THE Hampshire Darts Open has stepped up another gear after securing an exciting partnership with an ambitious local business.

Southampton Renault dealer AutoPlanet has decided to add its weight to the popular darts tournament – the biggest one-day contest in the country – which was won by local talent Arron Monk this year.

The competition will have a prize fund of more than £2,600 when it is staged at Southampton’s Novotel on Sunday, May 29 next year.

Up to 500 pub, club, super league, county and international players are expected to take part in the AutoPlanet Renault Hampshire Darts Open.

Frank Branscombe, spokesman for Hampshire Darts Organisation who stage the event, said: “Since the first event back in 2000, the tournament has gone from strength to strength attracting players of pub and club standard right through to players more accustomed to playing in front of television cameras.

“We’re delighted to receive the backing of such a major local company and we’re already anticipating a record number of entries when registrations open early next year.”

David Scurry, general manager at AutoPlanet Southampton, said: “We’re very proud to be sponsoring one of the area’s top sporting events and hope our support can help it continue to grow.

“AutoPlanet Southampton, which offers a wide choice of new and used Renault cars and servicing, only opened earlier this year but we are already showing our support for the local community and hope this is the first of many projects we’ll be backing over the coming years.”

Entry forms will appear in the Daily Echo on the weekly darts page in the new year.