The ‘Luke Littler effect’ has seen the darts scene boom both locally and nationally, so Island Echo this week caught up with the Island’s very own Keegan Brown at the Ambassador Club in Gunville.
Although only 33, Keegan (named after the footballer Kevin) has been playing darts competitively for 22 years. He was the youngest person ever to have played county darts at the tender age of 13.
Keegan won the World Youth Darts Championship in 2014 at the age of 21 and has beaten his idol Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor on a couple of occasions. His most recent success was winning the Modus Super Series in Portsmouth in September, which earned him £5,000.
Here on the Island, Keegan has been organising Amateur Darts Circuit competitions at the Ambassador Club in Gunville and Pot Black in Shanklin.
Competing costs just £10 joining up fee, plus £6 per contest, with cash prizes for the winner, runner-up and semi-finalists. Darts nights are held at the Ambassador on Tuesday evenings and at Pot Black on Saturdays.
Keegan has been coaching darts since September of last year.
The local darts ace told Island Echo:
“I’ve been very fortunate and played all over the world. But I had to do it all on my own. If I can help youngsters to make it in the dart’s scene, I’d love to do that.
Article continues below this advertisement “The darts scene is booming on the Island. 20 years ago, there was just one county game a month. I only wish I had had the chances today’s youngsters have 20 years ago.
“We have a lot of promising youngsters here on the Isle of Wight, including Reggie Woodmore, Mitchel Hunt, Connor Mitchel and Jack Thistleton, some of whom I’ve had the privilege of coaching. I’d love to be able to take them to the next level.”
Keegan believes darts to be a game accessible to all….
“A dartboard costs £30 and a set of darts £20. Although my current darts were supplied at a cost of £60, personally I’ve never bought a set for more than £10.
“Darts is all about practice and preparation – the mental side of it. But if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.
“There is no single way to throw a dart. Everyone is different. However, coaching can improve your average by as much as 10 to 20 points.
“In coaching, we look at everything – the weight of the darts, the flights, the stance and even the footwear – you should practice and play in the same shoes.
“Darts is different to any game known to man. It’s more scientific.”
If anyone would like to take part in Isle of Wight darts tournaments or would like darts coaching, Keegan can be contacted via his Facebook page or by email on [email protected].
