final, finishing with seven victories.

He produced a 103.66 average against Lewis Lloyd, together with two 91.09 averages against Matt Simpkin and Callum Tollitt.

Then, in the open-age competition, Welding was successful again, this time defeating Ben Devine 3–1 in the final.

Another seven victories followed, with leading averages of 90.27, 90.18 and 90.18.

That's 14 match victories across two tournaments.

We often focus on the highest single average, but I think there's something equally impressive about a player managing to win one competition and then doing it all over again.

Welding certainly deserves recognition for that.

Shaun Carter wins the Ilfracombe Autumn Open

The Ilfracombe Autumn Open was one of the largest competitions featured in the South West results.

Carter defeated David Yeaman 6–0 in the final, completing an impressive ten-win tournament.

Yeaman himself won nine matches, while John Lakeman, Daniel Donovan and David Ashley each recorded eight victories.

The highest individual average was 88.41 from Donovan against Lee Burdis.

Nigel Gullon and Yeaman both recorded 79.11, with Lakeman contributing 77.74.

Carter's ten victories stand out, particularly in a competition with 120 matches recorded.

A convincing 6–0 final was an emphatic way to complete the day.

Billy Maple wins in Evesham

At Evesham Darts Competitions, the Under-65 Average Champion of Champions qualifier produced a close final.

Maple defeated George Nurdin 4–3, with both players finishing on seven victories.

Nurdin produced the highest averages in the event, recording 85.89 against Dan Lamb and 82.83 against Ant Pratley.

Maple's best recorded average was 79.11 against Steve Wynn.

Cai Griffiths also enjoyed a good competition with five victories.

I find these average-restricted competitions interesting because they give players an opportunity to compete against others within a defined performance range.

Of course, a player's average can vary considerably from one match to another, as Nurdin's 85.89 demonstrates. But that's part of what makes the format interesting.

Ultimately, Maple came through a deciding-leg final to take the title.

More South West success at the Pegasus

There was a busy Saturday at Pegasus 68 Club in Taunton, with three competitions recorded.

In the Under-21 and Ladies Round Robin, Ryan Greenslade defeated Lewis Barrance 3–0 in the final, collecting six victories.

Reuben Avis recorded the highest average of 71.21, followed by Jack Davey on 69.91.

The Open Double Header singles knockout was won by Dan Williams, who defeated Greenslade 6–0 in the final.

Williams also recorded the competition's best average of 81.24 in the final, together with 79.45 against Luke Adams.

The blind pairs competition was won by the partnership listed as Joe/Liam, who defeated Kelsey/Jody 3–0.

It was a good example of a venue providing several different formats on the same day, giving players opportunities to compete in both singles and doubles.

Tyler Garrett wins in Newport

At the Newport Darts Society and Promotions Finals Day Tier 1 Knockout, Tyler Garrett defeated Cody Vodden 6–3 in the final.

Garrett finished with four victories and recorded averages of 85.23 against Harley Glycos and 84.68 against Lucas Chiummo.

Glycos produced the highest average of the competition, 86.41, during his match against Garrett.

Vodden, Nico Adams and Glycos each finished with three victories.

The same venue also staged a blind pairs final, won by the partnership recorded as Luke/Megan against Ethan/Jack.

Edgar Znutins wins at Nambucca

At Nambucca in London, Edgar Znutins defeated Stuart Pickles 3–0 in the final, completing an eight-win evening.

Znutins recorded a particularly impressive 102.48 average against George Whyte, along with 81.98 in the final.

Pickles finished with seven victories, while Whyte and Aaron Beeney each collected six.

It was another example of a player combining a three-figure average with a tournament victory.

WADC: Jo Locke takes the National Finals knockout title

There was plenty of WADC activity on Saturday, including an important result from the National Finals weekend.

In the WADC National Finals Money In, Money Out Knockout, Locke defeated Findley 4–3 in the final.

Locke finished with five victories and produced the competition's highest average, 74.93 in the final.

She also recorded 69.10 against Lauryn Salter, 67.55 against Gill Clark and 65.29 against Katie-Lee Parish.

Findley, who had also reached the Women's Vault National Finals final, collected another four victories.

That's two finals in two separate competitions on the same day for Findley, while Locke deserves credit for taking the knockout title.

WADC Vault 3.0 results

There were also seven WADC Vault tournament records in Saturday's report.

