November 21, 2025 • 10 mins
Known as the 'power couple' of the local darts scene, top ranked NZDC darts players Caleb Hope and Nicole Regnaud are heading to the UK this week for the WDF World Championships.
They both spoke to Adam Cooper about their form through the year, and what they're expecting when meeting some of the world's best in the UK.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
From Junior Netborn at Hita to the Pulse at TSB.
We've got it covered on the All Sport Breakfast with
Rutherford and Von Toyota and King Toyota on News TALKSB
News TALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's thirteen to nine. Well, I think this is a
first for the All Sport Breakfast. We're getting a sporting
couple on the line together now, so we'll see how
it goes. They're known as the power couple of New
Zealand darts, Caleb Hope and Nicole Rego both number one
ranked players and then he said on Darts Council events.
Both play out of the Upper Hut Darts Association and
they're both about to head off on a big trip
(00:33):
to the UK. So we'll bring both Caleb and Nicole
and now morning to you both. Well you may as
well explain it, Cada, let us know the trip you're
about to embark on.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah. So fortunately enough myself and Nicole qualified for the
WDF World Championships in England, so we're heading off Tuesday
next week and get under a Sunday in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Time awesome, right, well just over a week away, so
Cadem Just so people are clear the WDF is that
separate to you what we see with the darts on
TV the likes of the PDC.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, so it's a separate organization. So wdf's the World
Darts Federation, whereas the Luke Litler's and the guys you
see on TV more often than not a part of
the PDC, which is a Professional darts corporation. So this
is a really good stepping stone to the to the
PDC in a way.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Right now, Nicole, I know you've had a fantastic Yeah,
you're in some great form You come into another WDF events,
another trip up there for you where your ranking is
pretty high, third overall in the world. How excited are
you to be taking on some of the world's best
while in the great formula in at the moment.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, it's been a really great year and I think
kind of peaking at the right time leading into the
World Champs. This will be my third year sheitting back
to Lakeside and to do it alongside Caleb, it's just
makes us so much more exciting. Yeah, I think we're
just both really looking forward to the experience and getting
to do it together as well as just even better.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, it's been key to your success this year. Nicole,
you must be pretty proud of of some of those
results you've been able to produce.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah, for sure. I think it's pretty good having like
a living practice partner who kind of pushes me to
practice harder and play a lot more than I probably
would have normally. So that's been a really big driver.
And yeah, just a lot more consistency, I think, putting
myself in some bigger tournaments, playing alongside the guys in
(02:33):
the dpn Z side of things, which is that stepping
stone to the PDC. So just kind of putting myself
in all of the different competitions, giving myself a shot
against the guys and those harder games, and it's just yeah,
it started to pay off, which is great.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, so you're living together and both top darts players.
Caleb tell us a bit more about that. Is that
a case of as soon as you're both home for
the day, you're straight to the darts board taking on
each other. I mean, how much time are you actually
spending practicing?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I normally wait for a nice hot cook meal before practice,
but no, we generally try and sneak a good forty
five minutes or an hour on the board most nights,
especially in the build up to heading away, and we're
both super competitive, so it makes for some really good practice.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
All right, Well, who's leading that form at the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Then I might have my nose in front, all right, Nicole?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Is he correct? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:30):
It's hotly contested, but generally as soon as Caleb wins,
I don't really want to play anymore, so he tries
to kind of keep it going as long as as
he can.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Okay, all right, Well, now you're both part of the
Upper Ut Darts Association. Can you tell us a bit
more about that, Nicole? How big is the sport of darts?
I guess not just within your Upper Art community there,
but in inn around Wellington.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Yeah, it's amazing. So my dad is the president of
Upper Art Darts and I've grown up around that community
since I've been playing since I was about eight or nine,
so it is really a huge family and it is
throughout Wellington as well. So I think everyone's just so
excited to see us do so well. They're always behind
us and all the tournaments we go to and they're
(04:09):
always keeping track of the results. So it's really exciting
to both be playing for the same club and heading
away to such a prestigious tournament. Yeah, it's really.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Exciting, kaylab I talked to Nicole before about her formerhead
of his trip. But yourself, you've been in some hot
form as well. Some of your results have been magnificent.
You've won multiple events including Opens and Auckland and Tartanaki.
