DARTS legend Bobby George says that Basingstoke’s Mark Petchey could go all the way in a competition to find Britain’s best amateur player.

Winklebury window cleaner Petchey is gearing up for the final stages of the John Smith’s People’s Darts competition, which will be played at Lakeside – the sport’s most prestigious venue.

Part of his prize for winning the south-east preliminary stage was a coaching session with George at his local pub, The Royal Oak in Worting Road – and the former world finalist was impressed by what he saw.

“Bobby seemed to think that I have a chance if I am able to hold my nerve and play my own game,” Petchey said. “He has seen some of the other players and thinks I might win, which is quite encouraging.

“It was a brilliant night and I really enjoyed it. It was a dream come true to have a coaching session with Bobby George. I have followed him since I was a kid so to get that chance was unbelievable.

“He spoke to me for an hour and gave me a few tips. He had watched me at Lakeside in the qualifiers so he saw what I was doing wrong and tried to help me rectify things.

“I did not beat him, which is something I wanted to do. I had five darts at a double to win and should have beaten him but the nerves got to me a bit.”

Petchey won seven matches to reach the last eight and will compete for the title just hours before the World Professional Darts Championship final, which is played at Lakeside, Frimley Green, in early January.

He will have to win three matches to claim the title and a prize of |sponsorship to play some of the British Darts Organisation’s big |tournaments next year, and the 45-year-old plans to give it his very best shot.

“I have upped my practice to three hours a day and intend to keep it up over Christmas,” Petchey said. “This is my one big chance so I’m going to give it everything.”

After coaching Petchey, George played ten other locals, winning every game except one – where he threw second and attempted to match his opponent’s score.

Jim Croft, landlord at The Royal Oak, said: “It was the best night I have had at the pub. There were 70 or 80 people there, which was the perfect number because the pub was full but not really crowded. We had a good laugh and everyone really enjoyed it.”