Thursday was another busy night for grassroots darts, with 87 tournaments added to the Q4QS Database. And there was one performance that immediately stood out.
Kurt Parry produced an extraordinary 130.70 average at Abercwmboi Social Club in South Wales. Meanwhile, junior player Maxwell Payne recorded 115.62 in Manchester, David Evans averaged 112.73 in a final in Preston, and Keegan Brown produced another impressive winning performance in Southampton.
There was plenty happening closer to home too, with tournament victories in Yeovil, Minehead, Torquay, Dorchester and Worcester.
And importantly, three WADC competitions were played, alongside a busy programme of Junior Volts events.
Kurt Parry produces a remarkable 130.70 in Abercwmboi
I think we have to start in South Wales.
At Abercwmboi Social Club, Kurt Parry produced the highest individual average recorded in Thursday's results, an extraordinary 130.70 against Daleo Thomas.
Parry went on to win the tournament, defeating Creed Jenkins 3–1 in the final and finishing with eight victories.
What makes the performance even more interesting is that he didn't simply produce one exceptional average and disappear.
His other leading averages included 96.97, 93.94 and 92.02.
Dewi Beynon also recorded a 100.20 average during the competition.
Obviously, a match average can be influenced by how many legs are played. Nevertheless, 130.70 is an exceptional figure, and it's certainly worth recognising.
For me, though, it's the combination of that average and the tournament victory that makes Parry's evening particularly impressive.
Maxwell Payne records 115.62 in Junior Volts
One of Thursday's most eye-catching performances came from the junior game.
At Higher Irlam Social Club in Manchester, Maxwell Payne recorded an astonishing 115.62 average against Olly Hughes.
That was the second-highest individual match average across all 87 tournaments in the report.
The competition itself was won by Noah Daly, who defeated Macauley Heald 3–2 in the final.
Daly finished with five victories, while Payne collected four.
It's worth emphasising that these were junior players. To produce an average of 115.62 at any age is impressive, but seeing it in a Junior Volts competition demonstrates the standard some of these youngsters are already capable of reaching.
There was another excellent junior performance in Wales, where James Prettyjohn recorded 104.86 at Arrows in Resolven.
Prettyjohn also won that competition, defeating Rhys Evans 3–2 in the final.
Two junior players recording three-figure averages on the same evening is something that deserves attention.
Keegan Brown wins in Southampton
At Locks Heath Working Men's Club, Keegan Brown enjoyed a particularly impressive evening.
Brown defeated David Williamson 3–1 in the final, completing eight victories.
His highest average was 111.33 against Jason Collins, but what impressed me more was the sequence of performances that followed.
He also recorded 96.97, 93.94 and 88.41.
That's an excellent collection of averages across one tournament.
Brown's experience is well known, but I still think it's important to recognise these performances in the same way as any other grassroots result.
The quality of the darts is what matters, and Thursday's performance was certainly high quality.
David Evans saves his best for the final in Preston
At The Gamull in Preston, David Evans defeated Max Daly 3–0 in the final.
Evans produced a 112.73 average in that deciding match, one of the highest figures of the evening.
Daly also played some excellent darts, recording 102.48 against Lewis Ashton earlier in the competition.
Evans finished with seven victories and added averages of 96.97 and 93.94.
I've mentioned this in previous roundups, but I particularly enjoy seeing a player produce their best darts in the final.
There's a difference between recording a big average in an early match and delivering it when there's a title to be won.
Evans certainly managed the latter.
Andy Smith produces another excellent display
At Cressex Social Club in High Wycombe, Andy Smith defeated Ian Bartlett 3–0 in the final.
Smith's leading average was 109.98 against Jai Carlton.
However, as with Keegan Brown, the consistency was arguably just as impressive.
His next four leading averages were 98.02, 95.94, 93.94 and 90.18.
Five performances above 90, seven victories and the tournament title.
That's a very strong evening's darts.
It's also a useful reminder that looking at a player's collection of averages across a tournament can sometimes tell us more than simply picking out the highest one.