Amanda Harwood won at Fordham RBL, defeating Caitlyn Jefferson 3–0. Harwood recorded five victories and the event's highest average of 67.30.

Janet Hardman won at Great Float Social Club in Wallasey, defeating Lucy Prescott 3–1. Hardman also won five matches, with a best average of 64.00.

Kelly Stevens won both recorded competitions at the Castle & Falcon in Newark. She defeated Nikki Rainbow 3–2 in one final and Stacey Grand-Scrutton 3–0 in the other. Her highest average across the two events was 69.91.

Fran Bent defeated Laura Divall 3–2 at the Glebe in Stevenage.

Sharon McNulty won at the Nags Head Inn in Cinderford, defeating Chloe Miles 3–2. Miles produced the event's highest average of 62.63.

Loz Jones won at the Royal Oak in Rhyl, defeating Trish Harley 3–0.

That gives us plenty of WADC results to recognise, from the National Finals through to the local Vault competitions.

I think it's particularly important that the local winners receive coverage alongside the bigger names. The continued growth of women's darts depends on having regular competitive opportunities, and these events are part of that picture.

Junior Volts: plenty of talent on display

Saturday also featured another busy programme of JDC Junior Volts competitions.

At Bostin Darts 180 Bar in Blackheath, Theo Machin defeated Tyler Shuck 3–1 in the final. Both players finished with eight victories, while Jack Turner recorded the highest average of 73.92.

At Bushey Conservative Club, Prem Ahluwalia defeated Riley Hamlin 3–0, winning six matches and recording the event's four highest listed averages, headed by 67.30.

At Clacton Sports Bar, Leo Dale defeated Nathan Ward-Wilkinson 3–1. Dale recorded seven victories and the event's highest average of 79.11.

At Gamlingay Social Club, Riley Herbert defeated Reggie Bellott 3–0. Herbert recorded 75.15, while Logan Smith produced 75.29.

At Glanyrafon Arms in Llandysul, Rhodri Phillips defeated Oliver Williams 3–2. Rhys Evans recorded an excellent 90.18 average, while Kenzie Watkins produced 83.33.

At Lincoln Darts Hub, Jack Parkinson defeated Henry Weeks 3–2, recording 74.60 in the final.

At the Bullseye Bar in Lichfield, Harvey-Lee Nelson-Harris defeated Joel Walton 3–1. Harvey-Lee finished with seven victories and a best average of 79.11.

At the Tungsten Inn in Grimsby, Tommy Braithwaite defeated Cayden Jones 3–2.

At Vikings Social Club in Norwich, Finley Rix defeated Theo Galea 3–2. Bobby Short produced a superb 91.09 average, while Michael Doyle recorded 88.70 and Galea 83.50.

There was also an Under-18 Open Singles competition won by Bailey Ward, who defeated Ollie Gallimore 5–0 in the final.

Ward recorded averages of 81.98, 81.68 and 80.52, while Gallimore also produced 81.98.

The standard among some of these junior players is certainly worth following. It isn't just about the occasional high average, either. The number of matches being played gives them valuable competitive experience.

Other Saturday winners

A few more results caught my attention.

Paul Hogan won at Burghfield Community Sports Association in Reading, defeating Duncan Ayre 3–0. Hogan recorded averages of 93.94, 86.71 and 85.89.

Craig Vickers managed two Vault victories in Southend, winning at Bunker 19 and the Len Forge Centre.

Bobby Short won at Shooter's Sports Bar in Neath, defeating Michael Doyle 3–0. Short recorded averages of 91.09, 89.49 and 83.50.

Toby Lake won at Terry Griffiths Matchroom in Llanelli, defeating Morgan Thomas 3–1 and recording a best average of 93.94.

Phil Johnson-Hale won at the Boulevard in Peterborough, defeating Harry Ford 3–0 and producing 96.97, 93.94 and 88.41.

Peter Roebuck won at the Wheatsheaf in Doncaster, defeating Colin Waggott 3–2. His leading average was 97.83.

Shaun Griffiths won at Royal Sports Lounge in Farnworth, defeating Alan Perkin 3–0. Eric Bromley recorded an excellent 107.36 at the same venue.

Liam Meek won the Cwmdare Open, defeating Lee Hughes 6–4. Marshall James recorded the competition's highest average of 97.96.

