'The children have really taken to it' - Darts academy in Halifax proving a hit with youngsters

Prime Sports Darts, on Carlton Place, is run by Jake Smith and Ben Lauder and opened in March this year after the pair ran darts sessions at All Saints Parish Hall in Skircoat.

They proved so popular, selling out in their first week, that the project moved to its own dedicated venue in the town centre.

“The children have really taken to it,” says Jake, “and it's brilliant seeing them come back each week wanting to improve.

“We currently have 13 youngsters regularly attending the academy, which is a good starting point, but we've got much bigger ambitions.

“Our sessions are open to boys and girls aged six to 17, and we welcome complete beginners as well as those who already have experience playing darts.

“One of the things I love about darts is that there's so much more to it than people might initially think.

“They're constantly using maths without necessarily realising it, working out scores and finishes. They're developing concentration, patience, hand-eye co-ordination and learning how to handle both winning and losing.

“It's also a really social environment. We want the children to feel comfortable, make friends and enjoy being part of something.

“For me, seeing a youngster hit their first 180 is brilliant, but seeing a child who was initially quite shy grow in confidence is equally rewarding.”

Jake says he would like to see numbers grow to around 60 regular players over the next year or two.

The academy is launching weekend junior darts sessions from Saturday, November 28, which will give more children the chance to have a go without committing to the weekday sessions.

The venue has seven dartboards and offers lane hire throughout the week.

Alongside the junior academy, it hosts adult darts competitions, social darts evenings and private events.

Jake says producing a professional darts player would be the ultimate dream for the academy, but that its focus is about giving young people a space to enjoy themselves, make friends and develop skills in a supportive environment.

“We want to make darts accessible to as many young people as possible, whether they've never picked up a dart before or already play regularly,” he said.

“If we can help develop a future professional along the way, then fantastic.

“But if a child comes along every week, enjoys themselves and grows in confidence, that's just as important to us.”