Jonny be good....
JONNY CLAYTON will take a night off from delivering food for the vulnerable to try and deliver the goods on the oche. The World No.16 Welshman has become a key worker for Carmarthenshire council making sure the self-isolating get their shopping during the coronavirus crisis.
However, he will resume his lucrative hobby of darts in the Unibet Home Tour online streaming event.
Known as the Ferret from his rugby days, he revealed: “I’m still on call for work. Instead of my full-time job as a plasterer for the council, now they have got us doing food runs for the vulnerable and self-isolating.
“The council have just got all their staff together, all hands to the pump as it were, and making sure people are safe and getting food.
“It’s been really rewarding. The elderly folk are really pleased to see us turn up, times are hard for everyone right now.
“It’s good to be doing a nice thing. As I understand, supermarkets donate food to the council’s Meals On Wheels department and they sort it out into food packages. It’s like they have extended that department during this crisis.
“I’m on a rota system so I work when my wife doesn’t. She’s a nurse in the offices, so it’s a big time for both of us. But then it’s a big time for everyone.”
Clayton kicked off 2020 in epic fashion, beating Michael van Gerwen in his first TV match of the year at the Ladbrokes Masters in Milton Keynes - before hitting a nine-darter at the UK Open in early March.
But he admits that the pandemic has flushed his momentum down the pan, adding: “I started off the year pretty well. Don’t get me wrong, my floor tournaments weren’t the best. But my TV performances were really good. I beat Michael (Van Gerwen) and got a nine-darter, I felt I was going in the right direction for a big year.
“You build confidence obviously and this has put a stop to it. How dare coronavirus do that to me!
“Seriously though, sport is sport. Nothing is guaranteed. I personally think I’m more than capable of beating anyone with a bit of luck and consistency.
“If everything sits in place, I know I can get results in any tournament. But nothing in sport is set in stone so you need to keep going and battling.”
Clayton, has racked up over £250,000 in prize money in two years as an oche part-timer. He said: “I just play in my spare room, that’s where my dartboard is. So I’ve no had anything special to do to get set up for playing live at home.
“I’m not a massive practice player, I’ve not got any routines. So basically I don’t know how to take this Home Tour event. Hopefully I do well and make a name for myself. It’s a weird feeling to be doing this live in my spare room.
“I just find darts a weird sport. If you are on form you can beat anybody but if you’re not you could be the worst player ever. It just depends if you turn up on the night. That’s what I need to do on Friday night.”
