Girvan misses out on spot at Ally Pally

Forfar darts ace Nathan Girvan missed out on a spot at the £2.5 million PDC World Darts Championship after losing a major youth final.

Girvan, 20, crashed to a 6-1 defeat to men’s world number 47 Josh Rock in the World Youth Championship final at Butlin’s Minehead.

Rock claimed the highest average ever in a world youth final – of 104 – in the ITV4 clash.

That saw Girvan miss out on the silverware, a £10,000 cheque and entry to the worlds at Alexandra Palace.

A graduate of Alan Soutar’s Angus Darts Academy, Girvan remains on course to follow the Arbroath star into the professional ranks.

His appearance at the final has already sealed his qualification for another major TV event.

Girvan will feature in three live games on Sky Sports next year at the £650,000 Grand Slam of Darts.

Girvan’s mentor Alan Soutar stormed to the quarter-final of the Grand Slam earlier this month.

“Soots” collected £25,000 after losing out to Nathan Aspinall in the last eight.

Soutar has already qualified for Ally Pally and will find out his opponent in today’s draw.

Girvan could still make it Ally Pally, via the final qualifiers at Barnsley today.

And he will go to Q School in January , where he will bid to win his Protour card to join Soutar in the professional ranks.