Inside Darts - UniFlip.com

THE WORLDWIDE DARTS MAGAZINE
www.insidedarts.co.uk // ISSUE 1 : MARCH 2012
Welcome to the world of darts...
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS,
NEWS & VIEWS INSIDE »
COLIN ‘JAWS’ LLOYD
& RUSS BRAY WRITE
FOR THE MAGAZINE
‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ COMPETITION
COMPETITION
DESIGN A DARTS SHIRT FOR THE ‘THE POWER’ p39
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE NEW WORLDWIDE DARTS MAGAZINE

NEWS NEWS
2
3

ISSUE NO.1
INSIDE DARTS
—
Publisher
chris haill
D&c media Ltd
13 Springbank
Eversley park road
London N21 1Jh
Contact
offi ce: 00 44 20 8886 0858
company No. 7265503
Online
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JohN WILSoN // SALES
& mArKETINg DIrEcTor
John is a die hard
Evertonian and loves
the ‘arrers!’
www.insidedarts.co.uk // ISSUE 1 MARCH 2012
Welcome to the world of darts...
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS,
NEWS & VIEWS INSIDE »
COLIN ‘JAWS’ LLOYD
& RUSS BRAY WRITE
FOR THE MAGAZINE
‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ COMPETITION
DESIGN A DARTS SHIRT FOR THE ‘THE POWER’ p20
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE NEW WORLDWIDE DARTS MAGAZINE
© Inside Darts 2012. All rights reserved.
—
mEET
THE
TEAm
—
click the names to
contact directly
KIm crAIg // DESIgNEr
Kim is a Scot living
in London, enjoys her
free time with her
family and getting out
of the ‘Big smoke’ for
weekends away.
Welcome to the fi rst issue of Inside Darts magazine.
Inside Darts is new interactive and print publication
looking at the sport around the world. With the growth
of Darts it makes sense to give you, the reader a new
option each month to read and interact with
the changing face of the game.
ANDrEW DEvoNShIrE
// JoUrNo
Andrew is from
Bridgend in South
Wales. We’re delighted
to have Andrew on
board at Inside Darts
with his ‘Darting
around the UK’ column.
The magazine will be available in 5 languages which will give
the magazine a truly worldwide appeal.
Inside Darts will have exclusive interviews, articles and much more
from around the darting world and will strive to help promote
the sport in anyway possible. We will offer brands and products a
different perspective when looking to market their products.
ID has a team of journalists from around the world with years of
experience in the industry and we introduce them to you, below.
As well as that, Colin Lloyd and Russ Bray add a professional feel
to the magazine giving you an insight into their lives inside
and outside the game. Also, there is a coaching article from
Alan Warriner of the PDPA.
This is the fi rst issue and it’s FREE. We are however offering a
minimal subscription to Inside Darts magazine, to help develop
the magazine and offer you the best publication worldwide.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY!
THE NEW mAgAZINE FOR THE FASTEST gROWINg SPORT WORLDWIDE!
rUSSELL roEBUcK AKA
‘BIg hAUSEr’ To mANY
// JoUrNo
A massive darts and
Schwarzenegger
fan, been watching
darts since Jocky
encapsulated a
nation. Supporter of
youth development
or the “Young guns”
so read my column to
discover the champs of
tomorrow.
JAmIE ShAW // JoUrNo
Jay is an avid lover
for the game and is
responsible for one of
the fastest growing
worldwide darts sites:
Live-Darts. he also
competes in local
darts tournaments and
is a member of the
cleveland Youth county
team.
KrISTIAN ‘KrISpY’
BroWN // JoUrNo
A simple darts fan and
terrible player who
combined his love of
darts and computer
skills to create one
of the world’s most
popular pDc fansites,
“Darts, Beers &
cheers!” Krispy is also
known within the
pDc darts scene, with
players, offi cials, and
fans alike. he loves
the real ale!
inside:
WHAT’S gOINg ON...
WELCOmE mArch 2012 | CONTENTS
EXCLUSIvE INTERvIEW
8KEvIN PAINTER ‘THE ARTIST’,
TALKS TO INSIDE DARTS
THE RENAISSANCE OF DARTS
IN THE NEW WORLD What’s happening
over in north america?
PLAYER PROFILE We talk to
Dean Winstanley and fi nd out what
happens at the Q School
FIvE RINgS AND ONE BOARD
Should darts be an olympic sport?
RETURN OF THE YOUNg gUNS
We meet mike Smith and future Stars
of the game
Dr. pATrIcK chApLIN
// JoUrNo
patrick is a darts
writer, researcher
and historian known
around the globe as
‘Dr. Darts’. Author of
several books on the
sport and editor of
Dr. Darts’ Newsletter,
patrick, who lives
in Essex, has been
described by The
guardian as ‘eccentric’
and The Sun as ‘an
arrers nut!’
ANgELA vAN hEES
// JoUrNo
Angela is a 29 year old
dart fanatic from the
South of holland. She
is editor for the Dutch
website Dartfreakz.nl
for the last few years.
Loves rvB and rock
music.
THE gERmANS ARE COmINg!
angela rees looks at the popularity of
darts in germany and the netherlands
mOvERS AND SHAKERS
the PDC – is the grass greener on the
other side?
ScoTT mAcKENZIE
// JoUrNo & ASIAN
rEp For ID
Scott is both an
avid darts player
and writer; he has
twice appeared at
the pDc World Darts
championships,
representing hong
Kong. he plays both
soft tip and steel
tip darts in Asia and
has previously won
tournaments at the
prestigious Asia
Bullshooter, medalist
International and
Dartslive events.
RILEYS DARTZONE REPORT
DIARY OF A PLAYER:
JAWS BITES BACK! Colin lloyd tells
us what he’s been up to
DOES SIZE mATTER?
the growth of Soft tip darts
RUSS CALLS IT AS HE SEES IT
the man, the voice gives us his views
on all things going on with mr Bray
4 5
JUSTIN IrWIN // JoUrNo
Justin is a writer
and broadcaster
with an unhealthy
darting obsession.
having spent a year
in the mid-noughties
failing miserably as
a darts professional,
chronicled in his
book murder on the
Darts Board, most
Wednesday nights he
can be found in the
pubs of West London,
averaging 26!
WILD gIRL! erica Wild gives us
the lowdown on being a ‘Walk on girl’
THE FUTURE’S BRIgHT, THE
FUTURES PDPA Who’s behind helping the
players in the PDC
ANDREW DEvONSHIRE’S
DARTINg AROUND a close look at the
associations around the British Isles
DOCTOR DARTS our monthly
appointment with the Doc.
chrIS mUrphY
//JoUrNo
chris is currently
making in his way in
the professional world,
whilst studying Sports
Journalism as a mature
student. he is a huge
fan of darts and is
excited about being
part of the Inside Darts
team, as he believes
darts should get
much greater media
coverage.
PAgE 39»
DESIgN DESIgN A A SHIRT SHIRT FOR FOR
‘THE POWER’
ADAm ‘ThorN’ SmITh
// JoUrNo
Adam is a darts-travel
blogger from the “rose
city”, portland, oregon,
USA. his mission is
to explore the globe
spreading the love of
the sport and unite the
world of darts. he is
also a valued member
of the Darts Around
The World team.

