Terry Hayhurst

Terry Hayhurst is a top ranked Professional Canadian Dart Player. Born in Brantford, Ontario, he has risen on the Canadian Dart circuit, and is rated No#1 in Canada. He is recognized as one of the best in Canada by NDFC (National Dart Federation of Canada). His accomplishments include winning the Canadian nationals in 2009, and the Canadian Open in 2010. He has represented Canada overseas, and most recently competed in the BDF World Cup in Ireland, and British Open, in Hull, England.

Early life

He started his life's journey at the age of 7. Hayhurst's family involved him into baseball at a young age, seeing his natural hand/eye co-ordination and thinking that he would become a professional baseball player. Hayhurst was one of the best players in the inter-county league for AAA ball. He then widened his range making the 2nd overall draft for the 2000 junior Olympics held in Hamilton, Ontario. He represented his country in the Olympics at the age of 15. Canada lost in the semi finals to Cuba. In 2000 was he entered a Canadian pitching contest and came out on top throwing a ball at 93 mph down "The Pipe". The Seattle Mariners had their young prospect in the site. Hayhurst went on to trying out for the Welland Thunder Cats Junior team in 2001. Being only the age of 1 in this year. the absolute minimum was 21 years of age for the cut. Welland excepted his tryout, knowing that he was ineligible to make the cut, but made the cut. At this specific tryout they had a scout from a league called the mickey mantel baseball league. This league consisted of the elite players throughout the country aged at least 18, with the exception of Terry. Team Canada would travel in the off season, being in the winter months, to South America and play against all the elite teams there. They had major league coaches, trainers, and facilities to practice in, in Florida and California. Hayhurst agreed to the tryouts. Upon his first tryout, near the end he was asked to come back for the rest of the weeks tryouts. Prior to this particular season, Hayhurst's family had suggested that he played darts during the winter to keep him competitive for the summer. He thought this would be aid the maintenance of his hand/eye co-ordination, so he agreed. He was 11 years of age at that point. He credits his ability with his parents (Jeff Hayhurst & Sherri Hayhurst) and his earlier sport, baseball. On the last day of his tryouts Hayhurst was told that he was already picked 2nd overall draft for the elite team. He was told that he was going to be an under draft for the Mariners and that the organization was putting him through training and private schooling. He mentioned to the coach that he was playing darts and that he enjoyed it so much that he wasn't ready to stop. Hayhurst had already been to the Canadian National Championships 4 times, winning 11 out of 12 gold medals possible. The coach told him there would be no room for extracurricular activities. Hayhurst denied what was to be, an $8,000,000 rookie signing contract when he turned 18.

National Title

Hayhurst was the youngest junior darts player to win a national title, at the age of 12. From that point on he represented his Province at the Canadian Nationals, 8 consecutive years, winning 7 consecutive provincial titles. The provincial champion then went on to win 5 more National singles titles and ending his junior career, winning the first triple crown in the youth in his home town. His Youth gold medals were 5 National singles, 8 National doubles titles, 2 National mixed doubles titles, 8 National team titles, 8 Canada cup titles and 11 qualified world championships. At the age of 15 Hayhurst started to travel to the United States to gain early international experience. The USA Darts Classic was his first big win. He was there representing Canada in the Canada-US face off when he decided to play in the adult part of the weekend. This was during the same weekend as the ADO National 501 Championships. He won his first adult major singles title there. At 19 years old, Hayhurst recorded another record as being the youngest to win the Dominion National double in/double out Championships. Reaching the Dominions requires 4 qualifying weekends, with approximately 12 people per section, with 4 sections and only 1 making it through each section. The format comprises playing each person in the section 1 game of 501 double in/double out, and the start is decided by the flip of a coin. At the Dominion finals the format changes to 3 games, and total points wins the title. In 2004 Hayhurst was persauded to go to the PDC tier 2 tournament held in Montreal, Quebec called, LE Scratch OPEN, by his hometown friend Clive Eynon (Canadian PDC REP. and bulls eye news editor and REP ). Clive set up an exhibition for Hayhurst at the British isle show held at the Exhibition place in Toronto, Ontario with a PDC professional caller Russ Bray, when Phil Taylor was unable to show. Fan 590 and Hotshots both did interviews with the two of them. The format of play at Le Skratch is as follows- 12 players per section, play each player 5 games, total points calculated, top 4 to go through to first round knock out. Hayhurst made his knock out section in the last spot, 4th place. Mick Manning was his first round draw. That year Mick was ranked in the top 32 in the PDC world ranking. The match went right to the final leg being the first player to win 6 legs/games for the match. Hayhurst won the match 6-5, knocking Mick out in the first round. Don King from Toronto, Ontario and friend of Terry's, was the his competitor in the second round. Hayhurst won the match 6-0. Now was the final 16 players for the tournament and yours truly was still in. Hayhurst's next match was against Terry Jenkings from England. Hayhurst won 6-0. In the quarter finals Terry Hayhurst was against John. The match started with John taking an early lead 2-0. Despite this Hayhurst won. He threw almost a 98 average to defeat the reigning world champion 6-2. Semi-finals was up next and Hayhurst was due to take on Colin "Jaws" Lloyd. Colin defeated him 6-3, winning the $5,000 1st place prize.

In May 2009, Hayhurst had his first NDFC Canadian Adult National Championships. Bernie Miller was his final opponent on his route to winning the 2009 Nationals in Quebec. From that day on, for the 2009/2010 season, Hayhurst held the #1 position for 12 months, winning 9 of 10 recorded tournaments guaranteeing a spot for 2 years representing Canada at the BDO World Masters in Hull, England. Terry also secured a position on the WDF World Cup team in Castlebar, England.

Current ranking

Terry is currently ranked

References

    National Dart Federation of Canada World Dart Federation

    British Darts Organization

    World Darts Federation

    External links