Target Darts announces partnership with Sudbury Youth as first Elite 1 affiliated academy

Target Darts have announced a partnership with Sudbury Youth today (19 August) as their first Elite 1 Affiliated Academy which will bolster their roster in the UK.

Since launching, the Elite 1 system has become a gateway into the professional game as they are given the tools and platform to develop within the sport with Lorraine Winstanley currently as a Head of Youth Development as a mentor figure.

"I can’t wait to see how this all pans out for the future, it’s such an exciting time to be a darts player. The development of players has always been something this sport needed to focus on and now Target have taken the initiative to try and make it as important as it needs to be by investing in the future," said the former World Master.

"Giving young players somewhere like these wonderful academies can only be a good thing, somewhere safe and with a communal feel to it. Young women and girls can play in these academies without any worry, that’s something that might get overlooked, but it will not be unappreciated.”

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Players such as Keane Barry, Jarred Cole, Bradley Brooks, Luke Littler and Katie Sheldon are among the main names to be involved in the system and the hope with this partnership is to grow this even further and find the next darting talent which can be nurtured under the programme.

The first event as an Affiliated Academy saw 2018 World Champion, Rob Cross and Development Tour winner, Jarred Cole speak with the next generation and face them in a few legs of darts.

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Co-founder of Sudbury Youth Paul Warner said: “We are so proud to be the first Target Darts Elite 1 Affiliated Academy, this will help us move on to the next level with the extra help and support. Our dream is to get players into Elite 1 and I'm sure we can achieve this, development of players is what we enjoy doing and we have created pathways for this to happen, but more importantly we love seeing the smiles on kids faces every session”.   

Managing Director, James Tattersall also spoke about the new project and he is looking at more than the talent. "One of the absolute musts for these partnerships is that everyone feels welcome regardless of talent, age, gender, ethnicity or background. Darts can and should be played by everyone who wants to give it a go. Academies can be such an important thing for young people, providing development in social skills, maths and so much more, just by being involved."