Will Myers is top of the North as Volts group stage ends on a high

VOLTS ROUND-UP – NORTHERN ENGLAND, MIDLANDS EAST, MIDLANDS WEST

After weeks of fierce competition, the first season of the JDC Volts is shaping up nicely following the conclusion of the group stages.

The regional finals will be played over the next two weeks, with players dreaming of stepping onto the stage at the World Grand Prix later this year, where the grand final will be played.

Northern England is the region with the most venues having been active during the first season of Volts action – and the race to secure a spot in the Northern finals was predictably fierce.

Will Myers led the way, topping the table with 88 points – two clear of Nathan Beeston. Another strong qualifier was a familiar name in JDC circles – Daniel Stephenson – who recorded the highest overall average in the North with 74.87.

Myers secured top spot by winning five events throughout the group stage, ending on a high with an event win and a semi-final appearance in Bridlington.

Beeston, who also won five events, goes into the regional finals in good form, having triumphed in the final event in Worksop, where he beat Charlie Curzon in the final.

The nature of qualification showed the importance of playing as many events as possible – and how every win counts.

Alfie Beasley, who secured the last of the 32 qualification spots on 30 points, did so by two points, getting over the line with a strong finish as he reached a semi-final and quarter-final in his last two events – both in Bridlington.

In Midlands East, Finlay Clayton topped the table by one point from Callum Mitchell – with Clayton clinching top spot by winning the last event of the group stage in Sutton Bridge. He secured his third event win of the season by beating George Fenn 3-1 in the final.

Mitchell had put the pressure on by winning the final Rushden event a few days earlier, beating Harvey Lucas-Carter 3-2 in the final.

One point further back was Ben Schiller, who was a beaten quarter-finalist in Soham in his last event of the group stage, while Addison Hefferon finished fourth but recorded the highest overall average (70.90) in the Midlands East group.

Jake Shipley was the runaway leader at the top of the Midlands West table, racking up a massive 116 points to finish 38 points clear.

He won six events, reaching a further two finals, and will be looking to build on a hugely successful group stage in the Midlands West final in Halesowen on July 12.

The battle for qualification spots was fascinating, with Cai Griffiths’ run to the Rugby semi-final in his last event of the group stage proving decisive as he qualified by virtue of legs difference. 

One player to watch in the Midlands West regional finals will be Hayden Ball, who booked his spot despite only playing – and winning – one event, the last event of the season in Rugeley last weekend. He also averaged a group-high 74.17.

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REGIONAL FINALS:

Midlands East – Rushden – Saturday 12 July

Midlands West – Halesowen – Saturday 12 July 

Northern England – Leeds – Sunday 13 July

Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland – Cork – Sunday 6 July

Scotland – Kirkcaldy – Sunday 6 July

South East England – Cray – Sunday 13 July

South West England – Bristol – Sunday 13 July 

Wales – Newport – Saturday 28 June