Lakeside girl’s finalist Eleanor Cairns is the latest darting star to come from St Helens, with numerous other youngsters coming through at the Merseyside town’s local academy.
Cairns is one of darts’ brightest young prospects and will be competing to become girl’s world champion when she faces German Wibke Rieman at Lakeside Country Club in Surrey on Sunday 10 April. Aged just 17, she has already captained her county and represented her country at youth level, as well as just breaking through into Lancashire’s senior team.
Win or lose at Lakeside, a lot is expected of Eleanor who is just one of many youngsters coming through the thriving St Helens Darts Academy.
St Helens Darts Academy
You could be forgiven for thinking that there must be something in the water in St Helens, with numerous players from the Merseyside town playing at the highest level. Coming from St Helens, the teenager does not need to look too far for darting inspiration all coming from the Merseyside town.
The likes of former world champion Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall and Alan Tabern all come from St Helens. Far from being the only youngster to have been inspired by the town’s famous darters, hundreds of keen youngsters have played at the St Helens Darts Academy, and it was Eleanor’s brother’s involvement that first tempted her to give the game a try.
She said: “My brother, Jack Cairns, played for a few weeks at the academy and I joined. I loved it and never looked back.”
Jake Clarke and Mason Bradshaw are two boys that also regularly attend the academy, and both believe that the opportunity has helped to improve their games.
“It is lots of fun [playing at St Helens Darts Academy] and I make new friends…my biggest achievement is winning a couple of tournaments at the academy.”
He added: “I first hit a 180 a couple of weeks ago. I was so excited that I took a picture of it to keep and my mum had it tattooed on her arm!”
When asked what he enjoys most about the academy, Mason said: “I get to test and challenge myself against other players my age.”
Mason was also keen to point out that playing at the academy helped him to accomplish his biggest achievement so far…winning against his dad!
“Hitting the 180 and beating my dad sometimes are my biggest achievements,” he admitted. “My dad has helped me the most in playing darts.”
As well as improving their ability to hit maximum scores and claim family bragging rights, both Jake and Mason agreed that their numeracy skills have also advanced thanks to playing darts.
“Oh yes!” Mason exclaimed when asked if darts has helped with his maths skills. “My adding and subtracting have improved a lot.”
Jake added: “Darts has definitely helped with my maths. I can add up a lot quicker and I know my finishes.”
Eleanor also agrees that darts has helped her numeracy: “It has definitely boosted my skills at maths, for sure.”
Doing it for Mum
It was around seven years ago that Eleanor first threw a dart and, since then, the teenager has gone from strength to strength. That hasn’t been without hardships along the way.
Less than 24 hours before making her senior county debut for Lancashire, Eleanor’s mum, Cath, sadly passed away. Not only did Cairns pluck up the courage to take to the oche, but she also won her first senior match.
“My mum always said never let anyone dull your sparkle, and that still means the most to me today,” she said. “Age 13 [when I hit my first 180], I was so happy and shouted at my mum going ‘look, mum, look!’”.
Lakeside World Championship
Eleanor will be following in the same footsteps of legends such as Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, and Trina Gulliver to play in a world final at Lakeside. She earned the right by winning a qualifying event, consisting of the best girls in the country, also at the famous venue on 5 December.
Originally, the tournament was scheduled to take place in January but was postponed for three months by the World Darts Federation (WDF) due to concerns relating to the pandemic. Now, though, Eleanor can focus on the showpiece event.
“Getting to play at Lakeside [is one of my biggest achievements so far],” she said. “Alongside representing my country and being signed by Target Darts.”
Eleanor can call on the experience of playing some of the biggest names in the world to help her through her Lakeside final against her opponent, saying: “I’ve played Lisa Ashton, Fallon Sherrock, Lorraine Winstanley, Anastasia Dobromyslova, Michael Smith, and Ian White.
“I haven’t won any, but I have taken legs and it’s all experience.”
We wish Eleanor the very best of luck in her final at Lakeside and hope that, win or lose, she goes on to win a lot more darts trophies. Fen Regis Trophies would also like to thank St Helens Darts Academy and encourage you to see their fantastic work by following them on Facebook and Twitter.
View our range of trophies and awards on our online shop today. Should you require any further assistance, please get in contact with a member of our team today.