'Playing darts helps me overcome my dyspraxia'
Growing up, Jackson could not enjoy the simple childhood pleasure of riding a bike after being diagnosed with dyspraxia, a developmental disorder affecting balance and co-ordination.However, the 17-year-old says he has "amazed" doctors by becoming an accomplished darts player.Jackson, from Skegby in Nottinghamshire, says his passion for the sport began when his grandad gifted him a magnetic dartboard when he was three - and he has since gone on to win a world championship.He says practising and competing is helping him to overcome his ongoing condition.
His mother Jayne told the BBC: "He was into darts ever since he's been able to pick up one and throw it."When we told the doctor he played darts, she was amazed and I think if she saw him now, she'd be even more amazed with how well he's done despite his dyspraxia."Jackson said the condition still affected his "chalking" [adding up his score] but not his actual throwing - with his mother crediting the power of "muscle memory"."I think people are surprised when they hear I've got that condition but nowadays it's just kind of easy for me," Jackson said.In 2024, he won the International Disabled Darts Federation (IDDF) Youth World Championships and reached the semi-finals of the England Academy Masters. He has competed in tournaments in Scotland, Gibraltar and Germany, and has set his sights on qualifying for the Professional Darts Corporation to compete against the sport's elite.
Jackson says the key to his sucess are good form, the right set of darts and plenty of practice."Since Luke Littler's come on to the scene, a lot of people want to use his darts and his tips, which are 41mm tips," he said."Many people cant throw those, you need to find what works for you."His success led his parents to setting up King Darts Academy in Mansfield Woodhouse for children and young people, where they said Jackson's story had been an inspiration to other children.And Jackson has no issue with putting in the hours to reach the next level, spending up to seven hours a day honing his skills - and even more in the run-up to a tournament."I absolutely love darts so I just practice, practice practice," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Common prescription drug prevents heart attack and stroke WITHOUT deadly risk, scientists discover
A COMMON prescription drug has been linked to lower rates of heart attack and stroke - with no increased risk of major bleeding, say scientists. Low-dose aspirin is recommended by the NHS to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people who are at high risk of them. 1 Because aspirin helps to stop your blood from clotting, it can sometimes make you bleed more easily. For example, you may get nosebleeds and bruise more easily, and if you cut yourself, the bleeding may take longer than normal to stop. Now, a study published by The BMJ supports the use of P2Y12 therapy instead of aspirin for long term prevention. Giving the anti-clotting drug to patients with coronary artery disease was associated with lower rates of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke compared with traditional aspirin, with no increased risk of major bleeding. P2Y12 inhibitors are usually given to patients alongside aspirin after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) - a procedure to widen or unblock a coronary artery to help prevent cardiovascular events. After several months, patients are usually switched from dual therapy (both drugs) to lifelong aspirin, but some trials have suggested a P2Y12 inhibitor may be more effective for long term prevention than aspirin. So in the new study, researchers analysed individual patient data from five randomised clinical trials involving 16,117 patients who were assigned to either a P2Y12 inhibitor or aspirin after completing dual therapy. When they were followed up four years later, P2Y12 inhibitor therapy was associated with a 23 per cent lower risk of an outcome that combined cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke, compared with aspirin - with no significance different in major bleeding. When considering outcomes individually, P2Y12 inhibitor therapy reduced heart attacks and stroke compared with aspirin. The researchers said: "Overall, this study supports preferential P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy prescription over aspirin due to reductions in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events without increasing major bleeding in the medium term." Women vs. Men Heart Attack Symptoms But, they note "medium term efficacy does not necessarily extend lifelong, which is the duration we advise patients to continue these medications". To prevent heart attacks and strokes in patients with coronary artery disease, it's crucial to make lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and following a balanced diet. Smoking significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, so quitting is recommended. People should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week and choose a diet low in saturated and trans fats, high in fibre, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in salt. If you drink alcohol, you should do so in moderation. And practice relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or yoga, and find healthy ways to copy with stress. Seeing your doctor regularly for screenings and to monitor your heart health. And making sure you get enough sleep (seven to nine hours per night) is important. Various symptoms and warning signs can indicate heart disease, and being aware of them can help in early detection and treatment...