So when you've got a huge task like this trip
to Lakeside, UK coming up, what is the key to
peaking at the right time and giving yourself the best chance?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Now?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, So basically the whole year's sort of just been
really consistent, and you know, early on I had a
goal to try and win my first tournament, let alone
go back to back with Taranaki in Auckland and also
have a couple of runner ups along a way, and
I think three or four semi finals this.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Year as well.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So it's certainly just been the time put in at
home and obviously, like we said earlier, just being able
to have that consistent practice, partner pushing each other, and yeah,
has the year's gone on By having a bit of
success along the way, it's sort of pushed me to
put even more time on the board, which is just yeah,
(05:24):
shown with the consistency.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Nicole, how much tougher is it making the step up
to these World Championships And you know, do you have
to change your game on a significant level? And I
guess when you look at who you're taking on as well,
is it going to be a similar feel to those
who you've been up against in the past.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
In the past at Lakeside, Yeah, well, I think it'll
be hugely different this year with bo Greaves accepting her
invitation to play Ali Palette, so she won't be there,
and that'll be coming off the back of three and
a ro wins at Lakeside, so the competition is wide open. Really,
(06:00):
I think that'll make all of the women just play
even harder to try and back up both success of
those three wins on the Trot. I think everyone will
be gunning for that top spot and I think, yeah,
it makes it really exciting because you don't really know
who's going to win with such a huge player out
of the mix, So yeah, it's anyone's game. I think
(06:22):
whoever pulls up with their best game and can back
it up game after game. Yeah, I guess we'll see.
Hopefully it's me, but you never know.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Absolutely We'll all be hoping it's you. Cadeb. You talked
about the next level up as the PDC, the professional
world of darts that's become a phenomenon around the world
including here for you, When does that sit in terms
of a step up from the level of the WDC.
Is it something that's on your radar that you've set
an aim for or is it sort of more of
a pipe dream to get to that next level?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Realistically, I'd have to say it's probably still a couple
of years of really hard work, just doing all the
right things, getting that five percent better each time each
tournament you go to. And then there's yeah, a lot
of steps involved in regards to Q school and with
(07:13):
the with the lootletl thear effect and the way darts
has taken off in the last the last couple of years.
The numbers of amazingly talented players over in England especially,
and the kids that are playing at such a high
level competing against all the men is certainly making it
(07:34):
tougher and tougher going forward.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And Nicole, you mentioned that darts has been a big
part of your family over the years. I'm sure a
big part of your life. You began as a kids.
Where is the sport at now in terms of player
numbers and interest here in Wellington compared to back when
you started at the sport.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Yeah, it's just growing hugely, which is amazing to see
the amount of kids that are packing it up and
kind of making sure that, you know, the next generation
is going to be putting them all into darts as well.
It's really great to see we have a huge amount
of juniors throughout Wellington starting their journey I guess into
(08:11):
playing darts and they're doing all the right things. So
it's really exciting to see kind of where they will
be in the next few years. And I think with
the effect of littler being so young, I think they
can kind of see that pathway and the opportunities for
our juniors just get better and better every year. So
we've just had some comeback from Budapest and Hungary and
getting to play against the world's best. I think just
(08:33):
you know, puts them on the right pathway and shows
them kind of the opportunities that lie ahead. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Great, you're about to have the big two long flights
to Europe, so before you go, want to find out
how do you travel o calib How many sets of
darts do you have when you head over to a
big competition like this? Is it a case of having
your lucky ones and a back up set? How does
it all work?
Speaker 3 (08:52):
So I was actually guilty of only having one set
that I really consistently used for probably the last three
three or four years. Nicole sort of mentioned, well, you know,
like if you snap a point during your game, you
need to have a spear set. So the darts are
used were actually sold out worldwide, apart from a company
(09:12):
in England that only shipped England. So thankfully we got
some family friends over there, and I've got a spaar
set waiting for me just in case they're needed.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Brilliant, All right, Nicole, you're a bit more safe in
that regard. You'd surely take your own spare pair over.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Well, thankfully, my darts are manufactured by Shot who have
shops all over the world, so I'm hoping if they
are needed, if for some reason my sets go missing
or my suitcase doesn't arrive, I can hopefully just find
a set in a shop or get them shipped over.
So I think we'll be all good.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Oh good, Well, hey guys, It's been really awesome hearing
about your journey, your successes this year, and of course
this huge trip that lies ahead for you both. So
thanks for your time this morning, Safe travels and all
the best of luck are over there in Lakeside, UK,
will certainly be following your progress with a lot of
ent for back here in Wellington.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Thank you, jeers, Thank you for more from News Talks
at b Listen live on air or online, and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio.
