Mile High and Climbing joins Team Red Dragon…
Mark “Mile High”Hylton has been flying at a low altitude for 30 years in the sport of darts, but his trajectory has finally matched his ambition as the former airline cabin manager for Bmibaby reaches the darting stratosphere in 2011. He is nothing short of Mile High and climbing and he’s joined Team Red Dragon…
Hylton qualified for his first PDC World Championship in late 2010 and his 2011 began with a bang as he reached the third round of that competition defeating former World Champion Steve Beaton and former World Number 1 Colin Lloyd. He was only put out of the competition by another former World Champ; Mark Webster took his run all the way to the semis. Reaching the last 16 of the PDC World Championship on your first time of asking is no mean feat and bodes well for his ability to compete on the big stage.
After joining the PDC in 2010 Hylton’s darting flight path really was Mile High and climbing, his rise up the rankings has been nothing short of stratospheric, a fact that was recognised by the great and the good of the PDC with the best newcomer award at the January 2011 PDC award ceremony; a just reward for one man’s stellar achievements and already soaring ambition.
Mark “Mile High” Hylton is a new breed of darts player, a talented and intelligent man who could have chosen many paths on the flight to success. He was a handy Cricketer at club standard and his BA in English Literature ensures he can unwind with a penguin classic at the end of a gruelling day on the pro tour. He is also a popular presence on the exhibition circuit, his doors to manual routine and unusual throwing style - it looks like he is plucking an apple from a particularly high branch - has earned him a loyal following which is growing exponentially after every TV performance.
Since his award in January the Hylton 501 to Heathrow keeps on climbing. His results on the PDC professional tour keep improving. One highlight of the year was his successful darting foray into Austria; he reached pro tour quarter and semi-finals on consecutive days in Vienna, proving, in the words of ultravox, this means nothing to him… oh Vienna.
Mile High’s remarkable form has continued this summer with 5 successive wins over Brian Woods, Geoff Whitworth, Andy Jenkins, Andrew Gilding and Peter Wright in Bolton to reach his first Major televised quarter final at the UK Open.
Hylton’s next match sees him reach the dizzying heights at the top of darts. His opponent at the Winter Gardens Blackpool in the World Matchplay, second only to the World Championship in prestige; is defending Champ and 15 time Champion of the world Phil “The Power” Taylor.
It has become clear that Hylton’s steep flight trajectory has been leading up to this match, a match that many people consider the likeliest first round encounter to produce a shock. But would it really be such shock if Taylor was defeated? His form has been less than impressive the last year, and Mark Hylton’s form has been remarkable to say the least; it is his turn to prove that when it comes to darts, he is Mile High and climbing...
** Mile High’s Arrows will be available as soon as Mark is happy that the final design and performance are to his exacting feel and performance levels **