NEWS NEWS
DARTS NEWS FROm AROUND THE WORLD
UNICORN SIgNS
mAJOR NEW DEAL
WITH PDC
The Professional Darts
Corporation and
Unicorn Products
are delighted to
announce a fi ve-year
contract to extend
their partnership.
The deal sees Unicorn continue
their association as the Offi cial Darts
Equipment provider to the PDC
until at least 2017, which extends
the partnership between the two
companies to 20 years.
Unicorn’s Eclipse Pro dartboard
will continue to be used in all
competitive matches in the PDC,
including all televised tournaments
as well as events on the PDC
ProTour and PDC Unicorn Youth
Tour.
Unicorn will also continue to
support the future stars of darts as
sponsors of the PDC Unicorn Youth
Tour and PDC Unicorn World Youth
Championship over the next fi ve
years.
“It’s a pleasure to extend
our relationship with Unicorn
Products and we thank them for
their continued support of the
Professional Darts Corporation,”
said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
“They have continued to
develop the quality of their
products in recent years, and this
is epitomised in the use of the
Unicorn Eclipse Pro board which is
used in every PDC tournament.
“In addition, Unicorn has played
a key role in our introduction of
the Youth Tour and World Youth
Championship in the past two
years, and their ongoing backing for
the stars of the future shows their
commitment to developing this
sport in the long-term.
“We are delighted to continue
working with them and look forward
to an exciting fi ve years for both
our partnership and the game as a
whole.”
Barry hearn agrees the deal
with Edward Lowry
6
SEND YOUR NEWS
With this, the fi rst issue of Inside Darts,
we invite Associations, players, and
anyone else, to send news from around
the world, for our Game On section.
Please email your news to enquiries@
insidedarts.co.uk and we will do our
best to publish it. It doesn’t matter what
it is as long as its darts related.
Edward Lowy, the Managing
Director of Unicorn Products, said:
“We are absolutely delighted
to commit to a new long-term
agreement with the PDC.
“This will cement a 20-year
relationship for the exclusive supply
of Unicorn Eclipse Pro dartboards
to the PDC, and there can be no
fi ner endorsement of the enduring
quality of Unicorn dartboards than
that.
“Equally important, however, is
the announcement of Unicorn’s fi veyear
commitment to sponsoring the
PDC Youth Tour and World Youth
Championship.
“This announcement shows the
strength of the relationship between
Unicorn and the PDC, and that we
are both committed to the future of
darts at both Youth and Professional
level.
“This is an incredibly exciting
time to be playing darts – whatever
your age!”•
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All rights reserved.

INTERVIEW
IMAGES FROM LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
IF AT FIRST
YOU DON'T
SUCCEED,
TRY AND TRY
AGAIN.
IT’S not be more apt
an age old saying
and one that could
when describing the mentality
of Kevin Painter, throughout his
twenty year career as a professional
darts player.
‘The Artist’ is well known for his
never-say-die attitude on stage but
was also carrying a reputation as
darts’ nearly man. That changed in
December 2011 when Painter fi nally
won his fi rst televised tournament,
claiming victory at the Players
Championship Finals in Doncaster.
“It was great to win my fi rst
major,” he said. “You could go
through your whole career and
never win one, and there will be
better players than me that never
do. Nobody can take that away
from me now. Everything just fell
into place that weekend and I
played better and better as the
tournament went on. I was really
pleased to win it.”
Before that triumph, the closest
that the Daventry based player
had come to clinching a major
title was in the famous 2004 World
Championship fi nal, where he lost
a dramatic last leg decider against
the great Phil Taylor. Despite being
condemned to defeat on the day,
Painter looks back on that moment
with a great sense of pride.
He said: “The world fi nal defeat
against Taylor was, and still is one
of the greatest moments of my
career. I know I lost the match but
how many people can say they have
played in a World Championship
fi nal? And it was not just any fi nal;
it was one of the greatest ever. Phil
has told me since that he thinks our
fi nal was the best one. What made
it more special was that nobody
had given me a chance. Everyone
expected Phil to win 7-1 or 7-2
so to run him so close was a big
achievement. I wanted to win it,
obviously, but it was still a great day
and a great moment for me.”
‘Everything just fell into place
that weekend and I played
better and better as the
tournament went on’
IMAGES FROM LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
Painter wasn’t about to let that
fi nal eight years ago defi ne his
career however, and remained
typically determined to prove his
doubters wrong.
He said: “I don’t think I ever
doubted that my day would come.
I’ve always believed that I have
got the ability. The only doubt you
might have these days is whether
your ability is going to be enough.
There are so many good players
around now and we can’t all be Phil
8 9
KEvIN pAINTEr | INTERvIEW
Taylor. He’s a different animal to the
rest of us and while he’s around you
are always going to need to have
luck on your side.
“In the past I’ve been accused
of trying too hard but I don’t agree.
How can you try too hard? I’m
trying to win and I would never give
up in any game. I wear my heart on
my sleeve and I always have done.
It is natural for me to play with
aggression. That’s my game. I’m
passionate and I want to win every
time I play.”
So where does Painter go from
here? He is in the World’s top ten,
has sealed a place in the McCoy’s
Premier League, and has fi nally
won a major title. What next for the
Artist, now that he has succeeded?
For the 44-year old it’s simple.
Even when you do succeed, try and
try again. “It’s all about doing it
again now,” he added. “I want to
keep playing the best I can and try
and do it again. If it doesn’t happen
again then so be it, I’ve done it
once and while I don’t just want
to sit back and say “I’ve won one,
that’s it for me thanks”, but in reality
nobody knows what they are going
to win in the future. I just want to
keep playing well and see what
more I can achieve.” •
BY CHRIS mURPHY

FEATURE | DArTS IN ThE USA
—
THE
RENAISSANCE
OF DARTS
IN THE
NEW WORLD
—
Until one day, a small group of thinkers
began to ask questions, sparking an
interest in Science and Art. The printing
press was invented, revolutionising
communication and knowledge spread
like fi re. Enlightenment occurred, and
humanity headed into the Modern Age.
I can claim to be a history teacher,
because I was. I cannot claim to be a darts
historian, because I’m not.
In fact, I’m simply an average American
steel tip player who discovered darts in
2005. But, I do have an unusual love for
the sport, so I try to learn from people that
have lived through the history of darts. I
also promote the sport through writing
and photography, and I love to travel,
seeking and spreading darts at home and
abroad. I have a broad perspective on darts
around the world and the past, present and
potential future of the sport. In my opinion,
after years of stunted growth, darts in the
United States is poised to rise again.
For ten centuries, the Old World was plunged into
the Dark Ages. great empires fell, broke apart and
communication was blocked. vital knowledge died in a
plague of ignorance. All advancement stopped, as small
villages struggled to survive and the people suffered,
unaware of a better existence.
John part
THE PAST
For a generation, darts in the New World
was in the Dark Ages. Twenty years ago,
popularity began to decline in the United
States. Leagues, tournaments, purses,
sponsorships, and spectators slowly began
to fade. Perhaps the image of darts became
stigmatised. Perhaps the sport became
divided. Perhaps it was the sheer size of
North America. Perhaps the simple answer
is: money.
Of course, over
that same period,
Canada maintained
a healthy national
darts community.
They produced
three times world
champion, John
Part, who holds
one BDO and two
PDC titles, and
Canada’s national
10 11
DArTS IN ThE USA | FEATURE
team always contends for the WDF World
Cup. They have strong organisations, large
tournaments, popular city leagues, and
youth programs from British Columbia to
Newfoundland. Nonetheless, as cultural
neighbours, they too feel the burden of
the American decline. Patiently, they wait,
watch, and want darts in the United States
to return to glory.
In the early 1980s, top American players,
like John Kramer, were able to challenge
Britain’s legends like Jocky Wilson, John
Lowe, and Eric Bristow at events like the
North American Open Darts Championship.
The US won the team event over host
Australia at the WDF World Cup V after a
stunning 9-0 semi fi nal upset over England’s
Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Cliff Lazarenko,
and Bob Anderson.
Larry Butler
In the early 1990s,
Larry Butler defeated
Dennis Priestley at
the fi rst PDC World
Matchplay in 1994,
paul Lim
the only American
to win a European
major. And, the legendary and current soft
tip world champion Paul Lim represented
the US briefl y back then. Via the American
Darts Organization, the BDO has continually
supported US darts. More than once,
the PDC attempted to ignite darts in the
USA. Regardless, the popularity of darts
continued to stagnate in the USA until the
mid 2000s.
In 2005, when I joined the darts world,
I soon learned about how things used to
be; huge leagues, packed tournaments,
and attractive prize money. I wondered why
it changed, but I knew that history could
repeat. Out of love for the game and the

