Perseverance has paid off for new teenager Frankie

THEY say perseverance and practice pays off in sport and that is absolutely true where Frankie Stout is concerned.

Despite being a member of the Devon Youth squad for several seasons, he was often overlooked for a place in the team, but he never gave up on his ambition and desire to become a better player, coming home from his schooling at the Plymouth School of Creative Arts to practice on the dartboard every day.

He has been competing for the first time in Plymouth’s Monday Premier League for Firkin Scholar and although his team mates have been most encouraging, he has had little to shout about.

BIRTHDAY BOY: Five days before his 13th birthday, Frankie Stout put in arguably his best performance on the dartboard, playing a big part in his team's success.

But that all changed just five days before his first “teen” birthday, when he played a big part in the team’s 11-0 win against Bluebird.

He hit a top score of 135 in his treble before achieving a checkout of 102 in a 2-0 doubles victory.

The young marksman then went on to hit six ton plus scores in defeating Tony Reid 3-2 in the singles.

That fillip can only give him the encouragement he requires to make his way in the sport he loves so much.