37-year-old winner of six international tournaments said there is plenty of world-title winning potential in the region
ACTION IMAGES/Matt hew Childs
Glen Durrant (main image) is among the rising stars of world darts and could eventually become world champion, says Paul Jennings (inset)
Paul Jennings believes it could only be a matter of time before a Teesside-area player wins the Lakeside world title.
Hartlepool’s Jennings and Milton Keynes-based Cleveland thrower Fallon Sherrock underlined the region’s darting strength by reaching the men’s and women’s semi-finals at the inaugural BDO World Trophy at Blackpool Tower Ballroom over the weekend.
And rising Middlesbrough star Glen Durrant did little wrong as he lost 6-5 in the standout first round match to Peterlee left hander Dave Prins, missing three darts to win an exhilarating encounter which featured 47-ton plus scores.
Hartlepool veteran Tony Eccles failed to make it though qualifying at the new Daily Mirror-sponsored and Eurosport-televised BDO event, but is a seasoned top level campaigner and two-time Lakeside quarter-finalist like Jennings.
And the 37-year-old winner of six international tournaments said there is plenty of world-title winning potential in the region.
“I’ve always felt I have the game to win the Lakeside,” Jennings said.
“I beat the same players that you see on TV on the circuit week in, week out. It’s just a matter of doing it when you’re up on stage.
“Glen is a good friend and I’ve always said to him that he is just waiting to be champion.
“Any time he loses a game I text him to say not to let it bother him, because he really is that good.
“And I’ve always said that Fallon is a world champion in waiting.
“She is an unbelievable player who doesn’t have any nerves, and Tony’s record speaks for itself. He is a great player.”
Jennings recovered from his disappointing 3-0 first round defeat to Wesley Harms at this year’s Lakeside with his semi-final run in Blackpool.
He beat Aiba Katsuya from Japan 6-2, Czech player Karel Sedlacek 7-2 and Scott Mitchell 10-8 before losing 11-2 to eventual champion Jamie Wilson.
Huddersfield’s Wilson beat Scottish captain Ross Montgomery 13-11 in the final.
“I hadn’t played well for a few months, and whatever I tried against Wesley at the Lakeside didn’t work,” he added. But I’m really pleased overall with the way I played in Blackpool.
“The Japanese lad was at the WDF World Cup in Canada. Karel beat Robbie Green 6-1 in the first round and Scott is right on form at the moment.
“Jamie played really well but I got tortured by the Yorkshire crowd.
“They were shouting ‘miss’ when I was going for doubles. Credit to Jamie, he asked for order during the match and there are no excuses from me.
“You’ve got to be professional and get on with, it and hopefully I can turn the corner now.”
Wonderkid Sherrock, 19, saw her World Trophy bid end in a 6-1 defeat to 2014 Lakeside women’s champion Lisa Ashton, who went on to lose the final on a tie-break to triple world champion Anastasia Dobromyslova.
And Durrant is staying upbeat after missed darts at double eight, four and two cost him dear.
“I’d won my last eight matches against Prins, but I’ve watched it on YouTube and I didn’t do a lot wrong,” he said.
“No matter how much you practice, it doesn’t compare with being up there and throwing for the match.
“Your arm turns to lead and you can’t feel your legs, but hopefully that will come with experience.”
Jennings and Durrant are back on the oche at this weekend’s Scottish Open in Renfrewshire.
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