FEATURE | DArTS IN ThE USA
way it brings people together, I wanted to
be part of the rebirth of darts in America.
THE PRESENT
Just like the printing press, the internet
has profoundly improved communication
and interaction in North America’s darts
community. Today, a small group of thinkers
from the US and Canada are fi nally turning
ideas into action, hoping to educate,
enlighten, and inspire the masses, challenge
the status quo, improve incentives and
competitive levels, increase entertainment
value, and spark the love of darts again.
Outside the country, other darting
nations wonder, “What’s happening in
the United States?” I can tell you what
most players tell me and what I see; it’s
disorganised and divided like medieval
kingdoms.
Despite due appreciation for decades of
national leadership and effort, the American
Darts Organisation has become a topic of
frustration for many. Top players want better
communication, organisation, and changes
to formats and ranking systems, that will
enable them to play professionally and
prepare them to challenge the best talent in
Europe.
Prize money is the main incentive, which
means we must build the fan base, rebuild
the leagues, and attract major sponsors.
The worlds of soft and steel have grown
into distinctly different branches, yet both
continue to plod along without substantial
change or growth in twenty years. And,
sadly, the vast majority of typical American
players know as little about the wide world
of darts as the world knows about them.
It’s baffl ing to fi nd people that love darts
yet ask,”Phil Taylor who?”
But, that’s where science has brought
a cure for the epidemic of darts ignorance
in North America. More than ever, people
can learn about, discuss, and enjoy the
modern sport and its history through the
internet. Grassroots promoters, leagues,
and darts organizations have learned
to communicate and promote action
through websites, blogs, and forums.
Social networks have exploded with darts
discussion groups with ever increasing
connectivity and participation. New pro
development leagues and sanctioning
bodies are marketing themselves online,
experimenting with improvements until a
brighter future for American darts is found.
And, creative new broadcasting efforts are
upping the entertainment value for fans
and players, building spectatorship and
participation.
Team USA
One interesting development in
North America is the creation of new pro
development leagues that attempt to
meet the needs of the top talent: higher
competition, longer singles formats, and
bigger payouts. One story of success is
the DartProLeague, an online association
that lets players compete from home
via webcams; an affordable form of
competition that has expanded globally.
But, more recently,
real tours and new
sanctioning bodies
have been formed
to challenge the
traditional ADO
schedule, format,
and ranking systems.
Most notable are
Major League Darts,
Dart Players New York, Pro Development
Singles League, and North American
Dart Players Association. While MLD has
grown the fastest, including local and
major events in the US and Canada, they
American players know as
little about the wide world
of darts as the world knows
about them. It’s baffl ing to
fi nd people that love darts yet
ask,”Phil Taylor who?”
John & Evan of DATW
all share a common goal to improve darts
in North America, often communicating,
coordinating, and cooperating together for
the common good.
The second intriguing development
involves technology and the innovative
new ways to follow the sport. In the
past, insatiable fans in the US could only
read about darts in forums and blogs or
see snippets of uploaded video. Now,
online streaming has made it possible for
North Americans to watch events they
otherwise couldn’t see on television. And,
podcasting is bringing darts broadcasting
to life. Two fi ne examples, Dart Talk and
Bull Shot, are online shows whose main
focus is darts in North America. A third
example, and perhaps most ambitious,
is Darts Around The World, along with
its vast content and social network, Darts
Underground. Since the fall of 2010, DATW
has interviewed world champions, pros,
players, and darts people around the
globe. They’ve also remotely broadcast
from major events, including the World
Cup, John Lowe’s Exhibition Tour, and the
Fleetwood Memorial Las Vegas Open.
12 13
Dartslive
DArTS IN ThE USA | FEATURE
Now, online streaming has made
it possible for North Americans
to watch events they otherwise
couldn’t see on television
In an entertaining and artful way, DATW
continues to draw fans to the sport,
promoting darts in North America and
worldwide.
A third infl uential development has
entered the US from Asia: DARTSLIVE.
This new soft tip organisation has already
captured a market of millions in China,
Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.
The machines have integrated the powers
of the internet with the most modern
electronic darts technology. Players’ cards
insert into machines to record statistics
and player information that can be viewed
live via computers, pads, phones and any
gadget that gets online. If DARTSLIVE
captures the US soft tip market, there is
no doubt that darts in America will see
explosive growth.
THE FUTURE
In my opinion, these developments will be
three of the driving forces in North America.
At the moment, things are still confused,
but more and more people join the
conversation each day. With communication
comes knowledge, new ideas and action.
The fi nal key will be cooperation because
just like the game itself there is strength
in numbers. The Renaissance of Darts
in the New World has begun, and the
ramifi cations could be global.
THORN’S FINAL THOUgHT
There’s more to the New World of
darts than North America. I have been
to countries in Central America, the
Caribbean, and South America – like
Barbados, Costa Rica, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Brazil. These nations and
others around the Earth are ready to
be part of the Renaissance as well.
They will be the stars of Thorn Reports to
come, exclusively written for Inside Darts.
Over and double out.

NEWS
Welcome to
the PDc
PromiseD
lanD!
14
Inside Darts’ Krispy Brown grabs some
of Dean Winstanley’s time to talk about
his Q School experience, and his move
to the PDC this year…
Dean, let’s start by
congratulating you on
winning a tour card
for this year’s PDC
season. How did you find it?
I found the tour school very hard
but very good as the standard was
amazing; I had to be on my game
from the words “game on”.
So the opposition was better than you
were expecting?
Yes! It took three days as
the standard was so high, but I
persevered and got there in the end.
So what made you decide to switch
codes this year?
I’d had three happy years in the
BDO, and learnt a lot as becoming
world number 1, and holding that
position for a long time was a great
feeling, as was being runner up in
two major tournaments. But there
came a time after my last game
at Lakeside where I had to try and
change my life and my family’s life,
so I made the decision to strike while
the iron’s hot and have a go!
The BDO tour always seems to be quite
close knit, who will you miss most now
you won’t be part of it?
I will miss a few people in the
BDO but as I say we still keep in
touch, and you never know we
can still meet up and win the odd
doubles comp on the BDO... before
they stop PDC players playing all
together!
Your partner Lorraine Farlam obviously is
still a big name in the BDO Ladies darts
scene – what’s it like being a ‘darts
couple’?
Being a darts couple is amazing
as a lot of people class us as the
most successful couple in darts.
Lorraine is at the top of her game
now which is cool, so I’m looking
forward to Lakeside next year to
watch. Hmm, I wonder who will talk
to me? (He laughs). On that note I
would like to thank Robert Holmes,
the BDO PR man, for being great
promoting Lorraine and myself.
So do you feel more nervous playing or
watching Lorraine?
As for watching Lorraine yes
I feel more nervous than playing!
I get 100% involved shouting her
on and she does take note. If I think
she’s doing something different I do
hand signals and she gets back in
the zone.
Did Lorraine have any misgivings about
you moving to the PDC and therefore not
being at the same events anymore?
We spoke about the switch
before I made the decision, and yes
there was tears, and differences in
opinion, but it’s what I had to do
and we worked it out. I still drive her
abroad if I’m free and support her
like she supports me.
You’ve played in your first couple of PDC
pro tour events, have you noticed any
differences in the set-up?
I won’t belittle the BDO’s setup
as it’s worked for me the last three
years, but the first two PDC comps
have been great, best of 11 gives
me that extra help if needed as not
best of 5 anymore. Also the officials
are great; you have one chance
in your game, and if you make a
mistake you’re out. It’s very strict
and I like that, and as for the boards
they’re great as you have plenty of
room.
15
DEAN WINSTANLEY | PLAYER PROFILE
I know some players take some time
to settle, feeling like an outsider or
new boy?
I don’t feel an outsider at all, I
speak to all the players and most
have congratulated me on moving
over, also given me tips which is
great. I feel at home and I’ve settled
in all ready, I think had some great
games with some great players.
‘There came a time after my last
game at Lakeside where I had
to try and change my life and
my family’s life’
You’ve already signed with a new
management team, why was it you felt
you needed to do that at this point in
time?
I got offered a few paths to
choose, some better than others but
in my own head it’s not just the best
money deal to take all the time, it’s
the foundations of the management
side what helps me along the
way. After speaking to Justin for
over an hour, we were like an old
married couple and have a great
family behind us which we want to
support. JP’s a great guy and we get
on well, so I’d like to thank Matt and
Clifton for giving me this path in my
PDC career.
You’ve obviously not lacking talent,
but you are infamous for your dodgy
counting, is that a fair reputation?
(He laughs) Yes I believe I can
throw a dart as good as the next
person, and yes my counting’s been
rather dodgy in the BDO, which
I find strange as I never made a
mistake in the Grand Slam. But in
Con’t p26

