Sheppey’s top darts players will be hoping home advantage counts as the 13th Classic hits the Island this weekend.

Island player Paul McDine was beaten by Maidstone’s Barry Knight in last year’s final and Geoff Harkup lost out at the same stage in 2009.

Organiser Tony Cox believes a home favourite will win Kent’s biggest darts competition one day and Eastchurch youngster George Cressey is being tipped to be that player.

Cressey, 99 in the BDO rankings, is a former Sheppey Classic youth finalist.

Cox said: "Paul McDine will be hoping to go one better this time.

"Local boy George Cressey is doing well on the BDO circuit and hopefully he can come along as well.

"George is 18 and has got a good chance of winning. He has got a lot of experience.

"He’s met the top players already so he won’t have any fears about meeting them in the Sheppey Classic. He’s not won anything notable but he’s knocking on the door.

"Several players have a good chance from the Island.

"Unfortunately, I don’t have a clue who is in it because they leave is so late to enter and that is disappointing."

Read the full story in the Sheerness Times Guardian.