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.

Beyond Mitchell Lawrie: The Young UK Darts Players Coming Through in 2026

 

The rise of Luke Littler helped shine an unprecedented spotlight on youth darts.

His progress from the junior system to the top of the professional game demonstrated what can happen when exceptional ability is matched by the right opportunities. Inevitably, attention has now turned towards the next generation.

Who might follow him?

Mitchell Lawrie is currently the most obvious answer. The young Scot has already produced remarkable results across junior and senior darts, establishing himself as one of the most exciting prospects anywhere in the sport.

However, one of the most interesting stories of 2026 is not simply the emergence of one outstanding player. It is the depth of young talent now appearing across the JDC system and beyond.

Names such as Lawrie, Kaya Baysal and Archie Self will already be familiar to many followers of youth darts. Yet a closer look at the Q4QS statistics reveals a much broader group of young players beginning to establish impressive records.

This article focuses on players from the UK who feature within my database. The figures are based on the tournaments and matches currently captured by the Q4QS system, rather than every match each player has played.

There are also several talented young players emerging elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Belgium, but they fall outside the scope of this particular analysis.

Mitchell Lawrie: The Current Standard-Bearer

Any discussion about the next generation has to begin with Mitchell Lawrie.

The young Scot has produced numbers that place him in a category of his own.

Across 97 recorded matches in the Q4QS database, Lawrie has won 90 and lost only seven. That gives him an extraordinary win rate of 92.8%.

He holds an overall average of 90.54 and a Q4QS average of 90.77.

Those numbers would be impressive for an established senior player. For somebody still progressing through youth darts, they are exceptional.

Lawrie’s achievements extend well beyond the database. He won the 2025 JDC Junior World Championship, became the WDF World Youth champion and reached the final of the senior WDF World Championship at Lakeside.

He has continued winning in 2026, collecting further senior WDF titles and dominating large parts of the JDC Advanced Tour.

What stands out most in the Q4QS data is the distance between Lawrie and the chasing group. Youth darts is highly competitive, but nobody else in this particular set of players has consistently matched his combination of scoring and winning.

Lawrie is no longer merely an exciting junior prospect. He is already producing the kind of performances that make people wonder how far he can eventually go.

The question is not whether he is one of the leading young players in the UK.

It is whether anybody in the current generation can close the gap.

Already Making Headlines

Jack Johnson

While Lawrie stands clear at the top of the figures, Jack Johnson leads the group immediately behind him.

Johnson currently ranks second in my system, averaging 84.16 across 68 recorded matches and winning 73.5% of them.

His achievements are not limited to statistical promise. Johnson won the JDC Super 16 in both 2024 and 2025, demonstrating an ability to deliver in major matches as well as across the wider junior circuit.

He also won the 2025 JDC National Volts title, defeating Alfie Hutton in the final on the World Grand Prix stage in Leicester.

Those successes have helped Johnson build a reputation as one of the most accomplished young players currently emerging from the UK system.

His average may remain some distance below Lawrie’s remarkable figure, but it places him firmly among the leading group. More importantly, he has already shown that he can handle the pressure that comes with competing for significant junior titles.

Kaya Baysal

Kaya Baysal has become one of the best-known names in junior darts over the last couple of seasons.

His record in the Q4QS database stands at 52 victories from 72 matches, alongside an overall average of 83.51. He has also won eight of his ten most recently recorded matches.

Baysal’s progress has not been restricted to junior competition.

He became the youngest winner of a senior WDF ranking title when he won the Budapest Classic in 2025. He has also demonstrated that his game can translate to the MODUS Super Series, where he reached a weekly final in 2026.

Baysal won nine of his ten group matches during that MODUS appearance before eventually losing to Jack Aldridge in the weekly final.

That matters when attempting to assess young prospects. Junior success provides the foundation, but performing effectively against experienced senior opponents presents a different challenge.

Baysal has already shown that he can make that transition.

Archie Self

Archie Self is another player whose profile has grown enormously during 2026.

His overall average of 83.10 places him firmly among the leading group in the database, while a perfect 10–0 record across his most recently captured matches demonstrates the momentum he has built.

Self’s senior achievements make his story particularly significant.

He won Week Four of MODUS Super Series 14 after going through the entire week unbeaten. That alone would have made 2026 an important breakthrough year.

He then went considerably further by winning PDC Challenge Tour Event 18 in August.

Winning a Challenge Tour title against an experienced adult field is a major achievement for any young player. For Self, it provides strong evidence that his ability is already translating beyond the age-group environment.

Among all the players included here, he may have made the biggest senior breakthrough of 2026.

The Leading Challengers

Lewis Cook

Lewis Cook may be one of the most underrated young players currently competing on the circuit.

His figures are remarkably close to those of Johnson and Baysal. Cook has won 52 of his 70 recorded matches, giving him a win rate of 74.3%.

His Q4QS rating is also virtually identical to Johnson’s.

Despite receiving less attention than some of the headline names, the underlying performance data suggests that Cook belongs firmly within the leading group of UK prospects.

He has been consistently competitive in JDC Advanced Tour events and has already shown that he can push the best players in the age group.

