Big Weekend for the Jokers Academy Members.
Thursday night saw the Joker Juniors play their own version of the Premier League finals night. With everyone just having a bit of fun. Maisie O Shea and Rian Power teamed up as Luke Littler, Jake Long picked Gezzy Price and it was Jake that won the first game of our 301 Premier league night. Then Ruairi Power played as Nathan Aspinal and Joey O Sullivan filled the big shoes of Luke Humphries. This was a very tight game with Joey losing out narrowly to Ruairi. We all settled in then to watch our mini Premier League final which saw Jake Long take on Ruairi Power and we all cheered our team mates on before Jake Long was our victor of the night. So in our mini Premier League Jake "Gezzy Price" Long gave it loads GWAAAAN!!!!
Then our older youths played a round robin tournament with John away at Modus we had a small break from routines and had a little fun. It was all played in light hearted atmosphere and it is always amazing to see the older more experienced youths share that knowledge with the younger boys. The older youths always explain better board management and tell the younger boys the finishes they need and fist pump their success and this is truly brilliant in the academy. Confidence is a huge part of the game of darts and a good mental approach so by building each other up we are working on the mental side continuously.
Saturday Night saw our Academy Coach and leader John O Shea lift the Modus title and in his interview after he talked about his joy at the title but how the youths in the academy inspired him and helped his own game. It really meant alot to John but bringing it home to the academy was huge to him. John often talks about hard work but he also states he would never ask anyone to do something he doesn't do himself. John is not a natural dart player like most players out there so he has to work hard at the game and that is what he tells the kids in the academy daily.
When talent fails hard work takes over.
The Academy noticed a lot of our youths were in the Bank Holiday Shot Out Open run by Mark Farrell. As the competition was very local and inclusive to all, the academy decided to encourage our members to attend as the one thing we can't replicate in the academy is real match practice so it was a great tournament for the youths to attend. In the youth under 17 tournament on Sunday John had made it home just in time to see Academy player Daniel Coughlan in the shield final where he was very unlucky in the final, Sean Hutchinson had lost out in the semi final after a super run all day. The Monday entry from the academy saw 17 members play. In the main tournament after the round robin stages it was Ian Kelliher from the Joker Darts Academy who went to the quarter finals in a great run. John continued his winning ways and won the competition outright. Big thanks to Dan Reidy for marking the final and Jamie Farrell for calling the final so well. Well done to Joe Wyer who has some phenomenal scoring power, but lost out to John in a great final.
In the shield it was amazing to see the boys and our only girl Brooke Warren play some really good stuff in patches. Jake O Shea and Dillion Fitzmaurice both saw themselves all the way to the quarter finals before losing out. Bailey Jones, Kenneth O Shea, Dara Duke and Daniel Coughlan all made their exit in the last 16 which was a truly amazing achievement in an open competition this wasn't youth level and you all played amazingly well. Brooke Warren, Aaron O Callaghan, Dyaln Comer, Brandon Joy, Jamie Cunnigham, Brookyln Gibson and Jamie Harte all lost out in the top 32 but again they all won legs and played good stuff in patches to get to this point. Some people were disappointed and thats no harm no Champion likes losing and that is a good thing it means you want better for yourself. Special mention to Brooklyn Gibson who when the Joker John told him he'd give him a fiver if he hit 3 bulls, he of course he did right away with such confidence and so much style that John paid the man gladly.
We will see everyone Thursday and as John said yesterday sure he had ton plus check outs but nothing was as scary and pressurised as the double 5 and it was double 5 that won him the Modus title so we go back to our doubles and back to our board management and keep working on being smart dart players.