From Junior Netborn at Hita to the Pulse at TSB.
We've got it covered on the All Sport Breakfast with
Rutherford and Von Toyota and King Toyota on News TALKSB
News TALKSB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It's thirteen to nine. Well, I think this is a
first for the All Sport Breakfast. We're getting a sporting
couple on the line together now, so we'll see how
it goes. They're known as the power couple of New
Zealand darts, Caleb Hope and Nicole Rego both number one
ranked players and then he said on Darts Council events.
Both play out of the Upper Hut Darts Association and
they're both about to head off on a big trip
(00:33):
to the UK. So we'll bring both Caleb and Nicole
and now morning to you both. Well you may as
well explain it, Cada, let us know the trip you're
about to embark on.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Yeah. So fortunately enough myself and Nicole qualified for the
WDF World Championships in England, so we're heading off Tuesday
next week and get under a Sunday in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Time awesome, right, well just over a week away, so
Cadem Just so people are clear the WDF is that
separate to you what we see with the darts on
TV the likes of the PDC.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Yeah, so it's a separate organization. So wdf's the World
Darts Federation, whereas the Luke Litler's and the guys you
see on TV more often than not a part of
the PDC, which is a Professional darts corporation. So this
is a really good stepping stone to the to the
PDC in a way.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Right now, Nicole, I know you've had a fantastic Yeah,
you're in some great form You come into another WDF events,
another trip up there for you where your ranking is
pretty high, third overall in the world. How excited are
you to be taking on some of the world's best
while in the great formula in at the moment.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, it's been a really great year and I think
kind of peaking at the right time leading into the
World Champs. This will be my third year sheitting back
to Lakeside and to do it alongside Caleb, it's just
makes us so much more exciting. Yeah, I think we're
just both really looking forward to the experience and getting
to do it together as well as just even better.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, it's been key to your success this year. Nicole,
you must be pretty proud of of some of those
results you've been able to produce.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah, for sure. I think it's pretty good having like
a living practice partner who kind of pushes me to
practice harder and play a lot more than I probably
would have normally. So that's been a really big driver.
And yeah, just a lot more consistency, I think, putting
myself in some bigger tournaments, playing alongside the guys in
(02:33):
the dpn Z side of things, which is that stepping
stone to the PDC. So just kind of putting myself
in all of the different competitions, giving myself a shot
against the guys and those harder games, and it's just yeah,
it started to pay off, which is great.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, so you're living together and both top darts players.
Caleb tell us a bit more about that. Is that
a case of as soon as you're both home for
the day, you're straight to the darts board taking on
each other. I mean, how much time are you actually
spending practicing?
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I normally wait for a nice hot cook meal before practice,
but no, we generally try and sneak a good forty
five minutes or an hour on the board most nights,
especially in the build up to heading away, and we're
both super competitive, so it makes for some really good practice.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
All right, Well, who's leading that form at the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Then I might have my nose in front, all right, Nicole?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Is he correct? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:30):
It's hotly contested, but generally as soon as Caleb wins,
I don't really want to play anymore, so he tries
to kind of keep it going as long as as
he can.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Okay, all right, Well, now you're both part of the
Upper Ut Darts Association. Can you tell us a bit
more about that, Nicole? How big is the sport of darts?
I guess not just within your Upper Art community there,
but in inn around Wellington.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Yeah, it's amazing. So my dad is the president of
Upper Art Darts and I've grown up around that community
since I've been playing since I was about eight or nine,
so it is really a huge family and it is
throughout Wellington as well. So I think everyone's just so
excited to see us do so well. They're always behind
us and all the tournaments we go to and they're
(04:09):
always keeping track of the results. So it's really exciting
to both be playing for the same club and heading
away to such a prestigious tournament. Yeah, it's really.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Exciting, kaylab I talked to Nicole before about her formerhead
of his trip. But yourself, you've been in some hot
form as well. Some of your results have been magnificent.
You've won multiple events including Opens and Auckland and Tartanaki.
