Darts / Editor / 06 November 2008 /

Betfair caught up with darts world number five Terry Jenkins to talk about missed opportunities, Phil Taylor's practice regime, dealing in antiques and paying for a gym membership he never uses.

Hi Terry - we see you're seeded seventh for the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam next week - how are you feeling?

Not too bad actually. I've just been to Ireland and won a tournament in Killarney on Sunday so my form is pretty good. I was a bit disappointed with getting knocked out of the European Open in the first round in Germany last week, but I did play well again even though I lost.

So what's the practice schedule for the next few days?

I don't think you can do anything much now, not this close to the event, and especially such a big one where it's all live on ITV4. It is the weeks before you have to practice. To be honest I don't do that much now anyway - there are so many competitions and you are away every weekend. That amounts to most of your practice to be honest. I just do a couple of hours at home every now and then, but I don't think you need to do that much any more.

So do you go in for lifting weights in the gym and jogging like some of the younger players?

Well I have joined the local gym, yes. I've been there five or six times I suppose, but I've just not had the time to go back there really. I should have gone this week but just haven't made time.

They catch us like that - we do the induction and start paying the money every month but never go!

That's right. If I'm not careful the only pounds I'll lose will be out of my wallet! Seriously I do plan to get into it. I want to go there every other day or something. I've got to make myself do it because you have got to keep fit to stay at the top of this game now. You need to get your mind right, and if you are physically fit you can concentrate more and for longer. The standard is getting higher so you have to. Mind you it's not easy - every weekend you are away, drinking and eating all the wrong sort of stuff. It's hopeless really, it's such an unhealthy lifestyle

You've not brought in an Arsene Wenger style dietician yet then?

No, I think I ought to though! It's a lot to do with keeping your mind and your body sharp

You must get fed up being reminded about five major finals and no title. But we're going to do it anyway. How do you solve that problem?

I don't think there's anything to solve, really. I've played well in all of them to be honest. I've just been unlucky. I felt that I should have beat James Wade in the Matchplay, but he beat me fair and square in the Grand Prix. I missed too many doubles.

The margin of error is pretty small?

That's it, the difference between a treble twenty or the five or one is just a bit of wire. But if you asked the average player if he'd like to be in five major finals within 12 months he'd take that. To be honest I'd settle for that again for next year right now if I was offered it.

Phil Taylor is still the man dominating the sport. Can anybody close the gap?

His game is better - he's more consistent than anybody else, but then he puts a lot more practice in than anybody else. He's going to be like that. But he is still beatable - that was proved last year because he got beaten four or five times in big tournaments. You've got to get in front of him, though. It's no good letting him control the game because if you do that he will murder you. If you can get in front of him he starts cracking the same as anybody else.

Tell us a bit about yourself. We gather you used to deal in antiques.

Used to - well furniture mainly. My dad has always done it since I was six or seven years old, so it was just something I grew up with and then got interested in myself. I started off doing auctions with my dad, and then some of the stuff used to go ridiculously cheap so I thought I'd get a shop. We used to do clearances and removals. It started really well so we just kept going for six or seven years until the darts took over.

So what's the best bargain you ever got?

I don't know if I can say that, but there were a good few. I've got a lot of pictures now that I collect, and I've had some good bargains off them. I've bought those for myself really. I couldn't say I've got a favourite artist - every picture is different. You can have something by one painter that you like and something else he's done you don't. I just buy the stuff I like. I've got some quite good ones

You have Woolly Bully as your walk on music. Coming from Ledbury does that mean you are a Wolves fan?

No - it's quite a long way actually - at least an hour's drive. I'm one of the few people left in the world that doesn't follow football at all!

And we notice your darts are completely smooth

I've never really liked grooves on the darts - I can't see the point on them. I can't see that improves your grip. My darts might be smooth but I think I have more grip on my darts than anybody else. It's like slicks on a racing car - the more surface that's touching the road the grippier they are. People say you need the grooves if your hand is sweating and wet - like wet weather tyres again - I sound like Lewis Hamilton - but I find it the opposite way round, if your fingers are dry that's when they slip. It's good to stay a bit tacky!

We won't comment on that! But we will offer you a free £50 bet in aid of your favourite charity to say thanks for your time

I do a lot for the Air Ambulance in Hereford and Worcestershire. All the miles you drive you're always aware of accidents, and they save people's lives. Like I say I'm not a big fan of other sports, but living in Ledbury on the borders I'm told Wales are playing South Africa at rugby this weekend, and I'll take a chance and back them to win at [3.2]

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