Hoo’s Calum Cowburn ensured there was a Kent winner as former world champion Rob Cross took on allcomers at a builders warehouse on Tuesday.

In between rows of timber, 2018 World Darts champion Cross was throwing darts at the Selco Builders Warehouse to promote the new branch on the Medway City Estate.

Members of the public were challenged to beat his six-dart total with nine throws and prizes were up for grabs.

Top prize went to 24-year-old Cowburn, after he pipped Surrey’s James Ralph (225) with a score of 285.

A steady stream of hopefuls lined up to take on the Kent professional and it was nine-year-old Drake Porter and his younger sister Scarlett who had Cross reeling.

When Drake scored 125 with his first three darts the Pembury-born professional declared “I’ve been stitched up!”

The youngster from Sittingbourne went on to score 197 to beat Cross’ total and win a T-shirt. Sister Scarlett, eight, also impressed with 103 on the board.

Congratulating the siblings, Cross said: “I just hope I’m retired when they grow up!” Both are members of the East Kent Darts Academy and certainly impressed the professional.

Cross was all smiles throughout the session, happy to meet and greet the fans that came along to have a bash at beating a top-class player.

Selco have been official partners of the Professional Darts Corporation since 2019 and Cross has previously helped out at the Orpington store. He doesn’t mind the break from competing. He had just returned from a European Tour event in Germany and was heading for Barnsley next in the Players’ Championship.

“I really enjoy meeting people and it’s nice that so many people are interested in me,” he said.

“Whether you’re good, or bad, it’s something you can have a go at. I remember starting out as an 11-year-old and by the time I was 13 I could throw a decent dart. Once I got to 15 I was hitting the 180s on nearly every leg and started to think I had a bit of a talent.”

Cross still took a while to commit to the sport, qualifying as an electrician and not going full-time until his mid-20s. His trade background earned him the nickname Voltage.

“I’ve been there when I’ve had to be up at 4.30-5am for work and I know what it’s like,” said the pro. “It’s just nice to now give a little something back.”

Those queuing patiently for the chance to play him certainly appreciated the opportunity. Josh Wise, from Gillingham, was the first to toe the oche and made a decent start, hitting 98 from his first three darts and beating the world’s top-10 player 164-154.

“It was great to come down and get the chance to play Rob,” he said.

“I faced Phil Taylor before and did really bad but I’ve been practising and throwing well.”

The three workers from Dudrich Holding Ltd were taking time out from their garage maintenance job and it was Ralph who bettered his colleagues Graham Kingsnorth from Chatham and Maidstone’s Jay Murray, holding the lead until Cowburn showed his class.

Wainscott resident William Penniall, 27, enjoyed the moment and hit 185. The lorry driver said: “I play a bit but this was an opportunity that doesn’t come around every day and it was my day off so I came down.”

Once the queue died down, there was time for young Alex Gethin to have a throw, enjoying a trip out of the office while on work experience on the KM sports desk. For him, and senior colleague Luke Cawdell, it was more about the taking part than the score!