Lawrie defeated him only 4–3 in the quarter-finals of Advanced Tour Event Three in Bristol, illustrating how close Cook can come to the player currently setting the standard.

The challenge now is to turn that consistency into more major titles and headline performances.

Jayden Walker

Few players in the chasing group possess stronger all-round figures than Jayden Walker.

Walker has the highest Q4QS average among Lawrie’s leading pursuers at 84.64. He has won 66 of his 85 recorded matches, giving him a success rate of 77.6%.

That combination of scoring and results makes him one of the most interesting players in the database.

He already has tournament victories to his name and repeatedly appears in the latter stages of significant youth events. He also reached the final of the 2025 JDC Super 16, losing to Johnson.

Walker’s position is particularly intriguing because his figures suggest that he is not relying on an isolated run or a handful of strong performances. He has maintained a high level across a substantial sample of matches.

If Lawrie has a serious challenger within the current generation, Walker may be among the strongest candidates.

Closer Than Many Realise

Arthur Allston

If there is one player whose wider reputation may currently lag behind his numbers, it is Arthur Allston.

Allston ranks sixth in my database, ahead of several players who may be more widely discussed.

He has won 55 of his 78 recorded matches, producing a success rate of 70.5%, while his overall average stands at 82.10. He has also won eight of his last ten matches in the database.

Allston has regularly appeared in the latter stages of JDC events, including a semi-final at Advanced Tour Event Four in Bristol, where his run was eventually ended by Lawrie.

He may not yet carry the profile of some of the names above him, but the statistics suggest that he should be considered part of the same wider group.

When discussing potential future breakthroughs, Allston deserves considerably more attention than he currently receives.

Owen Bryceland

Owen Bryceland may not attract as many headlines as some of his contemporaries, but his numbers tell a positive story.

An overall average of 81.55 and a win rate approaching 70% demonstrate a player who is performing consistently at a strong level.

At this stage of a young player’s development, progress is not always measured through major titles alone. Building experience, regularly competing with the best players in the age group and maintaining solid performance levels are all important.

Bryceland’s figures suggest that he is doing exactly that.

Ben Townley

Ben Townley is another player who can easily be overlooked when attention is concentrated on the most recognisable names.

However, an average above 80, 44 victories from 64 recorded matches and a solid recent record indicate a player capable of competing regularly with the country’s leading juniors.

Townley has also reached the latter stages of JDC Advanced Tour events, including a semi-final at Event Four in Bristol.

Like Bryceland, his next step will be converting repeated competitive performances into major victories. The underlying level, however, is already encouraging.

Two More to Watch

Not every young player develops at exactly the same rate.

Some collect major junior titles almost immediately, while others build their game more gradually before making a significant breakthrough.

Two more names from the database are therefore worth watching.

Christian Ennis

Christian Ennis has quietly put together an impressive body of work.

The Northern Irish prospect holds an overall average of 80.10 across 71 recorded matches and has won more than 70% of them.

Those figures compare favourably with several better-known players. They also come across a sufficiently large number of matches to suggest genuine consistency rather than a brief spell of good form.

Ennis may not yet have generated the same attention as Lawrie, Baysal or Self, but his statistical record makes him an interesting prospect.

Charlie Greensmith

Charlie Greensmith enters the discussion largely because of his recent form.

His overall average of 79.28 may not immediately stand out alongside the leading names, but he has won eight of his ten most recently recorded matches.

That does not necessarily mean he is ready to challenge the very best immediately. It does, however, suggest a player moving in the right direction.

Youth development can happen quickly. A player who appears just outside the leading group at the beginning of a season can close the gap substantially within a matter of months.

Greensmith’s recent results make him one to monitor.

More Than One Outstanding Prospect

Mitchell Lawrie currently stands apart statistically, but he certainly does not stand alone.

Behind him is an extremely competitive group featuring Jack Johnson, Kaya Baysal, Archie Self, Lewis Cook and Jayden Walker.

Johnson is already a two-time JDC Super 16 champion. Baysal has reached a MODUS Super Series weekly final. Self has gone one better by winning a MODUS week and has now added a PDC Challenge Tour title.

Cook’s numbers place him much closer to the headline names than his current profile might suggest, while Walker combines one of the strongest averages with an excellent win rate across a considerable number of matches.

Beyond that group, Arthur Allston, Owen Bryceland and Ben Townley continue to build increasingly strong records. Christian Ennis and Charlie Greensmith could yet emerge as two of the next names to make a significant move.

Not every one of these players will reach the highest level. Development in darts is rarely predictable, and plenty can change as young players move into senior competition.

Some will progress quickly. Others may require more time. A few players currently receiving less attention may ultimately develop further than those already collecting the biggest titles.

That uncertainty is part of what makes following youth darts so interesting.

Luke Littler showed just how quickly an exceptional junior can become one of the biggest names in the sport. It would be unfair to expect every talented youngster to follow the same extraordinary path.

Lawrie is already building his own remarkable story, but the wider picture may be just as encouraging.

UK youth darts does not appear to be waiting for one new star to arrive.

It already has an entire generation coming through.