PLAYER PROFILE | DEAN WINSTANLEY
School
for
Beginners
Just a few years ago all it
took to play in the PDC was
some bottle, some darts talent,
and a few quid in your pocket
to pay for the entry fees. If you
had the dosh to spare (£200 a
weekend entry fees), you could
take on the big boys whatever
your standard, be it pub, club, or
even my terrible standard!
Benidorm I made one against Chizzy,
but don’t tell anyone (he laughs). I
think the best of 11 format gives me
more time to relax and get it right. If
I make a mistake now I should be OK
as my power scoring gives me that
gap to rectify it… well some times
(ha-ha).
Have you set yourself any targets for
this and next year?
My targets were as follows in the
BDO; I said to my dad (who is my
hero in darts apart from Eric Bristow);
“Dad, I will make Lakeside in three
years and world number 1 in fi ve. I
did it all in my fi rst full season which
was amazing achievement!
So the PDC target is try and reach
top 32 in my fi rst year, and the top
16 the following year. I know it’s
really hard but I’m determined.
You won through your group stage at
last year’s grand Slam, how did you fi nd
playing in front of a PDC crowd? Are you
looking forward to any specifi c venues
or tournaments?
Then a couple of years ago
someone at the PDC realised that
if they were going to back-up the
claim that they were the ‘Elite
darts organisation’, they probably
needed to restrict the fi eld based
on talent as well as the ability
to pay their entry fees. Thus
the ‘Qualifying school’ was
created, although the name is a
little confusing; “School of hard
knocks” could probably describe
it better seeing how hard it is
to win through, what with the
quality on show!
Over 220 hopefuls competed
in four knock-out tournaments
this year, hoping to take part
in the 2012 PDC season. From
quality pub players, through BDO
County players, a smattering
of the ‘big names’ in the BDO
hoping to swap codes, and last
year’s PDC members who didn’t
make an automatic tour card.
16
I’d have to say the crowd was
amazing at the Grand Slam. As
an ex-BDO player them crowds
were similar to our fl oor games so
the noise didn’t bother me, but to
hear a few hundred people shout
‘Deano’ against the PDC players was
amazing, and I felt at home right
then. As for the other venues, well
if I can make all the TV stages I’ve
done something right and I’ll be
smiling!
Finally, are there any players you’re
looking forward to testing yourself again
now you have a whole new organisation
to pit yourself against?
Ha-ha, well I’ve played a few all
ready, but I think whoever I get I’ll
look forward to playing them as I’m
sure they know I’m no push over, so
it’s like the old saying; “Don’t poke
the fi re if you can’t stand the heat”.•
Thanks Dean and good luck mate.
In the end forty lucky souls
came through some really tough
battles to claim their well-earned
‘tour cards’, which enable them
to play in any PDC Pro Tour event
they wish, and hopefully win their
way through into the TV events.
Just to show how high the
standard was, big names such as
Peter Manley and Chris Mason
failed to win through!
PDC Director Rod Harrington
said; “The tournaments have
been a huge success and it
bodes well for the future of the
sport at the top level to see so
many quality players winning
Tour Cards.
“With £5 million of prize
money to play for this year, the
standard of competition will be
higher than ever and I’m sure
we’ll see many of these Tour
Card winners in front of the TV
cameras soon.”
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
17
NEWS

FEATURE | oLYmpIc DrEAmS
FIvE RINgS
AND
ONE BOARD
—
LIvINg ThE DArTINg
oLYmpIc DrEAm
BY JUSTIN IRWIN
With Olympic anticipation building fast throughout
the UK, many darts fans will be looking on with
more than a touch of jealousy. For a short while
after London was chosen to host the games of the
XXX Olympiad, there was genuine hope that darts
would make an appearance, albeit as a demonstration sport. After
all, special dispensation had been granted at Beijing 2008 for a
traditional sport, and if the Chinese can show off their Wushu,
what’s to stop London chucking a few ‘arrers’?
Darts at the Olympics, really? Raymond Van
Barneveld carrying the Dutch flag proudly
at the opening ceremony? A teary Phil ‘The
Power’ taking his place on the winner’s
podium? Shouts of “USA, USA” as Stacey
Bromberg seals victory over Anastasia
Dobromyslova, tabloid journalists revelling
in an opportunity to return to the headlines
of the Cold War?
ONE mAN’S DREAm
Unlikely as it may seem, darts as an Olympic
sport is not that far-fetched. The British
Darts Organisation (BDO) is fully behind
the idea, members of the International
Olympics Committee (IOC) have attended
the Lakeside championship in the past, and
one man in the UK in particular continues
to live the Olympic dream – Sir Bob
Russell, elected Member of Parliament for
Colchester in Essex.
When it comes to darts, Russell is a
man to be listened to. Following a chance
meeting with Bobby George, Russell
18 19
oLYmpIc DrEAmS | FEATURE
spent years trying to persuade the UK
government and sports councils that
darts should be classified as a sport. With
assistance from a BDO-run campaign, and
just months after the Professional Darts
Corporation (PDC) put on an exhibition
for MP’s in the Houses of Parliament,
competitive darts formally vacated the pub
in June 2005, becoming
a fully-fledged sport in the UK.
Now Russell wants to secure a spot for
darts in the Olympics: “The darts world
in the UK seems to think that now we’re
recognised as a sport, that’s it,” he recently
told The Wrong Bed darts podcast. “That
is a very important step along the road…
but if you want darts to be taken seriously
around the world, the home of darts has
got to up its game – and you can’t get any
higher than the Olympic Games.”
Rio 2016 is already out of the question,
but Russell is looking ahead to 2020 and
beyond. To start with, Sir Bob has asked the
BDO and PDC to put aside any differences
and join him at the Houses of Parliament
during London 2012 for an exhibition for
sporting dignitaries from around the world.
He wants to ‘sow the seed’ for future years,
and, knowing Bob Russell, he probably will.
So what’s the likelihood that his
campaign will succeed? Having added golf
and rugby sevens to the 2016 schedule,
the IOC has declared that in future new
sports can only be replacements, and
Con’t p21

DARTSZONE
NEWS
38
20
Would ‘The count’
represent Transylvania
in the olympics?!
Will we see ‘Wolfie’ against ‘Jackpot’ in 2016?
not additions. Once the
snobbery blinkers are
removed, darts could justify
a place on skill required –
the game certainly requires
no less dexterity than
archery or pistol shooting,
and the fact that darters are
required to vary their aim gives it a fair case
for claiming more skill than these Olympic
sports.
mEDALS IN THE BAg?
Yet even if the sporting argument is won,
a much greater barrier exists. Typically,
the Brits create a sport and then teach the
world how to win at it. In darts, the British,
and specifically the English, are simply too
good.
Although both men’s and women’s
events at the Lakeside tournament earlier
this year were, for the first time, won by
players from outside the UK, nearly twothirds
of the male competitors were English,
and only 1 (Belgium’s Geert De Vos) was not
from either the UK or the Netherlands. At
the PDC, 21 of the current top 32 players
are English, and just three players in the top
50 come from outside Europe (one of whom
is the Geordie-Australian Paul Nicholson).
In the last year each code has held a
World Cup – both won by England. The
World Darts Federation/BDO version
has been running biennially since the
late 1970s, but has only ever seen three
winners, England, Wales and Holland; the
2011 event was the least competitive of all,
with England taking a home a record 7 of
the 8 available trophies.
Although played throughout the world,
steel tip darts is so focussed on Europe
and particularly the United Kingdom that
it remains extremely difficult for non-
Europeans to break through. There’s little
doubt that there are enough talented
players outside of Europe to challenge the
status quo, but for as long as ‘making it’ at
the PDC or BDO realistically necessitates
living in northern Europe, there are few
non-Europeans who will be in a position to
take that darting leap of faith.
The creation of a World Cup,
alongside additional overseas players
in the preliminary rounds at the World
Championship, are two positive steps
taken by the PDC in an attempt to broaden
their worldwide audience. However until
darts’ administrators take the brave step
of shifting the centre of the sport a little
further away from its’ birthplace – ultimately
moving major tournaments out of northern
Europe – professional darts players will
remain a British (and Dutch) quirk.
As for the IOC, well whilst Britannia and
England in particular, rule the oche, Adrian
Lewis’ chances of winning an Olympic
medal remain about as likely as Eric Bristow
bringing home gold in Wushu. Darts in
the Olympics will remain Sir Bob Russell’s
fantasy, but if it is one that helps to spread
the sport further around the world, then it’s
a dream worth living. •
—
‘If you Want DartS to Be taKen
SerIouSly arounD the WorlD, the
home of DartS haS got to uP ItS
game – anD you Can’t get any
hIgher than the olymPIC gameS.’
—
21
oLYmpIc DrEAmS | FEATURE