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Novak Djokovic produces masterful display to down Alexander Zverev at French Open - but now faces Jannik Sinner test in quest for 25th Grand Slam
Novak Djokovic produced a masterful display to defeat Alexander Zverev and move within two wins of a 25th Grand Slam title. Last year's finalist Zverev took the first set but Djokovic worked his way into the match, meticulously breaking down his opponent's gameplan to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The 38-year-old is a fading force, there is no denying it. In regular tour events, he has been pretty awful for the last 12 months. But his powers are not extinguished, merely dormant, and at the big events his force awakens. Djokovic is unbeaten at the French Open since 2022 - he won the title in 2023 and withdrew before his quarter-final last year with meniscus damage. Including his victory in the Paris Olympics, he was on a 16-match winning streak at this venue. On the hard courts, he is more vulnerable than ever to opponents who are faster, younger and more powerful. But on the natural surfaces of clay and grass his more subtle skills can predominate. At the age of 38, he knew he could no longer outrun Zverev, so he out-thought him instead. 'My way of playing is based on running but at my age its not so easy to run so much,' he said. 'I tried to impose my rhythm with one or two drop shots. 'Tonight is one of those reasons why I still keep playing.' For world No3 Zverev, this will have done nothing to dispel the accusations that he is too passive to win the big titles. While Djokovic played like an ageing Tiger Woods plotting his way around Augusta, Zverev was taking irons off the tee. The German, for all his massive serve and easy power, is a strangely passive player. He is happiest setting up camp a couple of yards behind the baseline and plugging away with his sublime backhand and more middling forehand. Djokovic, of course, is a natural counter-puncher himself, so the expectation for this match was for a marathon of baseline grinding. Instead, Djokovic got out his scalpel and dissected the Zverev game. He looked into his opponent's brain and snapped the synapses. He would begin the rallies patiently: no risks, just a few easy balls to soften his opponent up. Then he would throw in a slice backhand, a drop shot - he hit 36 of those - a serve-and-volley. When he approached the net, he would often angle his approach shorter in the court, forcing the deep-lying Zverev to stoop low to pick the ball up. The greatest returner of all time also increasingly began to read the Zverev serve. In the first game of the match the German broke, then rode that advantage to win the second set, taking 94 per cent of points behind his first serve. In the second that dropped to 70 per cent, to 65 per cent in the third and 76 per cent in the fourth. As Djokovic took control, the match was summed up by a sublime, 41 shot rally when Zverev had a break point at 3-2 down in the fourth set. Djokovic ran him all over the court, hitting two drop shots, two lobs and finally a passing shot. He needed five match points, but drop shot No36 finally killed Zverev off. As much as this was a triumph for Djokovic, it was an abject failure for Zverev. His gameplan is basically: hope his opponents overhit and hand it to him; if not, he hopes to grind them down - that's an awful lot of hoping and not much doing. So often in this match he found himself inside the baseline, going after a shorter ball. Here was a chance to attack, to rip that beautiful backhand and approach the net. But what if I miss the backhand? What if my opponent hits a passing shot? Better just head back behind the baseline - it's safe there. Enough with Zverev. Djokovic has passed his first real test of this tournament and now comes another huge step up against world No1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian has won their last three meetings and looks in sublime touch. Djokovic will likely have to use some of the same tools from this match - the slices, the serve-volley, the drop shots - but Sinner will be a far less passive victim. If we assume Carlos Alcaraz beats Lorenzo Musetti in Friday's other semi-final, then to win this title Djokovic will have to become the first man in history to win a Grand Slam by beating the No1, 2 and 3 seeds. It would be his greatest ever achievement, his crowning glory. He is one third of the way there.
BBC News
32 minutes ago
- BBC News
Villa interested in Sancho - Thursday's gossip
Aston Villa show Jadon Sancho interest, Newcastle make Burnley's James Trafford their top target and Liverpool consider Anthony Gordon Villa have become the latest club to show an interest in signing England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, from Manchester United following his loan at Chelsea. (Teamtalk), externalNewcastle United have made Burnley and England goalkeeper James Trafford, 22, their top target this summer. (Times - subscription required), externalLiverpool are not looking to sell Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 28, and have received no offers, despite reported interest from Barcelona and Saudi side Al-Nassr. (Times - subscription required), externalBut should Diaz leave, Newcastle's £80m-rated England winger Anthony Gordon, 24, is being seriously considered by Liverpool as a replacement. (Teamtalk), externalArne Slot's Liverpool could also compete with Arsenal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the 22-year-old Slovenia striker the subject of a £67m bid from the Gunners. (TBR Football), externalHarvey Elliott is most likely to join a Serie A club if the English midfielder, 22, leaves Liverpool this summer. (Football Insider), externalEverton would have to match Thierno Barry's release clause of 40m euros (£33.7m) to sign the French striker from Villarreal. (Teamtalk), externalChelsea are unwilling to pay the £25m AC Milan want for their 29-year-old France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. (Standard), externalBrentford will look to appoint Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna if current manager Thomas Frank leaves to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham. (Football Insider), externalWest Ham have contacted Club Brugge about signing 24-year-old Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika, but face competition from AC Milan. (TBR Football), externalManchester City and Barcelona have expressed an interest in Arsenal's 15-year-old English midfield prospect Max Dowman. (FootballTransfers), external
