Year 11 student Hannah Meek has been selected to play for England in the forthcoming Euro and World Championship competitions. She was one of two top winning girls to get a place on the team.
As a member of the England team for the 2023 British Internationals, Hannah will play in venues up and down the country as well as in other countries including Austria and Denmark. The team is made up of women, men, girls and boys all playing in their own classes, competing for prestige and cash prizes.
Hannah’s interest in darts was fired up during lockdown and encouraged by her dad, a former darts player himself. “We’ve got a dartboard, I’ll give it a go,” Hannah thought and with that she was able to enter her first Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) competition for 10-18 year olds after the lockdowns ended. Hannah’s brother also plays so it looks to be something that runs in the family. “My dad is very proud of me and my brother is doing really well so I’m following in his footsteps.”
The junior competitions and Grand Prix are initially played mixed with boys and girls competing together. Hannah was the first girl to make the JDC final and then into the girls’ team which plays separately from the boys. After this there are slight differences in the format between boys and girls. This can also result in differences in prize money. “It’s a bit devastating as we all pay the same entry fees,” said Hannah.
The next stop for Hannah is playing in Skegness in April and onwards to Vienna, Austria in July and to Esbjerg in Denmark in September.
Whilst currently concentrating on playing well and progressing in the Euros, World Championships and tours, Hannah says that she wants to take up the sport professionally. “My aim is to be play at the Alexandra Palace as a professional, to be as great as the legendary Eric Bristow.”