NEWS
www.harrowsdarts.com
www harrowsdartscom
22
In association with
By RUSSELL ROEBUCK
NEWS
It’s that time of year again, April showers,
Easter eggs and the start of the PDC Youth Tour!
It all kicks off in Derby this year as the PDC
continue their commitment to developing the
stars of tomorrow. Players, 14 and over can enter,
as the PDC proceeds to build a youth policy
structure not unlike a football club without a
sugar daddy.
23

FUTURE STARS | YoUNg gUNS mIKE ‘BULLY’ SmITh | FUTURE STARS
T
he 2nd season of the youth
tour offers young players seven
weekends of darts, fi ve in the UK
and two overseas to be held in
Germany and Holland. The inclusion of
European venues (mirroring the main tour)
is a smart move as the game continues to
develop overseas.
Darts has ever increasing participation
levels but perhaps most importantly a fan
base that seems to grow by thousands each
year. Increasing popularity has attracted
extensive TV coverage and the game
has now developed into a marketable,
promotional product that provides exciting
global TV entertainment. Like any sport,
excitement is created when a new face or
young superstar begins to make headline
news and youngsters all over the country
are now realising that darts could actually
provide a career rather than a hobby.
The pro-activity of the PDC is now
evident, marketing young players with
nicknames, up to date walk on music,
promos and the creation of a fi nancially
rewarding youth tour. The reliance on
plundering the best of the BDO talent pool
may soon become a thing of the past.
For young darting talent, the youth
tour is already evolving into a competitive
environment to learn the professional game
and even has an order of merit ranking
table! Players have the added bonus of
being able to participate in main tour
events and open qualifi ers dependent on
membership/tour card status.
2012 seen many young players enter the
Q School in the hope of also gaining a main
tour card. This season any player out with
the top 64 or holding a current tour card
has seen their rolling prize money reset for
ranking purposes (even players regaining
their tour cards through successful Q School
entry have been reset). The successful
young card winners are now in an enviable
position with everyone starting from a level
playing fi eld this year vying to push up the
rankings. •
—
‘DartS haS ever InCreaSIng PartICIPatIon
levelS But PerhaPS moSt ImPortantly
a fan BaSe that SeemS to groW By
thouSanDS eaCh year. InCreaSIng
PoPularIty haS attraCteD eXtenSIve
tv Coverage anD the game haS
noW DeveloPeD Into a marKetaBle,
PromotIonal ProDuCt that ProvIDeS
eXCItIng gloBal tv entertaInment. ’
—
✮ FUTURE STARS ✮
Over the coming months I will be revealing future stars and begin
with an exclusive insight from rising star Mike ”Bully” Smith
ranked 47th in the World. Mike is a great example of a young
player making the step up from youth to main tour with 2 senior
fl oor tournament wins to date...
ID: You played the Youth Tour last year, how did it improve
your game?
MS: Due to the standard of the main tour you can
sometimes be eliminated in the fi rst /second round,
I did well on the youth tour, facing more opponents
and regularly reaching the latter stages. This was really
benefi cial as it provided good competitive match
practice.
ID: Were any of your YT games
harder than the main tour?
MS: Most defi nitely, all the
young guys are looking to
prove themselves and are
hungry to get to the fi nals, the
rivalry is friendly but pretty
fi erce!
ID: Who were your most diffi cult
opponents?
MS: Mike Van Gerwen is
dangerous, he’s beaten
me four out of our last last fi fi ve
games.
Arron Arron
Monk is tough tough to beat
but I have won my last three three
against him!
ID: What is the strongest aspect
of your game?
MS: Scoring, I hit a a lot lot of 180s,
I’m working on my my doubles,
I was gutted at my fi nishing
in the World Championships
just past, although I was really
happy to hit a 9 darter in the
youth event at Barnsley, setting
a new 3 dart average of 132!
(Mike received the Silver Pin
badge badge at at the the PDC PDC 2012 awards awards as as
recognition of his
non-televised 9-darter)
ID: When did you start playing darts?
MS: I began throwing at 15 for my dad’s pub team in
St. Helens. I loved it and was soon vice captain, I then
entered the BDO Youth Welsh Classic which I won and
reached the Winmau Youth fi nal.
ID: Did you consider giving the BDO circuit a try?
MS: To be honest no, for my two tournament successes
all I received was a set of brass darts and a plaque. I see
the PDC as a chance to start a career; I’m currently a fulltime
professional. I also wanted to test myself against
the best players.
24 25
ID: Brave but ambitious decision! What diffi culties have you
encountered?
MS: With not having a day job, tournament success,
earnings and sponsorship are vital, I’ve been lucky and
am sponsored by Haydock Park and backed by Gary
Anderson. Sponsorship is hard to come by in tough
economic times.
ID: How did the relationship with
gary materialise?
MS: Gary stayed behind as a
spectator at a youth event, he
approached me directly offering
to become my manager. At
the time I was on my last PDPA
warning, since joining Gary he
has ensured I’m on the right track
and in a good routine. I practice
3-5 hours on my own then an
hour with
I'M NOT A BULLY!
various
opponents. Gary’s Gary’s great.
He calls me almost daily,
offering support and guidance.
We have yet to meet in
competitive competitive action, I reckon
I’ll trounce him 6-0 he reckons
I’ll be lucky to win a leg!
(He laughs)
ID: What advice would you give a
new youth tour player? player?
MS: Don’t go to tournaments over confi dent, I have
done it myself after winning local games easily and then
underestimating an opponent in competition. If you get
defeated don’t take it to heart, practice hard as there’s
lots of good players emerging.
ID: Finally, what are your goals this year?
MS: I’d like to break into the World top 40, make more
TV appearances and qualify for the World Championship
again.
ID: Thanks mike, Inside Darts wishes you good luck in 2012
and looks forward to reporting your successes throughout the
year ahead.

FEATURE | ThE gErmANS ArE comINg!
ThE
gErmANS
ArE comINg!
Darts is a very popular sport in germany, and today the country
has replaced the netherlands as the second most important country
after england. It makes you wonder, how the sport became so
popular in germany and if the recent growth is comparable
to the popularity of darts in the netherlands in the late 90s.
BY ANgELA DEr hEES
26
T
here are many differences
between the Netherlands
and Germany when it comes
to darts. When Raymond van
Barneveld became the first Dutch World
Champion in 1998, it was a turning point.
From that time, darts became incredibly
popular. Tournaments and television
coverage lifted the sport to another level.
The Netherlands needed a figure head, a
World Champion to drive the sport and the
growing audience.
It’s a different story in Germany as
they don’t have a World Champion yet.
Although, that’s not entirely true. Germany’s
Michael Rosenauer is a bit like the ‘Phil
Taylor’ of Soft Tip darts.
Rosi is a three times World Soft Tip
Champion and he is a legend in Germany
27
NEWS
for all his Soft Tip titles, but most of all
because he was the first player to be
successful in both Soft Tip and Tungsten.
However, did Rosi attract the large
crowds to tournaments in Germany like
Barney did in The Netherlands? The answer
is plain and simple no! Apparently, Germany
does not need a World Champion to attract
big crowds to its ‘Houses of Darts’.
In the Netherlands, it started with a
World Champion, a small organisation
and tournaments. A certain crowd culture
was already present, before the big Dutch
names switched to the PDC. Visiting a darts
tournament was a family event where you
could get close to players meet friends and
basically have a lot of fun. Familiar faces
and a cosy atmosphere meant it was quite a
laid back affair.
Con’t p28

