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WHEN Eddie Dootson fulfilled a long-held ambition as he became the latest thrower to secure a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) tour card, little did anybody know he'd soon be joined by another St Helens thrower in the shape of Alan Tabern.

They both graduated from Qualifying School, a pre-season tournament that this year attracted close to 450 entries over four days.

Their reward is to join Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting on the PDC ProTour for the next two years.

Tabern came through on day two at Wigan and as a former UK Open semi-finalist was a name many expected to recapture a Tour Card.

The 51-year-old left-hander began the day with a comfortable 5-0 win over Craig Reeves before needing a deciding final leg to overcome Darren Place.

Tabern then defeated Gary Eastwood 5-3 to move in to the last 32 where he beat Jamie Hughes 5-2.

A 5-3 win over Terry Temple followed before another deciding-leg victory, this time over Philip Borthwick, moved Tabern into the deciding match against Steven Kirkby, a game he won comfortably with a 5-1 to reclaim his Tour Card.

“I’m happy but I think of myself as someone who shouldn’t have to be qualifying to play the game,” said Tabern, the winner of four PDC ProTour events and a quartet of Challenge Tour titles.

“I’ve not been putting the hours in and now is the time to apply myself more.

“I’ve been on the fringes for a while now and you can relax a little more on the Challenge Tour, but hopefully this makes me try harder and practice more."