Andy Beardmore

Hometown – Leek
Qualified – Stoke

15 darts qualifying score – 423 points

Fact – Has represented England and plays on the BDO circuit. Plays for Staffordshire. Outside tip for progress.

Robbie Green

Hometown – Merseyside
Qualified – Stoke

15 darts qualifying score – 357 points

Fact – The UK Open is ‘the special one’ for Robbie. Member of the BDO and once made the UK Open quarter final in 2006.

Nickname: Kong. Walk-on music: King Kong by Big T Tyler

Paul Cartwright

Hometown – Oldham
Occupation – Speedy
Qualified – Stoke

15 darts qualifying score – 310 points

Fact – One of the biggest fans of darts, and travels across the UK to watch the PDC circuit.

He said: “Qualifying means I won’t have to pay for my tickets this year!”

John Jackson

Hometown – Eccles
Occupation – Speedy
Qualified – Stoke

15 darts qualifying score – 250 points

Fact – Finshed on double 10 to qualify and said he was nervous for a number of days before the Speedy Hire qualifying event in Stoke.

Kevin Simm

Hometown – Tilsey nr Bolton
Qualified – Stoke

15 darts qualifying score – 560 points

Fact – Scored the highest total from 15 darts than any other player across all of the Speedy qualifiers. Played county darts and also for England, and a member of the BDO. Most impressive qualifier of all, according to Speedy Hire

Brandon Walsh

Hometown – Doncaster
Qualified – Stoke

15 darts qualifying score – 445 points

Fact – The Prince of Style, Rod Harrington, is Brandon’s cousin!! The 2nd youngest qualifier from the Speedy Hire events.

Kirk Gordon

Hometown – Livingston
Occupation – Speedy

Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 232 points

Fact – Upon qualification, Kirk said: ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would qualify.’

Tommy Little

Hometown – Glasgow
Occupation – Speedy
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 217 points

Fact – Speedy Hire’s health and safety manager for Glasgow depot. Qualified on double one. After a few attempts at it!

Charlie Burns

Hometown – Edinburgh
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 534 points

Fact – 2nd highest 15 dart score overall. Plays for Silver Wing in the Edinburgh Darts League. Been trying to qualify for a competition like this for many years.

Ryan Murray

Hometown – Edinburgh
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 444 points

Fact – Qualified for the UK Open in 2010, playing Jason Clarke in the first round.

Gordon Foster

Hometown – Billingham, nr Middlesbrough
Occupation – Speedy
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 390 points

Fact – Made a seven hour round trip to get to the Speedy Hire Glasgow qualifier. Plays for the Smiths Arms in Billingham.

Danny Jones

Hometown – Haydock
Occupation – Speedy
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 231 points

Fact – Having failed to qualify from Danny’s nearest Speedy qualifier in Stoke, he made a seven hour round trip to Glasgow to have another shot two days later, eventually prevailing. There’s a moral in this!

John Donaldson

Hometown – Falkirk
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 364 points

Fact – A handyman and handy with the darts, although admits to: “Hands shaking like never before at the end of the Speedy qualifier.”

Duncan Hastings

Hometown – Falkirk
Qualified – Glasgow

15 darts qualifying score – 390 points

Fact – Only discovered the prospect of qualifying for the Speedy Hire UK Open when trawling the internet. His hero is Andy Fordham, whose book he has recently read cover to cover!