FEATURE | ThE gErmANS ArE comINg!
—
‘SInCe 2007, DartS haS BeCome more PoPular
every year anD after the IntroDuCtIon
of the euroPean orDer of merIt In 2009
the SPort DeveloPeD to greater heIghtS.’
—
Suddenly, in 2006 and 2007 it all
changed. New faces attended to the
tournaments and the Dutch viewers were
introduced to the PDC, a new era, different
culture. Major tournaments like the WDT
and IDL stopped after 2007 and there
was no strong organisation to replace
it with other major tournaments, linked
to the PDC. There is still a PDC Players
Championships in Holland, but they are not
as popular as the Players Championships
in Germany. The Dutch crowd did not shift
towards the PDC culture and these events
are far from sold out.
In Germany darts developed in
completely the opposite direction. There
was no history with major tournaments,
World Champions like Raymond van
Barneveld or Jelle Klaasen, and above all,
there was a different crowd culture from the
beginning.
Germany has a clean slate when it comes
to major tournaments, and it all started with
one important ingredient: development.
The GDC, later known as PDC Europe
made a smart move to cooperate with the
PDC and brought darts to Germany in 2007
with a partially televised major and a Players
Championship. From the beginning, it was
about the darts and the participation of the
crowd. The crowd developed within the
culture of the organisation.
Since 2007, darts has become
more popular every year and after the
introduction of the European Order of Merit
in 2009 the sport developed to greater
heights.
The European Order of Merit gave
German players a better chance to compete
in the PDC World Darts Championship and
PDC European Championship and with this
players like Andree Welge, Jyhan Artut and
Bernd Roith have come through and added
an extra dimension to the popularity of
darts in Germany.
It is just a matter of time, before one
of the German players picks up a PDC
title. Until that day, the Germans will
continue to enjoy darts without honouring
a German World Champion. That is the
main difference with The Netherlands. A
clean slate, no history, a different culture, no
World Champion, enough room to honour
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FEATURE | ThE gErmANS ArE comINg!
—
‘raymonD van BarnevelD WIll alWayS
Stay In the hIStory BooKS aS the
Player Who Won the fIrSt PlayerS
ChamPIonShIP In germany, anD
vInCent van Der voort lIKeS
german SoIl too, WIth a feW tItleS
In hIS PoCKet. ’
—
darts as a sport itself and World Champions
from other countries.
Today, Germany has taken Holland’s
place on the PDC calendar. In 2006 there
were several tournaments on Dutch soil.
Now in 2012 Germany is the place to watch
the ‘big guns’ on the oche.
Germany may have replaced The
Netherlands when it comes to tournaments
and the popularity of the crowd, it will
however take a while to replace a small
Dutch army of talented and skilled players.
The Netherlands is still the 2nd country
behind the UK when it comes down to
talent and success. Raymond van Barneveld
will always stay in the history books as
the player who won the fi rst Players
Championship in Germany, and Vincent van
der Voort likes German soil too, with a few
titles in his pocket. Co Stompé even beat
Phil Taylor in a fi nal of a German major and
meanwhile we are still waiting for a German
Player to pick up a PDC title. One thing’s for
sure, when that day comes it will give darts
in Germany an even bigger boost.
There has always a connection between
the popularity of darts and the rise of
exhibitions in Europe and there lies the
differences between popularity of darts in
Germany today and the popularity of darts
in The Netherlands since the late 90s. Yes,
an exhibition with Phil Taylor or Raymond
van Barneveld will sell in Germany.
However, how about an exhibition with
Kevin Painter or John Part? That’s a
completely other story.
The fans in Holland fl ocked to see any
top class player play in an exhibition; this
isn’t yet the case in Germany. A player knew
there was and still is money to be made
from exhibitions in the Netherlands.
Germany is going to be a very important
part of Darts’ development as a major sport
worldwide but the Netherlands is a part of
darts history and will always be.•
30
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FEATURE | movErS AND ShAKErS
mOvERS
&
a fresh infl ux of players switched legions to the PDC
following the lakeside World Championship in January,
but will be grass really be greener on the other side?
BY JAmIE ShAW
T
ed Hankey was given a harsh
dose of reality on his fi rst Pro
Tour weekend in Benidorm.
Fresh from his semi-fi nal
appearance at the Lakeside,
the Count fl ew out to sunny Spain to
begin a new chapter of his career as a
PDC player.
With the eyes of the darting world
eagerly tracking his progress over the
weekend, Hankey had a point to prove. He
was dumped out at the preliminary round
on both days, picking up just fi ve legs
in defeats to Matthew Edgar and fellow
newcomer Dean Winstanley.
He made amends in Crawley a fortnight
later though, earning £600 that could
potentially kick-start his PDC career by
virtually guaranteeing him a spot at this
year’s UK Open.
As the BDO Lakeside World
Championship draws to a close each year,
the traditional rumours begin to circulate as
to which players will up sticks and leave for
the bright lights of the PDC.
In fact the PDC Q School close of entry
date has become a darts ‘transfer deadline
day’ in its own right.
This year, Hankey led an exodus of no
fewer than seven players, which included
former Lakeside fi nalist Dean Winstanley,
Stuart Kellett and the West brothers – Steve
and Tony.
They have been forced to start from
scratch and must begin from the bottom by
earning enough prize money in fl oor events
to credit a TV appearance.
Competition is fi erce, but the reasoning
behind the switch is clear. The PDC circuit
offers £5million in prize money each year,
‘But with the PDC
welcoming new
arrivals with open
arms and offering
an inviting starting
block, why do some
players decide to
stay put?’
with more televised events than ever
maximising commercial opportunities and
offering players the chance to make a name
for themselves on a worldwide scale.
No doubt the latest movers would have
been buoyed by the success stories of Dave
Chisnall and John Henderson, who made
the switch last year and have held their own
on the tour since.
Chizzy’s progress was evident at Ally
Pally, where he hit the headlines by
32 33
NEWS
thrashing Phil Taylor 4-1, proving a lot can
be achieved in the space of a year.
The move may have backfi red had
they not won through Q School last year,
however their quality shone through as each
successfully earned a tour card.
The same went for this year’s movers,
who all proved their calibre by winning
through a fi eld of more than 200 players in
Barnsley to earn a spot on the PDC tour.
Had they not progressed however, they
may have been forced to return to the BDO
with their tails between their legs.
The PDC put their cards on the table
this year by offering the four Lakeside Semi-
Finalists a two-year Tour Card, enabling
them to compete on the tour but meaning
they would have to jump the BDO ship in
order to do so.
But with the PDC welcoming new arrivals
with open arms and offering an inviting
starting block, why do some players decide
to stay put?

FEATURE | movErS AND ShAKErS
Once again despite strong rumours, Tony O’Shea
decided to stay with the BDO, but could things have
turned out differently had he not reached the Lakeside
final?
‘Silverback’ appears to thrive at
the Grand Slam each year, with his
walk-on making him an instant
hit with PDC crowds.
Representing England
however ranks highly
in the Stockport
thrower’s priorities
and his high demand
for exhibitions as
well as consistency
in ranking events
allows him to stay at
the top of the BDO
pecking order as
opposed to starting
from scratch in the
PDC, uncertain of
regular limelight.
Three-time BDO
World Champion Martin
Adams has quashed rumours
of a move to the PDC on
numerous occasions over the
years.
Despite competing in several PDC events
under the Tomlin Order in 2000/2001, Wolfie has since
pledged his allegiance to the British Darts Organisation,
even turning down a place in the lucrative Grand Slam
of Darts which offered him a chance to showcase his
ability in the invitational event alongside the cream
of the crop from both codes.
Following his induction to the BDO Board of
Directors back in August, Adams has remained a
stalwart of the organisation and has proved wrong
the doubters who felt that being a director and player
may be a conflict of interest.
On the flip side of the coin, Tony Eccles was the
sole transfer back to his BDO roots after terminating his
PDPA membership.
The former BDO number one expressed
his disillusion with the PDC tour and
eventually struggled to cover the
costs of playing on the circuit,
an issue that has affected a
number of amateur players
aiming to make a name
for themselves with the
PDC.
The move looked
to have paid off for
‘The Viper’ as he
made an immediate
impact in winning
the Scottish Open in
February.
More emphasis
was placed on Q
School this year, as
players who failed
to earn a Tour Card
(associate members) see
their total prize money
reverted back to zero,
regardless of their earnings over
the past two years.
Victims to this included former Desert
Classic champion Peter Manley, Spanish World Cup star
Carlos Rodriguez and Republic of Ireland international
Mick McGowan, who are all forced to start all over
again despite their past glory.
It seems that the only way a player can now fully
prove himself is by achieving at the top level which
looks increasingly to be with the Professional Darts
Corporation.
Over the coming issues we will be discussing this
in more detail with interviews across both Associations
and finding out the pros and cons of both.•
—
‘It SeemS that the only Way a Player Can noW
fully Prove hImSelf IS By aChIevIng at the toP
level WhICh looKS InCreaSIngly to Be WIth the
ProfeSSIonal DartS CorPoratIon.’
—
34
35
NEWS
Email Sales@harrowsdarts.com. To see our entire range, click to visit our new website

