Michael Hammond has dedicated the biggest win of his career to his late grandfather.

Hammond, from Brighton, is celebrating a 2-1 victory against Ryan Gowans (Dorset) in the national under-18s final at Cinderford, Gloucestershire.

He said: "I want to dedicate the win to my grandad because he did so much for me.

"He used to drive me around the country to matches.

"He was one of my biggest supporters.

"I miss him and when he passed away it really affected my confidence.

"Confidence was something I'd never had a problem with before that.

"But it all came surging back in the final."

Hammond, 17, is an England junior international who has won bronze medals in the pairs and team events for England at the European Championships.

But he rates his success against Gowans as the pinnacle.

He said: "I've achieved a lot but this has to be No. 1 because it is the first time I've ever won the national individual crown."

Hammond's confidence started to grow when he defeated defending champion Lee Simcox (West Midlands) in the last 16.

He said: "That was a huge boost. I had never qualified for the event before but to know I was capable of beating the champion made me feel I was in with a chance of winning the whole thing."

He held a psychological advantage over Danny Whitbread and that paid off with a 2-0 semi-final victory against the Hertfordshire player.

Hammond, who plays for Sussex juniors and seniors, said: "I'd beaten him in a county match and I believe he was more concerned about who he was playing than the board."

He was able to maintain his form despite a spirited challenge from Gowans in the final.

Hammond, who plays in the Sussex Super League, said: "It was nip and tuck for the first two legs but I hit a big score in the third and he collapsed.

"I don't suffer from nerves while I am playing.

"The butterflies are there before the start but they disappear the moment I throw my first dart.

"The adrenalin really started to flow especially when I hit that big score."

Victory sealed his place in the World Youth Championships in Bridlington later this year.

He said: "I didn't do that well the last time I played in that event but my national victory makes me feel I can go all the way and win it this time."

He scraped into the competition by one day.

He said: "I'm 18 on October 25 and the competition runs from October 21 to 25."

Hammond made it a title double at Cinderford with victory in the southern under-21 team event.

He combined with James Greenfield, Dan Godden, Andy Stanford, Carl Minter, Craig Dainty and Darren Hoofe to claim glory.

Stanford, 20, from Worthing, won the singles crown for his age group.