So when you've got a huge task like this trip
to Lakeside, UK coming up, what is the key to
peaking at the right time and giving yourself the best chance?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Now?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah, So basically the whole year's sort of just been
really consistent, and you know, early on I had a
goal to try and win my first tournament, let alone
go back to back with Taranaki in Auckland and also
have a couple of runner ups along a way, and
I think three or four semi finals this.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Year as well.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
So it's certainly just been the time put in at
home and obviously, like we said earlier, just being able
to have that consistent practice, partner pushing each other, and yeah,
has the year's gone on By having a bit of
success along the way, it's sort of pushed me to
put even more time on the board, which is just yeah,
(05:24):
shown with the consistency.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Nicole, how much tougher is it making the step up
to these World Championships And you know, do you have
to change your game on a significant level? And I
guess when you look at who you're taking on as well,
is it going to be a similar feel to those
who you've been up against in the past.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
In the past at Lakeside, Yeah, well, I think it'll
be hugely different this year with bo Greaves accepting her
invitation to play Ali Palette, so she won't be there,
and that'll be coming off the back of three and
a ro wins at Lakeside, so the competition is wide open. Really,
(06:00):
I think that'll make all of the women just play
even harder to try and back up both success of
those three wins on the Trot. I think everyone will
be gunning for that top spot and I think, yeah,
it makes it really exciting because you don't really know
who's going to win with such a huge player out
of the mix, So yeah, it's anyone's game. I think
(06:22):
whoever pulls up with their best game and can back
it up game after game. Yeah, I guess we'll see.
Hopefully it's me, but you never know.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Absolutely We'll all be hoping it's you. Cadeb. You talked
about the next level up as the PDC, the professional
world of darts that's become a phenomenon around the world
including here for you, When does that sit in terms
of a step up from the level of the WDC.
Is it something that's on your radar that you've set
an aim for or is it sort of more of
a pipe dream to get to that next level?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Realistically, I'd have to say it's probably still a couple
of years of really hard work, just doing all the
right things, getting that five percent better each time each
tournament you go to. And then there's yeah, a lot
of steps involved in regards to Q school and with
(07:13):
the with the lootletl thear effect and the way darts
has taken off in the last the last couple of years.
The numbers of amazingly talented players over in England especially,
and the kids that are playing at such a high
level competing against all the men is certainly making it
(07:34):
tougher and tougher going forward.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And Nicole, you mentioned that darts has been a big
part of your family over the years. I'm sure a
big part of your life. You began as a kids.
Where is the sport at now in terms of player
numbers and interest here in Wellington compared to back when
you started at the sport.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Yeah, it's just growing hugely, which is amazing to see
the amount of kids that are packing it up and
kind of making sure that, you know, the next generation
is going to be putting them all into darts as well.
It's really great to see we have a huge amount
of juniors throughout Wellington starting their journey I guess into
(08:11):
playing darts and they're doing all the right things. So
it's really exciting to see kind of where they will
be in the next few years. And I think with
the effect of littler being so young, I think they
can kind of see that pathway and the opportunities for
our juniors just get better and better every year. So
we've just had some comeback from Budapest and Hungary and
getting to play against the world's best. I think just
(08:33):
you know, puts them on the right pathway and shows
them kind of the opportunities that lie ahead. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Great, you're about to have the big two long flights
to Europe, so before you go, want to find out
how do you travel o calib How many sets of
darts do you have when you head over to a
big competition like this? Is it a case of having
your lucky ones and a back up set? How does
it all work?
Speaker 3 (08:52):
So I was actually guilty of only having one set
that I really consistently used for probably the last three
three or four years. Nicole sort of mentioned, well, you know,
like if you snap a point during your game, you
need to have a spear set. So the darts are
used were actually sold out worldwide, apart from a company
(09:12):
in England that only shipped England. So thankfully we got
some family friends over there, and I've got a spaar
set waiting for me just in case they're needed.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Brilliant, All right, Nicole, you're a bit more safe in
that regard. You'd surely take your own spare pair over.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
Well, thankfully, my darts are manufactured by Shot who have
shops all over the world, so I'm hoping if they
are needed, if for some reason my sets go missing
or my suitcase doesn't arrive, I can hopefully just find
a set in a shop or get them shipped over.
So I think we'll be all good.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Oh good, Well, hey guys, It's been really awesome hearing
about your journey, your successes this year, and of course
this huge trip that lies ahead for you both. So
thanks for your time this morning, Safe travels and all
the best of luck are over there in Lakeside, UK,
will certainly be following your progress with a lot of
ent for back here in Wellington.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Thank you, jeers, Thank you for more from News Talks
at b Listen live on air or online, and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio.
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