The NZDC Junior and Youth Championships begin in Whakatane tomorrow, hosted by the Whakatāne Darts Club.

The tournament runs from July 13 to July 16 at Whakatāne War Memorial Hall, with 200 players, managers and parents representing 16 regions expected to attend.

Whakatāne Darts Club secretary Veronica Maru said the club was excited to host the event for the third time.

“With the club’s vision to promote the sport of darts, hosting this event allows our small sporting community to highlight the amazing sports that darts is,” she said.

Juniors aged 9 to 12 and youth aged 13 to 17 will compete over the three days.

Juniors coach Charles Maru said two of the Whakatāne club competitors, Jadine Black and Tyrone Ford, would be ones to watch.

“Jadine wants to chase big tournaments where she travels overseas and one day plays on the big screen.

“Tyrone, with the skills he’s picked up from the past year, has seen his game improve. His performance so far gives him the confidence to feel it could be a potential battle with the top people at the junior nationals,” Maru said.

The club also have several new players, all juniors, who are excited about the tournament

To prepare, Whakatāne hosted a Region Junior and Youth Dart Camp for all young players in the Bay of Plenty to meet, upskill and increase their knowledge of the game.

Players, parents and supporters will attend an opening tomorrow, with play beginning on Sunday with the junior pairs and youth singles. Junior singles and youth pairs are on Monday and on Tuesday, the junior singles and youth pairs will compete.

Maru said everyone was welcome to attend the event.