Paul Rowley wins in Tipton with a 111.62
At Samba Darts Academy in Tipton, Paul Rowley defeated Mark Zambra 3–0 in the final.
Rowley finished with seven victories and produced an excellent 111.62 average against Mike Breckell.
He also recorded 91.09 against Mark Felkin.
Jake B-Smith was another strong performer at the venue, recording 96.40 and three separate averages of 91.09.
Zambra also collected seven victories before losing the final.
It was clearly a competitive evening, with several players producing good darts.
Mike Harper takes the Yeovil title
Closer to the South West, Mike Harper won at Yeovil Labour Club.
Harper defeated Martin Walker 3–1 in the final and finished with eight victories.
His leading averages included 88.77 against Robbie Roy and 88.41 against Kat Perry.
Robbie Roy actually produced the highest average of the competition, recording 91.69 against Danny Humphries.
Humphries also averaged 91.21 in that match.
Walker finished with seven victories, making it another closely contested evening at the venue.
There were some very respectable performances throughout, and Harper did enough to come through with the title.
More South West winners: Torquay, Minehead, Dorchester and Worcester
There were several other results from the region worth mentioning.
At Cue Sports Academy in Torquay, Harry Madge defeated Ricky Lait 3–0 in the final. Both players finished with seven victories, while Madge recorded the competition's joint-highest average of 79.11.
At The Banckers Draught in Minehead, David Farmer defeated Sam Harley 3–1 in the final. Farmer won seven matches and produced the event's best average of 83.50 against Toby Westcott.
At Dorchester Trinity Club, Matt Yarrow defeated Liam Blakeley 3–0 in the final, completing seven victories. Alfie Yarrow produced the highest average of the competition at 107.36, while Matt himself recorded 103.66.
And at The Cue Corner in Worcester, Callum Weaver defeated Jacob Crinigan 3–1 in the final. Weaver won eight matches and recorded 88.41, while Stewart Wilde produced the event's best average of 93.94.
It's good to see such a variety of venues contributing to the database, particularly when the performances are spread across several different counties.
WADC: Jackie Brighton leads the way in Rhyl
There were three WADC Vault 3.0 competitions in Thursday's results, taking place in Rhyl, Eastbourne and Ilkeston.
The standout performance came at The Nelson in Rhyl, where Jackie Brighton defeated Loz Jones 3–1 in the final.
Brighton finished with four victories and produced averages of 73.32, 68.32, 55.12 and 53.08 among her leading performances.
Her 73.32 against Nicola Roberts was the highest recorded average across Thursday's WADC competitions.
At Phoenix in Eastbourne, Jenny Levett defeated Lisa Withers 3–1 in the final. Both players collected three victories, with Withers recording the competition's highest average of 58.56.
At Sir John Warren in Ilkeston, Michelle Adkin defeated Amy Eyre 3–0 in the final. Adkin won five matches, while Eyre produced the highest average of 56.72.
It's important that these competitions remain part of the regular roundup.
The WADC programme is giving women more opportunities to compete, and performances like Brighton's deserve recognition alongside the other results.
Junior Volts: Six competitions and plenty of promising performances
Alongside Maxwell Payne's 115.62 and James Prettyjohn's 104.86, there were several other Junior Volts competitions on Thursday.
At Bar 1895 in Oldham, Oscar Monkton defeated Tom Kindon 3–1 in the final. Kindon recorded the competition's highest average of 83.50.
At Buxton Working Men's Club, Macca Nicholls defeated Noah Prince 3–0. Adam Bines recorded the highest average at 68.32.
At Cogan Coronation in Penarth, Leo Driscoll defeated Archie Melhuish 3–1, finishing with six victories. Melhuish produced the event's highest average of 65.35.
At The Plough & Chequers in Gillingham, Lewis Williams defeated Tyler Harris 2–0. Williams completed eight victories, while Harris recorded the competition's best average of 69.37.
And at Higher Irlam Social Club, Noah Daly took the title despite Maxwell Payne producing that remarkable 115.62.