Saturday's highest individual averages

Across the uploaded results, these were the leading individual match averages:

Player	Average	Competition
Paul Rowley	111.33	Inn On The Green, Shrewsbury
Lewis Cook	108.22	ADC UK & Ireland Classic
Eric Bromley	107.36	Royal Sports Lounge, Farnworth
James Welding	103.66	Hoop and Mallet, Warrington
Edgar Znutins	102.48	Nambucca, London
Lewis Pride	101.90	ADC National Finals Knockout
Archie Self	101.80	ADC UK & Ireland Classic
Thomas Heggie	101.63	ADC National Finals Knockout
Lewis Cook	100.08	ADC UK & Ireland Classic
Jack Main	98.56	ADC National Finals Knockout

These figures are individual match averages rather than tournament-wide averages.

My five standout performances

1. Lewis Cook – Winning the UK & Ireland Classic with averages of 108.22 and 100.08.
2. James Welding – Fourteen victories and two tournament titles in Warrington.
3. Paul Rowley – A 111.33 average and eight victories in Shrewsbury.
4. Shaun Carter – Ten wins and a 6–0 final victory at the Ilfracombe Autumn Open.
5. Gemma Hayter – Winning the Women's Vault National Finals, with Jo Locke also deserving recognition for her performances across the women's competitions.

There were plenty of others who could have made that list, particularly Edgar Znutins, Billy Maple, Roger Crook and the junior players producing averages in the 80s and 90s.

Another 60 tournaments added to Q4QS

What made Saturday particularly interesting was the mixture of competitions.

At one end, we had national titles and substantial prize funds. At the other, local Vault competitions, average-restricted events, junior darts and regular club tournaments.

For me, they all matter.

The headline performances are always worth celebrating, but one of the main reasons for building the Q4QS database is to make sure the players competing week after week at local level are represented too.

With another 60 tournaments added, there is more information to explore, more results to compare and more performances to recognise.

Full results, rankings and player statistics are available at QuestForQSchool.

ADC Vault National Finals 2026 Preview: £70,000 at Stake, Former Champions Return and a Wide-Open Field

 

The ADC Vault National Finals return to Bradmoor Farm, with £10,000 awaiting the winner. But can recent form tell us who might lift the trophy?

The ADC National Finals Weekend has already provided plenty of darts, but the Vault National Finals is the competition that really brings home just how far the Amateur Darts Circuit has developed.

A £70,000 prize fund, £10,000 to the champion, and players arriving from Vault competitions across the country.

For many of those taking part, the regular weekly Vault events are where they spend much of their darting lives. They might be winning at their local club on a Monday or Tuesday evening, perhaps reaching a final elsewhere later in the week, and gradually building up the results that have brought them to this stage.

Now they have the opportunity to test themselves against some of the strongest players on the amateur circuit.

I've been looking through the Q4QS database ahead of the competition. The supplied export contains 286 matched players, and the first thing that struck me was not necessarily who was at the top of the rankings.

It was how many players I could make a reasonable case for.

Can Chas Barstow Defend His Title?

The previous winners tell an interesting story.

Neil Duff won the inaugural title in 2023, Thomas Banks followed in 2024, and Chas Barstow became champion in 2025.

Former champions receive lifetime invitations, so there is a nice sense of continuity developing around this competition.

Barstow certainly isn't returning simply to make up the numbers.

His recent results include winning an England Masters & Classic event with a tournament average of 93.94. During that run he beat Robbie Martin 5-0, averaging a remarkable 110.51.

He also won a Vault event at the Sportsman Club in Winchester and reached the final of the UK & Ireland Classic during this National Finals Weekend, where he lost to Lewis Cook.

That is pretty convincing evidence that his game is in good order.

Defending a title in a large knockout field is never straightforward, though. You can play well for several matches and still find yourself on the wrong end of one outstanding performance.

Thomas Banks is also among the entrants. His presence adds another former champion to the story, although I wouldn't automatically place him among the leading favourites purely because he has won the event before.

The Players at the Top of the Q4QS Rankings

Jack Drayton is the highest-ranked player in the supplied Q4QS field, sitting at number 42 with an overall average of 86.29.

He won an ADC Winmau Championship South event at Bradmoor Farm, averaging 87.62 across an unbeaten tournament. Among his victories was a 5-2 win over Michael Wiles with a 94.47 average.