DARTSZONE
DARTSZONE
EDINBURGH DUO CROWNED BEST
AMATEUR DARTS DOUBLES TEAM
June saw the fi nal of the Harrows Darts UK Doubles Tournament at Rileys
Bolton, and it was Darren Tiffney and Ryan Murray from Edinburgh who
came away champions, winning £2,500 and the title of best amateur darts
doubles team in the UK.
John Bowles and Andy Boulton
bagged themselves £4,000 prize
money each in the competition!
WELL DONE TO
THE RILEYS 32!
We introduced this competition to give the
amateur darts player the chance to play
in one of the biggest darts competitions
around. There’s a prize fund of £200,000
so it’s a great opportunity for the qualifi ers
and a chance for them to be seen in front
of millions of viewers on live TV.” Rileys
Chief Executive Maurice Kelly
Thanks to Rileys, 32
amateur darts players got
the chance to compete in
this major tournament. 10
of these made it through
and won £18,000 prize
money between them!
15-TIMES WORLD CHAMPION THE POWER
BEATEN……BY RILEYS MICKEY MAC!
September saw the second leg of the Phil Taylor roadshow at Rileys
Colchester, and one Rileys regular will be dining out on tales of the
evening for a long time to come. Mickey, who plays for Colchester Rileys
superleague, managed to beat The Power in the one-leg competition. Phil
took it all in great humour, congratulating Mickey before going on to beat the
rest of the challengers.
RILEYS JAMES HUBBARD THROUGH TO
THE FINAL OF THE 2011 PDC WORLD
YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Nineteen year old Rileys member James Hubbard has made it through to the
fi nal of the 2011 PDC World Youth Championship. He will play Michael van
Gerwen in the fi nal at the O2 Arena in London on May 17th 2012. The PDC
World Youth Championship offers £30,000 in prize money plus an invitation
to compete in November’s Grand Slam of Darts 2011, where James went out
to Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor.
SPORTS BAR POOL BAR SNOOKER DARTS www.rileys.co.uk
36
37
36 37
DARTSZONE
DARTSZONE
ENTER THE ‘FA CUP OF DARTS’
AND YOU COULD BE A GIANT KILLER
Chance to take on Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in the UK Open
The ‘FA Cup of Darts’ is on the
horizon and you could be a giant
killer.
The UK Open is the only PDC
tournament where amateur players
compete against top professionals,
including 15-time World Champion
Phil Taylor.
Rileys, the largest pool, snooker
and darts operator in the UK, have
32 places up for grabs for the UK
Open at Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok
Stadium, June 7-10th.
Rileys will hold one-off knockout
tournaments at 32 of their clubs
nationwide to fi nd 32 winners.
The 32 winners will also receive
£100 of Rileys Vouchers and a
personalised shirt to play in, when
they attend the tournament in June.
Rileys Darts Ambassador Phil ‘The
Power’ Taylor said: “I would love to
see some new talent get through to
the fi nal rounds.
“There’s nothing better than a spot of
giant killing. It happens in football’s
FA Cup – so why not in darts? Rileys
Darts Zones are spacious, modern
and professional – a perfect venue to
practice and then qualify for the UK
Open.”
The fi nals for UK Open, televised
live on Sky Sports, take place at
Bolton Wanderers FC’s Reebok
Stadium from Thursday June 7 to
Sunday June 10, with a prize fund of
£200,000.
Last year, Rileys amateurs claimed
a total of £18,000 in prize money
including two quarter fi nalists
To enter the UK Open qualifi ers
apply online at www.rileys.co.uk/
tournaments by the April the 13th at
12noon or visit your local Rileys and
register for the chance to take on the
big boys!
SPORTS BAR POOL BAR SNOOKER DARTS www.rileys.co.uk

DARTSZONE
DESIgN A SHIRT FOR
‘THE POWER’
WIN!
38 39
COmPETITION
...ThE chANcE To DESIgN
A DArTS ShIrT For ThE
15 TImES WorLD chAmpIoN
PHIL ‘THE POWER’ TAYLOR
PHIL TAYLOR IS RECOGNISED AS THE
GREATEST PLAYER EVER TO GRACE THE OCHE
15 Times a world champion, Phil has won everything there is
to in the game. One thing Phil doesn’t do is forget the fans
who have followed him for over 20 years.
Inside Darts has teamed up with ‘The Power’ to offer one reader
and darts fan a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. We are offering
you the chance to design a shirt for Phil to wear at an event, you
will meet the great man, and once he’s fi nished we will have the
shirt signed and framed for you.
All you have to do is email a design and image of the shirt to:
philtaylor@insidedarts.co.uk
PHIL WILL CHOOSE THE WINNER PERSONALLY

DIARY OF A PLAYER | coLIN ‘JAWS’ LLoYD
First and foremost be careful when coming down
the stairs everyone! More on that later, but fi rst
here’s a snippet of how I fi rst got involved in darts.
SHARK’S TALE
You could say I slipped into the professional game by
accident. I fi rst got into darts through my family. They
played quite a lot and one day when I came home from
school there was a dartboard up. I started playing on it,
put the practice in and gradually got and better
and better.
I played for Essex for a while
at youth and senior level and I
registered to play in the Essex
Open one year. I fi nished runnerup,
but my break came two
weeks later when I decided
to enter the Eastbourne darts
festival.
I started to become bored
with the game but still seemed
to be playing well. I went to the
John Smiths International Open,
which was ranked by the PDC,
and won it beating John Part, Rod
Harrington and Peter Manley along the
way.
From that point I had a fresh hunger for the
game and never looked back. I played in few more
tournaments that year and qualifi ed for the 1999 World
Matchplay.
I decided to leave the BDO county setup to ply my
trade on the PDC circuit and I’ve not done too bad out
of it.
I’ve had the Jaws nickname since I was a kid. I used
to have two distinctive fangs and I got called it all the
time. The nickname has stuck and I’ve used it ever since!
40
‘THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT’
I’ve had a fairly quiet few months since the Worlds.
It’s been nice to chill out and catch up with family and
friends again. Sometimes constantly travelling can put a
strain on your relationships and it’s diffi cult.
We went to see my girlfriend Carol’s family
in Ireland and my sponsor over there. I
also did an exhibition with Adie Lewis,
Paul Nicholson, Dennis Priestley,
Peter Manley and Wes Newton
which was a good laugh.
My start to the year on the
Pro Tour hasn’t been great, but
it’s early days and there are
events every few weeks so you
can’t dwell on bad results too
much.
I’ve been putting in the hours
on the practice board with a good
friend of mine Bobby George recently.
He lives just behind me and I’ve been
practicing at his house to keep my arm
ticking.
Bobby is still playing good darts and is really popular
on the exhibition circuit. His son Richie is not a bad
player either and has just started out on the BDO circuit.
BLACKPOOL CALLINg
I’ve got a few exhibitions and charity nights coming up
which I look forward to but my focus is still on trying to
reach the big TV events.
The Matchplay in Blackpool in July is always a special
tournament for me. I won it in 2005 but that seems many
moons ago now and I hope I can do well there again.
I’m also looking forward
to the new four-day European
tour events this year. It’ll be
interesting to see how they go
along.
Every tournament is
important and you’ve got to
go there with the right attitude
and focus on your game.
OUT AND ABOUT
I’ve been keeping an eye on
the Premier League so far, it’s
been a great start. I’d love
to have another crack at it, I
had some good times during
the fi rst few seasons but it’s
tough going and not the be all
and end all for me. Kevin and
Andy were written off before a
dart was thrown but they’ve settled in really well and
deserve to be involved.
Away from the oche, I was invited to a sports
dinner in London with former Ireland Rugby captain
Keith Wood which was really enjoyable. It’s nice to
hear how another professional sportsman has gone
about his trade and achieved success for his country.
41
I’m also due to take part in Colchester United’s ‘A
Question of Sport’ along with some other local
sports personalities.
I keep a close eye on Colchester United who are
my local team. I try to get to as many games as I can
but it’s diffi cult when you’re away most weekends.
Carol and I are friends with the commercial director
at the club and he always makes us feel very
welcome at the Community Stadium.
ONE STEP AT A TImE
You may be wondering why I mentioned the stairs in
the opening line?
I’ve been getting stick from my girlfriend and
on Twitter (@ColinJawsLloyd) for an accident I had
recently. I slipped down the stairs at home from the
top to the bottom on my backside. I was in agony
with a bad coccyx for a few weeks but thankfully I’ve
recovered and it hasn’t affected my darts!
March is an important month for me with two
Players Championships in Reading coming up and
UK Open qualifi ers in Barnsley a fortnight later.
I don’t put any pressure on myself anymore
though; I try my best in every event, hopefully get
good results and move on to the next one – exciting
times ahead!
See you next month. Be lucky!
NEWS

