A Royal Engineer from Shrewsbury has made history by competing in the final of the Army’s inaugural darts championship.
Lance Corporal Ashlee Hayward, 30, is a Digital Communications Technician with 32 Engineer Regiment based at Marne Barracks in Catterick. He competed in the championship following darts achieving Category 3 sport status earlier this year – the first time the sport has taken centre stage in the Army’s sporting calendar.
Inspired by Luke Littler’s rapid rise to the World Championship final, Lance Corporal Hayward only began playing competitive darts in recent years. Since then, he has quickly advanced from local round-robin tournaments to representing his unit on the national Army stage.
“It’s time where I can blank everything out in life for a moment and just concentrate on the game itself — no stress, no worry, just enjoying the darts,” said Lance Corporal Hayward, who also serves as Storeman of 26 Squadron DCT Troop.
Balancing military duties with his passion for the sport, he trains primarily through online games and matches with colleagues, focusing on the classic 301 double-in, double-out format — where players must hit a double to start scoring and finish on a double to reach zero.
“No matter how much you play or practice you can always be better — it just doesn’t stop, and it’s a game for everyone,” he explained. “I’m chasing that feeling of when I first hit a 180. I want the next best thing — a 170 or a high checkout — then hopefully a nine-darter one day.”
For Lance Corporal Hayward, the community element of darts has been just as rewarding as the competition.
“Everyone vouches for each other. If you pull up a big score or a good checkout, everyone watching — even the person you’re playing against — respects that you’ve done well.”
He encourages anyone curious about the sport to give it a try: “Just have a go. You have to bear with it for a while, but as soon as you see yourself hitting the board where you wanted it to go, it’s such a buzz. Then you’re chasing that feeling again.”
The championship marks a significant step in recognising the sport’s benefits for Service personnel — promoting wellbeing, teamwork, and competitive spirit across all trades and ranks. The sport’s accessibility and digital adaptability also make it ideal for modern service life, with personnel able to compete remotely through online platforms.
The next big event is the tri-service competition: Op BULLSEYE 2 with qualifiers starting in early 2026. The competiton is also open to Veterans. Details on Op BULLSEYE 2 is located on the Defence Darts Community Facebook page.
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