That is useful form to bring into another major event at the same venue.

Oliver Mitchell is just one place behind Drayton in the rankings, at number 43, with an overall average of 86.49.

His Challenge Tour performances have included wins against Scott Waites, Jamie Hughes and Lewis Pride. In one Challenge Tour event he reached the last 32 with a 90.62 tournament average.

Lewis Pride is another obvious contender. His overall average of 87.41 is particularly impressive, and he recently reached the semi-finals of a National Finals Weekend money-in, money-out event, averaging 85.88 before losing to Joe Hunt.

Pride also produced a 101.90 average in a 4-0 victory over Darnell McCrory.

These three have the sort of records that suggest they should be competitive against almost anybody in the field.

But rankings don't win knockout matches.

The Development Tour Players Could Have a Big Say

One of the interesting things about the field is the number of players who have been testing themselves regularly on the PDC Development Tour.

Dylan Slevin reached the semi-finals of Development Tour Event 22, averaging 86.10, and followed that with a quarter-final appearance at Event 24.

He also reached the last 32 of the World Youth Championship Finals.

Sam Jackson's recent results are particularly eye-catching.

He reached the final of Development Tour Event 22, winning eight matches and averaging 93.63 across the tournament before losing to Archie Self.

During that run he beat Slevin 5-2 with a 98.35 average.

Cole Davey also reached a Development Tour final recently, averaging 87.83, before losing to Nunjo Dewaele. He has since added a Vault title at Groves Sports & Social in Shotton.

Arthur Allston reached the quarter-finals of the World Youth Championship Finals, where Charlie Manby ended his run, while Harrison Leigh also made the last eight of that competition before losing to Luke Littler.

I think this group is particularly interesting because they are already accustomed to competing against strong fields.

The challenge is to reproduce that standard in a different tournament environment, with different expectations and a significant prize at stake.

Graham Usher and Harry Lane – An Interesting Connection

Graham Usher has been playing some excellent darts.

He won a British Open & Classic event with an 86.00 tournament average, and his recent record includes a 6-4 victory over Harrison Leigh.

He also reached another final at the British Open & Classic, losing to Harry Lane.

Lane has been enjoying a good run himself, winning a British Open & Classic event and reaching the semi-finals of an England Masters & Classic tournament.

He also has a victory over Usher in his recent record.

It is the sort of connection I enjoy finding in the database. Two players who have already crossed paths in significant competitions, both arriving with reasons to feel confident.

If they meet again, there will be some useful history behind the fixture.

The Vault Specialists Who Know How to Win

It would be easy to concentrate entirely on the players with PDC or major open tournament experience.

But that would rather miss the point of the Vault National Finals.

Some of the most interesting contenders are players who have been winning repeatedly in their own areas.

Simon Stevenson has an overall Q4QS average of 89.14, one of the strongest figures among the leading ranked entrants.

His recent results at Legends Lounge in Plymouth include a tournament victory and a final, the latter with a 90.30 average.

Neil Wild has won nine of his last ten recorded matches. He has produced a 91.02 tournament average in a Vault victory at Hotshots in Tipton and a 91.90 average during a semi-final run at Samba Darts Academy.

Carl Wilson is another player whose recent results deserve attention.

He has won his last ten recorded matches and collected several titles at Rusthall Club in Tunbridge Wells. His most recent title came with a 90.06 tournament average.

One of those wins included a 3-1 victory over Jack Johnson, with Wilson averaging 96.70.

Johnson himself has been playing well, winning at the 6 and 1 Club in Tonbridge with a 90.73 average and reaching a final at Rusthall.

These are not players who should be dismissed simply because their names might be less familiar to a wider darts audience.

They are winning tournaments, and some of them are producing averages that would be competitive at a much higher level.

Jack Main and Darren Brown – A Regional Rivalry

Another little storyline comes from East Anglia.

Jack Main has been collecting Vault titles around Norfolk, including victories at The Greyhound in Diss and Hethersett Social Club.

He also reached the semi-finals of a National Finals Weekend money-in, money-out competition, averaging 82.89.

Darren Brown has been competing in many of the same events.

Their recent records show victories in both directions, with Main beating Brown at Pinches Cue Club and Brown getting the better of Main at Hethersett.

