SWINDON darts player Johnny Haines will take part in the first-ever Austrian Open after making it through the qualifying stage this weekend.

Haines was competing in the qualifiers at the Barnsley Metrodome on Friday night, and beat both Robert Thornton and Tony West 6-2 to advance.

After making it through, Haines will play Kevin Painter in the first round of the event at Arena Nova which begins on April 27.

Fellow Swindonians Dennis Smith and Chris Aubrey also took part, but did not make it through.

Smith was given a bye in the preliminary round before losing 6-2 to William O’Connor, and Aubrey lost 6-3 to Ross Smith after also receiving a bye.

The trio remained in Yorkshire on Saturday and Sunday to compete in the fifth and sixth UK Open qualifying events.

Both Smith and Haines have all-but booked their places in the top 32 of the Order of Merit following superb performances in recent events, but both lost their preliminary round games on day one, with Smith going down 6-4 to Jamie Caven, and Haines losing 6-4 to Dave Honey.

Aubrey was given a bye to round one, but lost to James Hubbard 6-5.

The youngster also received a bye on day two, and ended up being drawn against mentor James Wade in the first round, but lost 6-2.

Smith fared slightly better on the second day, beating Ronnie Baxter 6-3 before losing 6-5 to Simon Whitlock.

Haines beat Gareth Pass in the preliminary round, before losing 6-4 to Michael Smith.