Richardsons bid to earn a place on PDC ProTour

The 17-year-old from Rushden produced the highlight of his short career so far last week when he beat Ireland’s Jordan Boyce 3-2 to clinch the title in front of the live television cameras at Lakeside.

And he believes that has given him a perfect boost in confidence ahead of a gruelling four days of competition at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan.

Q School allows any darts player the opportunity to challenge for a full-time spot on the PDC ProTour.

Each day will see the last four players from the field of 400 win an automatic Tour Card, with ranking points allocated to other players based on finishing positions.

Following the completion of the four days, further Cards will be awarded based on finishing positions in the Qualifying School Order of Merit.

And Richardson junior, who celebrates his 18th birthday on Saturday, said: “I am feeling pretty confident for Q School after winning the title.

“Me and dad have been practising hard for it. The ideal outcome is for us to both get Tour Cards and that’s what we want.”

For dad James, who famously hit the headlines when knocking Raymond van Barneveld out of the PDC World Championship in 2012, the desire to get back on the ProTour remains as big as ever.

“I am really looking forward to it and we have been putting the hours in and practising hard,” he added.

“What Josh achieved last week is history now and this is a different kettle of fish. We both want to get on the Tour.

“My own form has been pretty good of late so I am feeling quite confident.”

If the Richardsons are successful at Q School, they will join Kettering’s Ricky Evans on the ProTour for this year.

Read the thoughts of Joshua and James Richardson after the former’s BDO World Youth title success in Thursday’s Northamptonshire Telegraph