Suffolk darts duo Arron Fairweather and Brett Claydon head to Minehead this weekend with high hopes of doing well in the Coral UK Open, coverage of which will be shown on ITV 4.

Alongside the likes of darting big-guns such as Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld, to name a few, the Suffolk-based duo will hope to make their names in the competition, which starts this afternoon.

While Claydon qualified through the UK Open qualifiers in Wigan last month, performing admirably by beating the likes of 2014 Premier League Darts duo Wes Newton and Robert Thornton, Fairweather qualified as one of the 32 Rileys amateur qualifiers after winning the competition in Ipswich last weekend.

Both have never played on television, and this weekend will be one of the biggest stages they’ve played on in their careers so far – having mostly spent time playing in Suffolk’s Super League – for Leiston and Sudbury.

Ironically, the pair played against each other on Tuesday evening, and couldn’t be separated in a pulsating 4-4 legged draw.

Leiston-based Fairweather, 20, who works as a industrial cleaner at Sizewell A, is relishing the opportunity, having qualified through the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ – defeating six opponents along the way, including Barry Webb, who he beat 5-4 in an exciting final.

A former England youth player, Fairweather, who took out a score of 149 (T20 T19 D16) in the final, as well as a 170 (T20 T20 Bull) in the quarter-finals, said: “I can’t wait to play in the UK Open.

“To be mixing it among some of the stars I watch on television is on par with playing for England.”

In a straight knock-out competition, where the likes of Taylor and Van Gerwen do not enter until the third round, where the guaranteed prize money of £1,500 also starts, Fairweather will look to get off to a perfect start (approximately 2pm) with a first round match against the winner of a preliminary game between Dave Parletti and Bradley Williams.

“I’d like to win a few games, and just give it my best shot,” said Fairweather, who also competes for Suffolk, as well as playing alongside his dad Malcolm – who will be cheering his son on in Minehead – for the Sizewell Club on a Friday evening.

Suffolk compatriot Claydon, who has had a PDC-rank since 2012, qualified for the UK Open weeks earlier, having raised his game to beat two full-time professionals, and is looking to do the same this weekend.

“Beating those kinds of players gives you hope that you can go far in the game,” said the 32-year-old, whose nickname is ‘The Shredder’.

“It’s just about performing on a consistent basis, and the dream would be to win a couple of games and get drawn against one of the big players in the third round.”

Claydon is up against Joey Ten Berge in the first round (approximately 12.30pm) today, and both players could feature on ITV’s coverage.

The duo are also looking for sponsorship, please contact Fairweather on 07890 916931, and Claydon on 07912 933908 for more information.