PONY-tailed stalwart Dennis Smith is Terry Jenkins’ first opponent in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Jenkins is seeded fifth for the Professional Darts Corporation competition and will be aiming to banish last year’s painful memory.

The 45-year-old, from Ledbury, fell at the first hurdle to 21-year-old qualifier Kirk Shepherd who went on to reach the final where he lost to Canadian ace John Part.

But ‘The Bull’ has picked up this season and enjoyed a tremendous run in last month’s Grand Slam of Darts, only falling to Phil Taylor in the final.

Berkshire-based qualifier Smith, 39, reached the championship last four in 2000 and boasts a unique, measured throwing action.

The championship begins on Friday, December 19, at Alexandra Palace, London.