NEWTOWN’S Monty Club hosted a darts open competition to raise funds for the newly formed Newtown Youth Darts Academy earlier this month.

The event was a great success, raising a grand total of £576 for the academy from the event and the raffle held on the day, which far exceeded the initial target of £300-400. 

The Monty Club, Dave Breese Builders, Evabuild Ltd, Severn Trophies, Hummingbird Lounge, Di’s Discount Stores, The Lion, Newtown and Lynn Furneaux, in memory of Allan Furneaux, sponsored the event.

The money raised will be going towards investment in equipment the academy needs, along with travel expenses as the academy embarks on events and competitions with other academies throughout Wales over the next 12 months.

Organiser Glenn Furneaux said: “We had 52 entries in total for the competition, despite it being a weekend where County Darts took place. 

Welsh international Terry Nash defeated Mark Graham in the final. (Image: Glenn Furneaux.) “The £500 winner prize was won by Welsh international Terry Nash who defeated Mark Graham in the final, who picked up the £200 runner up prize. 

“The losing semi-finalists picking up £75 each were Dafydd Edwards and Kacey Jones with Mark Bellerby, James Bradford, Martin Thomas and Kevin Evans the losers in the last eight, each pocketing £20 each.

“We also included a £25 prize for the further Under 18 player, due to it being an event involving the academy which was won by 15 year old Academy member Luke Oldham.

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Luke, from Machynlleth, travelled to Budapest, Hungary last week along with fellow 13 year old academy member Rhys Butler from Welshpool as they compete in the World Youth Masters competition, representing Wales as the qualifiers having qualified from the Welsh Youth Masters held in South Wales earlier this year,

“We also included a £25 Furthest Lady prize, which was won by Sue Price,” said Glenn.

“Finally, we also held a separate Plate competition for first round losers of the main competition - the Plate competition was won by Gareth Ashley, collecting the £65 prize money, defeating Keenan Thomas in the final.”

The academy holds sessions at the Monty Club on Sundays, between 11am and 1pm for any child in the area with members from as far afield as Shrewsbury and Machynlleth aged between 7-17, all abilities welcome. 

The aim of the academy is to teach children to play darts but also to help them with their maths skills as well as social skills, as the sessions enable children to meet and become friends. 

More information can be found by emailing newtownyouthdarts@gmail.com.