TERRY Jenkins says he is planning to step away from the oche in less than three years’ time.
The Bull is one of the world’s leading darts players and has certainly put Ledbury on the sporting map.
“My wife would rather me be at home a bit more,” said the 47-year-old darts ace, who is ranked seventh in the Professional Darts Corporation’s Order of Merit.
“When I am 50, I have got to slow down. We’ve not had a proper holiday for ages.
“I have other interests in life and I don’t want to leave it too late so that I haven’t got time to travel and see the world a bit. I will play for another two or three years and that will be it.
“I think I would then play exhibitions and, if I was still in the TV tournaments, I would play them out.
“But I won’t go back to playing locally, I would rather have a game of cards or snooker in the pub.”
Jenkins used to work full-time, running a second-hand furniture, antiques, removals and house-clearance business with his brother.
“We had notice to quit and he bought me out. That was around nine years ago and that was the only reason I had a go at darts.
“The antiques stuff is good fun and I do miss it.
“I once bought an American car which we had to cut in half for a chap in Malvern who used to run pubs.
“The boot had to be bolted to the ceiling and the bottom was used for seating in an American theme pub.”
Jenkins hopes his success has inspired young people in Herefordshire.
“I hope it’s helped put Ledbury on the map,” he said.
“A lot of kids from a town like Ledbury think it’s hard to get anywhere. They think it’s only people from places like London who can get to the top of these sports.
“When they saw that ‘Terry who used to run the shop in Ledbury’ had done it, it shows kids that anything is possible.”
But Jenkins admits there’s still something he would love to achieve before putting away his arrows.
Major silverware has eluded Jenkins with Taylor denying him four times in finals, James Wade twice and Raymond van Barneveld once.
No other player has lost as many major finals without a victory as the Ledbury ace.
Jenkins added: “I would like to win a TV tournament but there are 200 brilliant players and eight competitions a year, so there can only be eight winners.
“We’ve had Phil Taylor in our era to cope with. He’s brilliant and there will never be anyone as good as him ever again.“My proudest moment is the first time I beat Phil, that’s why I joined the PDC.
“I went two years in the Premier League without Phil beating me, I beat him once and drew three times, and that was fantastic.”
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