Young Samantha Pike has made a little bit of darting history – becoming the first young woman to graduate from the Andover Darts Academy to Team Unicorn!
The 19-year-old, who had been playing for eight years, has already made a big impression in the world of youth darts and now she is hoping to graduate to the big league.
She follows hot on the heels of young Jack Warner, who has also just signed to Team Unicorn Generation 180, as the world’s leading darts manufacturer continues to invest in the future of the sport.
The new PDC Unicorn Youth Tour starts in Derby later this month, and of course, the PDC Unicorn World Youth Final between Michael van Gerwen and James Hubbard takes place at the O2 next month.
Samantha has been with the Andover Academy since 2006, but now she has graduated with flying colours!
Unicorn Managing Director Edward Lowy said: “I am so pleased to welcome our first lady graduate for the Unicorn Andover Academy to Team Unicorn.”
“What a force Sam has been in local and county and now increasingly in national competitions. She is a very dedicated young lady with tremendous composure on the oche.”
Mr Lowy added: “Congratulations to Glen, Mark and all at the Andover Academy for producing yet another talented player with a great future in the sport.”
Sam, who lives in Andover, has won her last 17 games playing for Hampshire Youth and she won both the singles and pairs titles at the British Inter-County Youth events played at the Lakeside last year.
And she has also played at the Masters, in both the youth and senior events.
There is no doubt that we will be hearing a lot more of Samantha in the next few years, as she takes the next step with the help of Unicorn.
By STUART PYKE