Reporter Richard Gurner tries his hand at darts

Reporter RICHARD GURNER was invited by Sky Sports to go head-to-head in a one dart bullseye contest.

Watch our man prepare for his big match above.

I'm no complete stranger to darts. As youngsters, my sports-mad brother Clive and I always used to play each other at the game in our bedroom and every time the world championships were on television we were glued to the set.

Darts has an appeal like no other sport in its simplicity and it is an appeal that's demonstrated by the packed-out Brighton Centre for the latest fixture in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts tournament.

It's a nationwide competition, held between February and May at different venues every week.

Televised by Sky Sports, it attracts a respectable worldwide audience along with the very best players in the world.

Promoting the fact they are broadcasting the tournament in high definition by giving me a “high definition experience”, Sky Sports invited me to go head-to-head with Daily Mirror journalist Mike Walters in a one-dart winner takes nothing closest to the bull contest.

Not known for its low-key approach, darts wouldn't be darts without a full walk-on to music and all its glitz and glamour.

But before I get to experience the big showdown with Mike, I had to get ready and prepare.

The tournament's sponsors Whyte & Mackay kindly offered the chance for me to have a coaching session with World Championship finalist Wayne 'Hawaii 501' Mardle.

Having a dartboard in my local pub, Chequers in Preston Street, Brighton, has meant I've played the odd game but on the big stage it is a different matter.

I met with Wayne, who before the Brighton showdown was lying sixth out of eight players in the league, on Thursday morning.

A relaxed Wayne, who has his nickname because of a fondness of wearing garish Hawaiian shirts on the oche, greeted me with a warm handshake.

We went into the slightly dark practice room set up in the Brighton Centre and I showed Wayne what I could do.

He was not impressed and told me: "You're throwing in hope. You're not supposed to push the dart but throw it aggressively."

After a few minutes of Wayne pointing me in the right direction, not literally you understand, I was feeling more confident with the my action.

But what about Wayne?

He said: “It's great to be in sunny Brighton. I'm looking forward to it, it's going to be a good night.

"There's a bit of apprehension although nerves will come closer to the game. I'll have three hours solid practice before definitely. I need that just to get ready for a match of this stature really.

"I'm sixth in the league out of eight which is not good but there's another eight weeks to go so there's time to pick up."

A few more throw of the darts and I was thinking I could certainly give the Daily Mirror's Mike Walters a run for his money – albeit with one dart.

The big moment on stage

But one thing was still eluding me and that was my nickname.

Wayne had 'Hawaii 501', the greatest ever darts player is called Phil 'The Power' Taylor and who could ever forget Eric 'The Crafty Cockney' Bristow.

Needless to say that office suggestions such as 'Limp Wrist' and 'Daft Taff' were not top of the favourites list.

Scratching my head I spent pretty much all of my time before the big show wrestling with different monikers.

'The Welsh Wizard'? Too clichéd, 'The Leek'? You must be joking. My usual creative flair abandoned me as I found myself walking into the Brighton Centre with absolutely nothing.

Before I knew it the Master of Ceremonies John McDonald had his pen in his hand and was taking my name down.

He asked me what my nickname was and before I knew it I blurted “The Gurner”. So there you have it I was officially Richard 'The Gurner' Gurner.

Once I was given my very own Sky Sports HD darts shirt, complete with the logo of my sponsor, The Argus, I really started to feel like a darts player.

I met my rival hack Mike and we exchanged pleasantries and I could tell he was after my blood.

One dart, one shot, could I make it? We were taken to the main playing arena and told to stand at the end of a red carpet where we would be marched to the oche by a very attractive lady.

My heart started pounding and my nerves got the better of me as I caught a glimpse of myself on the big screen.

Like a person who had never seen a camera before and feeling really self-conscious I gingerly waved to the crowd.

Getting to the oche and up on the big stage with the glare of the lights, I started to panic.

Mike was first up, as he was technically the visitor, and cool as a cucumber he took his place and bang.

He had hit a single five very close to the bullseye.

It wasn't looking good but I was sure I could do better. As I took my place my usual cool-headedness was nowhere to be seen.

What was seen though, by the thousands in the audience, projected on the screen was my right hand shaking.

Wayne's advice was racing through my mind but as the dart left my hand I knew it had all gone terribly wrong.

I hit single 17 and not only did I let myself down and the good name of The Argus, I felt bad because I let Wayne down.

Richard can't hide his disappointment

Oh well, it was only one dart and a meaningless game. It's not as if I was playing for £125,000 which the winner of the Premier Darts League would be walking away with.

I probably would have felt ten-times worse if I was playing for that kind of money and my loose dart had meant I'd blown it.

I hadn't done that badly anyway – according to some of the people in the crowd cheering me on.

Stuart Hopkinson, a 42-year-old publican from Kent, was at the 3,500 capacity venue with his darts team.

He said: “With one dart, up there on the TV to hit a bullseye is tough. You didn't do badly.”

Travelling with Stuart was 20-year-old Dan Bent, who was loving the intimate atmosphere that the Brighton Centre brought to darts.

Dan, who was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt in honour of Wayne Mardle, said: “Everybody has a great time at darts and it's a great venue here in Brighton. I try and follow the tournament around the country when I can but I always watch it on TV.”

Despite my shockingly poor display and my inability to win it for The Argus I have to admit I had a fantastic time.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's play darts!

• Sky Sports is showing the Whyte & Mackay Premier League exclusively live and in high definition every Thursday night.