Ben competed on the PDC Challenge Tour in 2013,and won two events to finish second in the Order of Merit behind Ross Smith. This is a quick interview to get to know a bit more about him.
When did you start playing darts? When did it start getting ‘serious’?
I first picked up a pair of darts when I was about 13 or 14 all because one of my dad's old friends brought round an old board and asked if we wanted it. My dad put it up in the garage and for the next couple of years we would perhaps have a game once a month. It started taking it seriously when I about 19/20 when I reached the final of a qualifying tournament in Bath for the Men's Winmau World Masters narrowly losing out. I played great that day and it gave me confidence to repeat those types of performances, and I could go as far as I wanted if I put my mind to it.
How did you and the Nevada Group come about?
Jon approached me on the Chalkenge Tour last year and it just went from there, I'm with Nevada for 5 years and I look forward to a bright future under Jon and Jacqui.
What darts do you use?
I haven't got a clue what my darts are, I brought them about 8 years ago from Double Top Dart shop in Bournemouth when they were at a county game, I had 1 throw with them and thought "yeah these will do" I'm not quite sure what weight they are ;) I think there about 22 grams.
Who do you play your non PDC darts for?
I play Superleague for my home town of Dorchester, I play for Portland United in the Weymouth Money league on a Monday night and during the summer I play for Hobson's Choice in the Friday night money league in Weymouth.
What darting ambitions do you have?
To become World Champion.
What’s your favourite tournament?
The World Championships.
Describe your throw in 3 words?
More Tea Vicar :)
What was the highlight of 2013?
It would be finishing 2nd on the Challenge Tour gaining me a place at the World Championships and a Pro Tour Card for the next 2 years.
What do you do to relax away from darts?
Relax..... I support the Mighty Magpies of Dorchester....Dorchester Town FC although you can't relax much watching them at the moment. I also enjoy playing cards, pool, snooker, socialising and spending time with my wife to be Gemma.
Tell me something we don’t know about you?
I use to do cross country at school (although I don't quite think I could do it now) and was quite good at it, at the age of 11 I ran against competitors who were 2 years older than me and I came 11th out of 200+ competitors, I also went on to represent my county at youth level at the age of 12.
Do you have any darts weaknesses?
I tend to take my foot off the gas when I gain a lead, but the more experience I gain the less and less I will do that.
Whats your walk-on tune and If not that what else would you walk on tune be?
I've decided its going to be Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.
Do you take much notice of the social media side of darts i.e.: Twitter, Face book etc
Yeah I always like to keep updated with Facebook and Twitter, also I love reading the various dart forums that are around.
When your not playing do you enjoy watching any other players play? Who?
I always watch the darts, if I'm not there it just make me want to try even harder to make sure that I'm there in the future. Must say i love watching MVG.
Do you have any darting heroes?
Ronnie Baxter was always my favourite player when I was just coming into the game so he has to be one, along with John Part, Eric Bristow and Scott Mitchell a fellow Dorset boy who the first time of meeting me told me I could go along way in darts, I thought he was drunk.
Have you always wanted to be a darts pro? If you hadn’t of been that what would you be doing now?
In the last few years yes I have done, but not when I was growing up, as I never thought I could make it as one. I honestly have no idea what I would be doing now without darts now.
Do you enjoy the practice side of darts?
I don't mind it, I really enjoy practising with people though, I have a regular partner who I meet with once a week who always try's to "chalk up another one" against me but more often than not fails. I don't need to give you a name as to who he is as most people who know me will know who it is.
Do you have any funny printable darts stories you can tell me?
When I played for Dorset Youth at Under 18 level we won the champions of champions competition. 4 boys on the day never turned up so we had to field 4 girls in place of them, they tried there best but failed to win one of there games, luckily all 5 of us boys went on to win meaning we had won the cup 5-4!! Our manager Ricky Carter who devoted his life to darts was carrying the trophy out along with his laptop, first aid kit a coat and some other bits and bobs out of nowhere dropped everything to the floor and started jumping up and down with the cup above his head chanting UP THE DORSET and GREEN ARMY, think its one of those where you had to be there, but we were all in stitches, but we were also so pleased for him as well.
If you could change the outcome of a match you have played in what would it be?
I would not change any match, I have no regrets and never dwell on defeats.
A big thank you to Ben for doing this interview, it was a pleasure.
This interview was done by Richard on 19 February 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment