WINDOW cleaner Mark Petchey is preparing to step up to the oche at darts’ most prestigious venue after reaching the quarter-finals of a national competition.

The 45-year-old, who lives in June Drive, Winklebury, Basingstoke, got through seven matches to win the south-east section of the John Smiths People’s Darts competition.

He will now play on the main stage at Lakeside, Frimley Green, hours before the final of the World Professional Darts Championship.

“Playing at Lakeside is a dream come true for me and I am really looking forward to it,” said Petchey. “I have only ever played in pub leagues and never done anything like this before.

“I am practising every day now, putting in a couple of hours every night to prepare for the big day.”

The John Smiths People’s Darts is an amateur competition and the south-east preliminary stages took place in a side room at Lakeside.

Petchey won seven matches, including two on the stage, to qualify for the next stage, which will see the last eight compete in the main arena at the Frimley Green complex just before the world final on January 10.

“I am over the moon to have done so well and have gone well beyond my expectations,” the Royal Oak player added. “I would have been happy just getting through the first round because I only took darts up again recently after 15 years out.

“I just kept getting through and ended up on the stage, which was really nerve-racking. I do not know how I got through it.

“I have got so far now that I do not see why I can’t win the whole thing. I have already beaten some good players and I must have as good a chance as anyone else going there.”

Should Petchey win in January, part of the prize would be sponsorship for a year to play some of the big British Darts Organisation tournaments, while he also has a training session with darts legend Bobby George coming up.

“Part of the south-east prize is to have a coaching session with Bobby George,” Petchey said. “That’s something else I am looking forward to because he is one of my heroes.

“Playing on the circuit would be another dream come true. I have always wanted to play darts but never had the confidence. Now my confidence is sky-high.”