Brown has also produced a 90.87 average across a recent semi-final run.

I wouldn't be surprised to see either player cause problems for a more highly ranked opponent.

And if the draw brings them together, it would be another instalment in a rivalry that has already developed through the regional Vault circuit.

The Players Already Enjoying National Finals Weekend

One factor worth considering is that several entrants have already been competing at Bradmoor Farm during the weekend.

Adam Winspear won the Level Up RISE Final, recording eight victories and an 81.21 tournament average.

His run included wins over William Borland and Colin McCaughern.

That is a significant confidence boost before another major competition.

Borland reached the semi-finals of the same event and produced a 93.05 average in a victory over Dylan Sinclair.

Roger Crook reached the final of a National Finals Weekend money-in, money-out competition, beating Jack Main in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Robbie Martin reached the quarter-finals of the UK & Ireland Classic, averaging 91.49 before losing to eventual champion Lewis Cook.

For some players, this will be their first major match of the weekend. Others have already played a considerable amount of competitive darts.

Whether that proves to be an advantage or a disadvantage is difficult to judge.

Personally, I think a player who has already enjoyed a good run at the venue might have a little more confidence when the first match begins.

But confidence still has to be backed up by scoring and finishing.

So Who Are the Favourites?

This is where the size of the field makes things difficult.

There are some excellent players in the top twenty of the Q4QS rankings for this event, but there are also players further down the list who have been winning virtually everything in front of them.

Paul Rowley, Lee Evans, Roger Crook and Carl Wilson all have ten consecutive recorded wins in the supplied database.

Kevin Edwards, Danny Goddard, Daniel Astbury and Brett Claydon have similarly impressive recent form.

And there are others, such as Robbie Martin, Johnny Haines, Michael Wiles and Sean Holley, who have been regularly reaching the latter stages of Vault tournaments.

I wouldn't want to pretend that the statistics can identify one clear winner from a field like this.

What they can do is help us identify who has been performing consistently, who is capable of producing exceptional averages, and who might be worth watching as the tournament progresses.

Q4QS Six to Follow

After going through the available figures, these would be my six selections.

Chas Barstow – The defending champion, an England Masters & Classic winner and a finalist at this weekend's UK & Ireland Classic.

Jack Drayton – The highest-ranked entrant in the supplied Q4QS field, with strong ADC Winmau Championship form at Bradmoor Farm.

Oliver Mitchell – Proven Challenge Tour scoring ability, including a 90.62 tournament average and victories over established opposition.

Sam Jackson – A recent PDC Development Tour finalist with a 93.63 tournament average.

Simon Stevenson – One of the strongest overall averages in the field, backed by excellent recent results in Plymouth.

Carl Wilson – My outside selection, with ten consecutive recorded wins and several recent Vault titles.

Leaving out players such as Lewis Pride, Dylan Slevin, Graham Usher and Robbie Martin isn't easy.

In fact, I could probably pick another six without weakening the list very much.

A Tournament That Deserves Its Place on the Calendar

The thing I like most about the Vault National Finals is that it gives players from the regular grassroots circuit an opportunity to compete for a genuinely significant prize.

Some of the entrants will be accustomed to major competitions. Others will have built their records largely through weekly tournaments at local clubs.

And that is what makes it interesting.

The averages can give us an idea of what to expect, but they cannot tell us how somebody will react to a deciding leg with thousands of pounds at stake.

Nor can they tell us whether a player who has been averaging in the mid-70s might suddenly produce the tournament of his life.

My statistical shortlist would certainly include Barstow, Drayton, Mitchell and Jackson.

But in a competition of this size, I think there is every chance that somebody outside the obvious favourites will make a serious run.

I'll be following the results with interest, particularly to see how the players who have dominated their regional Vault competitions fare against the wider field.

And by the end of it, somebody will have £10,000 and a place alongside Neil Duff, Thomas Banks and Chas Barstow on the list of Vault National Finals champions.

ADC Vault National Finals 2026

Venue: Bradmoor Farm, Aylesbury

Prize fund: £70,000

Champion: £10,000

Runner-up: £4,000

Semi-finalists: £2,000 each

Format: 501 singles, knockout

Official tournament page

The Q4QS preview is based on the supplied tournament export and recorded player performances. Rankings and averages are statistical indicators, not guarantees of results.