Dartford Speedy Hire Qualifiers

EIGHT further Speedy Qualifiers have won their places in the Speedy Hire UK Open following Wednesday's event in Dartford.

Speedy's Dartford depot hosted the second of four Qualifiers which were open to both members of the public and Speedy staff, with eight players winning a place at the Reebok Stadium in June, where they will compete in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

The entrants for the event included PDC Chairman Barry Hearn, whose total of 124 from 15 darts was not enough to earn him a place in the knockout games later.

However, the eight players who did qualify to play at the Speedy Hire UK Open included two players with previous Bolton experience, Welling's Ian Covill and Colchester's Jamie Robinson.

Another qualifier, Essex's Kevin Edwards, also has previous professional experience, but the UK Open in Bolton will also give a chance for Gillingham's Conan Whitehead, Hackney's John Kennedy, Chiswick's Craig Mucklow, Strood's John Keating and East London's Eddy Martin to rub shoulders with the sport's biggest names.

Former Lakeside Champion Andy Fordham was on hand to offer tips and watch Wednesday's event, and said: "I knew the quality in Kent would be good and none of us were disappointed.

"The players were extremely serious about their darts and that reflected on the board."

Speedy's group marketing director Steve McIntyre said: "Our Dartford event has been a huge success and it has been great to be here, in one of four UK qualifying events.

"The Speedy Hire UK Open is 'The FA Cup of Darts' and it was easy to see why with all these people here today."

Further Speedy Hire Qualifiers are being held at the Speedy Stoke Superstore on Thursday April 14 and at the Speedy Glasgow Superstore on Friday April 1.

For more information, visit www.speedyhiredarts.com