There were also youth competitions outside Junior Volts. Layton Maude won the U21 Youth Round Robin at Normanton Darts Organisation, defeating William Smithson 3–2, while the Boundary Park Academy competitions provided further opportunities across different ability groups.
One thing I find particularly encouraging is the number of regular competitions available to younger players.
It's not simply about producing a big average. The opportunity to play regularly, experience different opponents and learn how to win matches is every bit as important.
Other Thursday performances worth mentioning
There were plenty of other results across the country.
Tom Sykes won the Featherstone Rovers Round Robin, defeating Ryan Laycock 3–0 in the final. Sykes completed eight victories and recorded averages of 107.36, 98.02, 88.41 and 88.41.
At Cross Foxes in Prestatyn, Kelson Hughes defeated James Jay Dog Jones 3–2 in the final, winning eight matches and recording a 107.36 average.
At Rusthall Club in Tunbridge Wells, Jack Johnson won seven matches and defeated Robert Barton 3–0. His leading averages were 107.36, 102.48, 93.94 and 93.94.
Brett Claydon produced a 112.54 average at Thetford Pool Club, although the title went to Gummy Dunn, who defeated Simon Cuthbert 3–1.
At The Newtown in Poole, Henry Cooper recorded two separate averages of 103.66, but Luke Dawe took the title, defeating Cooper 3–0.
In Wales, Bryan Flew won at Brynmawr Social Club, defeating Craig Dobbins 3–0 and recording 95.94, 93.94 and 93.94 among his leading averages.
Edward Manley won at Cardiff County Conservative Club, defeating Joshua Russell 3–0, while Dai Davies won at The Wings Club in Denbigh with eight victories and a best average of 100.20.
And at The Bird in Maesteg, Josh Walker won nine matches before defeating Jack Davies 3–0 in the final.
There's certainly no shortage of competitive darts taking place on a Thursday evening.
Thursday's highest recorded averages
| Player | Average | Tournament / venue |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Parry | 130.70 | Abercwmboi Social Club |
| Maxwell Payne | 115.62 | Junior Volts, Higher Irlam |
| David Evans | 112.73 | The Gamull, Preston |
| Brett Claydon | 112.54 | Thetford Pool Club |
| Paul Rowley | 111.62 | Samba Darts Academy, Tipton |
| Keegan Brown | 111.33 | Locks Heath WMC, Southampton |
| Andy Smith | 109.98 | Cressex Social Club |
| Harry Rice | 108.15 | McNamaras Sports Bar, Ormskirk |
| Tom Sykes | 107.36 | Featherstone Rovers |
| Kelson Hughes | 107.36 | Cross Foxes, Prestatyn |
These are individual match averages, not tournament-wide averages. Other players also recorded 107.36.
My five standout performances
- Kurt Parry – A remarkable 130.70 average, eight victories and the Abercwmboi title.
- Maxwell Payne – A 115.62 average in a Junior Volts competition.
- Keegan Brown – Eight victories in Southampton, including averages of 111.33, 96.97 and 93.94.
- David Evans – A 112.73 average in the final at Preston.
- Andy Smith – Five leading averages above 90, including 109.98, and the High Wycombe title.
Special mentions also go to Tom Sykes, Jack Johnson, James Prettyjohn, Paul Rowley and Jackie Brighton.
Another 87 tournaments added to Q4QS
Thursday was another reminder of how much darts is taking place beyond the professional game.
There were excellent performances from experienced players, some remarkable averages in junior competitions, and three WADC events contributing to the growing picture of women's grassroots darts.
For me, the most interesting part of the evening wasn't simply Kurt Parry's 130.70, although that's clearly an extraordinary figure.
It was seeing how many players backed up their best averages with several other strong performances.
That's something I'm increasingly interested in exploring through the Q4QS Database.
One exceptional match is worth celebrating. But producing strong darts consistently, across several matches and tournaments, is what really begins to tell us how a player is performing.
Full results, rankings and player statistics are available at Quest For Q School.
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