First time Singles Darts Champions.

Australia has two new singles darts champions after a great day’s action at St Aildes Hall in Launceston were the standard was exceptional.

13 year old Tiarna Smith (right) from country Queensland became the new Australian Youth Girls Singles Darts Champion. Heading to High School this year, Tiarna defeated a very strong field of girls including 2011 Australian Youth World Cup representative Jade Whitworth in the semi finals. Smith defeated another up and coming player in 14 year old Tori Kewish from Hobsons Bay in Victoria in the very high standard final 3 - 1. The final started with two nervous girl’s playing in match like either had ever played in before. Kewish was away first and was down to the double first taking the leg with D2. The second leg saw both girls’ settle into the match. Darts were now straighter giving better scores. Smith hit D6 with 1-dart to level the final. The third leg saw Smith throw three scores of 100 to give her a chance to break against the throw. Kewish was not far behind having hit some big scores of her own. Kewish had 12 left when Smith finished from 12 to inflict a crucial break. Kewish needed to break back strait away or the final would be gone. She was throwing well and managed be in finishing range first. She wasted a couple of shots trying to finish from 50. This let Smith get closer to the finish. She had a chance when having 56 left. She made no mistake requiring just 2-darts to clinch the leg and the title.

There did not appear to be much disappointment for Tori Kewish as I am sure she was extremely proud of what she had achieved. She is only 14 years of age and has the opportunity to represent Queensland againover the next few years so there is still an opportunity there for her to win the title. Kewish accounted for Tasmanian Shannon Perry 3 – 2 in a top class semi final. The future looks great for these young players for many years to come.

Semi Finals Scores
Tori Kewish (VIC) defeated Shannon Perry (TAS) 3 – 2 (Above)
Tiarna Smith (QLD) defeated Jade Whitworth (QLD) 3 – 0 (Below)

Quarter final scores:
Tori Kewish (VIC) defeated Jordan Clarke (WA)
2 - 0
Tiarna Smith (QLD) defeated Margaret Cooper (VIC) 2 - 0
Jade Whitworth (QLD) defeated Rebecca Franks (QLD) 2 - 0
Shannon Perry (TAS) defeated Kara King (QLD)
2 – 0

The Girls qualified for the quarterfinals by either topping the six-player ‘pool’ or placing second. There were four ‘pools’ and each player in each ‘pool’ played a round robin against all players in that ‘pool’

Congratulations Tiarna Smith – Australian Singles Champion

Tyson Hoefel, 17 year old from Rockingham Western Australia is the new Australian Youth Boys Singles Darts Champion. Representing WA for the second time at Australian Championships Hoefel played his best darts on the final stage today to claim his first Singles title. In an outstanding final played by both players, equal to a seniors final, Hoefel defeated Victorian Harley Kemp 4 – 2. This is Hoefel’s second Australian title having won the Australian Doubles in 2011. In the semi finals he defeated South Australia’s 2010 Australian Singles Champion Phillip Stuart 3 – 1.

As mentioned earlier the final was enthralling. Kemp was away first. He threw some great scores to take the first leg with a 2-dart 87 finish. He continued his good scoring but Hoefel outscored him in this leg to 2-dart finish from 48 for a 17-darter. Leg three and a 180 by Kemp gave him the advantage. He finished off 20 with 3-darts to go up 2 – 1. 100 and 123 to start the leg was not enough to give Kemp the advantage in leg four. Hoefel was on fire hitting big scores continuously. Another 17-darter this time finishing from 40 2-darts. Hoefel continued to fire in leg five, hitting 100,140,100,99 but missed the 62 finish next shot. Kemp had a couple of wayward darts trying to finish from 86 to leave 50. Hoefel finished from 16 for his third 17-darter to inflict the first break of the final and to be one leg away from the title. Hoefel again put in the big scores to start the leg. Kemp was going with him. Hoefel had 82 left after 15 darts, while Kemp was back on 138. The nerves hit about now. After 9 more darts Hoefel still had 16 left. Kemp had messed up as well having 7 left. Both had the chance to claim the leg. It was Hoefel with one more dart at D8 gave him the leg and a 4 – 2 victory.

Great frustration for Kemp. This is his last year in Youth competition for the 17 year old and to have lost the final for the second year in a row is so disappointing after coming so close twice to winning the title. In another thriller of a match Kemp defeated Queenslander Jamie Rundle 3 – 2 in the semi.

Semi Finals Scores
Harley Kemp (VIC) defeated Jamie Rundle (QLD) 3 – 2 (Above)
Tyson Hoefel (WA) defeated Phillip Stuart (SA) 3 – 1 (Below)

Quarter Final Scores
Harley Kemp (VIC) defeated Billy Egan (NSW) 2 - 0
Phillip Stuart (SA) defeated Corey Cadby (TAS) 2 – 0
Tyson Hoefel (WA) defeated Ben Justice (QLD) 2 – 0
Jamie Rundle (QLD) defeated Matthew Francois (VIC) 2 - 0

Congratulations Tyson Hoefel – Australian Singles Champion