Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Josh, 11, puts world number 15 in his place
ASCHOOLBOY from the West Country showed nerves of steel when he got on stage at a premier darts event to take on the world’s number 15.
Darts fanatic Josh Harris somehow scored the high score with his first three darts against professional Joe Cullen in front of more than 400 people at the Manchester Darts Masters.
He had won the opportunity to face Cullen, who has won £241,750 in prize money over the past two years, after his father Neil bought two raffle tickets at the event.
The 11-year-old also got to have a picture with his darts hero Peter Wright and meet five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.
But it was the three-dart throw on stage which will last in the memory for the Yatton Junior School pupil, who only started playing two years ago when he got a dartboard for his bedroom from his parents.
“At first I was quite nervous but then I realised I might not get another chance to do this and then it just felt good,” said young Josh, who is a member of the Junior Darts Corporation at Whitchurch Academy in Bristol. I got to do a cool walk-on and the first darts felt really good. I don’t think I will ever forget it. I will keep practising on my dartboard every day.”
The trip to the event was organised by Mr Harris, a leadership coach, because of his son’s spiralling love for playing darts, something he picked up from watching the sport on the television.
The 45-year-old father of three bought the two raffle tickets priced at £5, and when Josh’s name came out he was welcomed onto the stage by a clapping audience.
On reaching the front, he turned back to the crowd to put his hands in the air as Daydream Believer was played before throwing his darts to loud cheers around the hall at the BEC Arena on March 8.
Mr Harris said: “I couldn’t believe it – he threw a treble 20 and then two 20s.
“He did it with a level of confidence which made me feel very proud. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and has provided a memory we will all treasure.”