SWINDON’S Dennis Smith has secured his place on the PDC tour this year courtesy of an impressive showing at the PDC Qualifying School.

Smith along with fellow Swindon-based throwers Lee Evans, Kirk Shepherd, Andy McAllister and John Newland all headed to Robin Park, Wigan, for four days to try and secure their tour card for 2016.

Former PDC World Championship finalist Smith was able to accrue enough points to win a tour card, having won a single point on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to add to the nine points he secured on Thursday after losing out on an automatic tour card when he lost in the last eight to Ryan Meikle from Sussex.

Unfortunately McAllister, Newland, Evans and Shepherd returned empty handed after not accumulating enough points.

They will however be eligible for the Challenge Tour, UK Open Qualifiers and if the 128 entry isn’t achieved for the pro tour events Lee and Kirk may be offered the option to attend.

Smith, 46, was back in action yesterday when he joined fellow Swindon players Johnny Haines and Steve Willard and the rest of the PDC players, excluding the top 16 pro tour order of merit players, all trying to win places on the first two European Tour events to be played in Venray, Holland and Munich in February and March this year.

However, after winning his first round 6-4 against Darren Johnson, he lost in the second round to Stephen Buntings 6-1.

While Haines and Willard fell at the final round, losing to Gerwyn Price 6-5 and Darryl Gurney 6-2 respectively.