FEATURE | SoFT TIp DArTS
SIZE
MATTER?
No, this isn’t one of those annoying advertisements
for viagra, ‘Soft Tips’ are a modern high-tech
version of the game of darts. With state-of-the-art
technology, out of the box thinking and of course
huge amounts of money, the game’s growth has
been exponential over the last couple of years.
If you don’t own a set of soft tip darts already
I guarantee by this time next year you will.
—
By Scott mackenzie
THE gROWTH
The game started from very humble beginnings,
soft tip darts and boards were fi rst made in the
1970’s for children. Due to the safety factor of
plastic points (come to think of it do you know
anyone that’s been seriously hurt by a steel tip
dart?), and perhaps that ‘stigma’ of originally
being a toy has stuck with soft tip darts ever since,
until now.
In the 1980’s, the growth of the soft tip game
was mainly centred in the US with companies like
Arachnid and Medalist convincing American pub
and club owners that they could tease extra cash
out of their customers by replacing regular dart
boards for coin operated soft tip machines. These
machines took off as they had the benefi t of being
user friendly and a variety of different games to
play like 901, ‘half-it’ and cricket. People also liked
the fact that you didn’t need to chalk, as machines
automatically scored for you, a plus for those
mathematically challenged, or just a little lazy!
By the late 90’s with soft tip associations
springing up like the National Darts Association,
well run leagues, increased marketing and with local
and international tournaments with big cash prizes
(especially Arachnid’s ‘Bullshooter’ competitions)
the popularity of the game exploded, not only in
America but in Europe and Asia.
It has recently gone supernova, there are now
millions of players world-wide, making soft tip the
most played form of darts anywhere in the world.
The game is so popular in Japan, where there are
nearly 1 million regular soft tip darters, there are
now several full time professional Japanese players
earning well over £50K a year, playing just soft
tip darts. Many are local superstars, like: Morihiro
Hashimoto, Mitsumasa Hoshino and
Haruki Muramatsu.
SIZE DIFFERENCE
Apart from the obvious difference
in the point of the dart, soft tip
darts have plastic points instead of
metal points, probably the biggest
difference between the games is the
noise and soft tips are played on
an electronic machine with a plastic
perforated board and a large fl at
screen monitor to show the scores.
With modern technology prevalent
in the machines players can have
their own photos as background
themes, fl ashing lights and music –
its DISCO DARTS.
The weight of the dart is also
very important. With soft tip darts
the heaviest weight allowed is 20g,
in some competitions the maximum
weight can be 18g, as heavier
darts potentially can damage the
electronics within the machine as
well as increasing wear and tear of
the plastic board.
A close up of a soft tip dart board
‘Some other differences that
many people aren’t aware of include
the throwing distance, in soft tips
it is a little longer, 8 feet compared
with 7 feet 9 and a quarter inches
for steel tip. So does size matter,
you may ask? Well, I remember
Bobby George once saying after
playing on the bigger 8 feet oche,
“Go ask your wife if three more
inches make a difference”!
The size of the target sections
such as the treble and double are
also a little wider. The bullseye is
much bigger, so players generally
throw at the bull for scoring rather
than triple 20. Scoring a ‘hat trick’
which is 3 darts at the bullseye
scores 150 points, no matter where
on the bull you hit (as usually the
outer and inner bull count the same
in soft tips, of course due to the
functionality of the machines this
can be changed).
Another important difference are
bounce-outs. In steel tip if you are
unlucky enough to have a bounceout
the dart doesn’t count, but in
soft tips as long as the machine
registers the score - it counts.
THE TECHNOLOgY
The best part of the technology
that most machines now have is
that via a personalized card inserted
or scanned by the machine, all
play data is recorded which can
be accessed via computer. Points
per dart, three dart averages,
cricket averages, high scores, win /
loss ratio actually only scratch the
surface with what the machines
can do, as they are connected via
the internet it means that not only
can you play players in different
bars and pubs locally but you can
play them internationally. I can
be playing in Hong Kong versus
someone in Japan or USA – and
with the internal and external
cameras on the machine you can
watch people throwing (and this
function handily negates cheating).
The Dartslive machine – check out
the size of the speakers!
All data is recorded, such as ’01
average, cricket average etc. via
a card that is inserted into the
machine.
42 43
SoFT TIp DArTS | FEATURE
Comments can also be
programmed-in which get
displayed on the screen during the
match – the 2011 “Soft Tip World
Champion” Paul Lim has “That’s
Muscle Memory” come up every
time he hits a hat trick. I have a very
sexist saying come up if I hit “three
in a bed”.
personalised background screens, music,
and graphics can be selected by players, making
hitting “3-in-a-bed” much more fun. ©Dartslive
There are many soft-tip
manufacturers now but it seems the
current leader in the technology are
Japanese company Dartslive (whose
parent company are software
giant Sega). Korean manufacturer
Phoenix, are also in the running,
they also have stylish, colourful
machines.
phoenix machines
Another manufacturer, a
company from Croatia, called
Cyberdine, whose machines look
a little dated, are very popular
particularly in Eastern Europe
and China. The International Dart
Federation (IDF) uses Cyberdine
Con’t p44

FEATURE | SoFT TIp DArTS
Above: IDF World cup of Darts 2011, Shanghai, using
cyberdine. Below: mayumi ouchi from Japan beats
Anastasia Dobromyslova from russia in the women’s 501,
November last year. ©IDF
machines for their Darts World Cup
competitions.
SHOW mE THE mONEY
The amount of prize money is one
of the reasons why the game has
grown so quickly. The money is
exceptionally high due to one of the
biggest differences between steel
tip and soft tip darts, with soft tip
you ‘pay to play’.
This is perhaps the reason it
hasn’t yet taken off in the UK as
there are so many free steel tip
boards to play on in pubs and clubs
around the country. To play a game
in Japan costs ¥100 (just under £1)
medalist Asia International Bangkok,
Thailand (Feb 2012)
www.medalistworld.com
ADA 8th Tour
Hong Kong, China (March 2012)
www.asiadarts.com
Bullshooter XXvII
Illinois, USA (May 2012)
www.bullshooter.com
medalist World Championships
Las Vegas, USA (July 2012)
www.medalistworld.com
in Hong Kong it is HK$5 a game,
which is about 50 pence. It may
not sound like much but a busy
bar with only 4 or 5 machines can
generate thousands of pounds each
month. This enables the machine
manufacturers and distributors to
generate a lot of income, and gladly
they are recycling this back to the
players via big money competitions.
SOFT TIP WORLD
CHAmPIONSHIPS
The biggest soft tip competition
currently is called ‘The World’
championship which is in its
2nd year. Last year’s event was
won by Paul Lim who took home
HK$1 million (about £80K), the
competition is run by Dartslive and
has a purse of more than £300K.
Only the PDC steel tip World
Championship has bigger prize
money. But Dartslive are aiming to
eventually have a prize of US$1M
for the winner which will make it the
biggest darts competition anywhere
in the world – outright. If this
doesn’t prove that the soft tip game
is no longer second tier to steel tip
I don’t know what will.
Steve Ngu, CEO of Dartslive
International agrees, “people fi nd
soft tip darts, and especially our
iDarts bars, more entertaining than
playing regular darts, we are
D-Crown
Tokyo, Japan (Feb-Dec 2012)
www.d-crown.com
Super Darts
Japan (TBA)
http://superdarts.dartslive.jp/
index_pc.php
mJ / medalist Japan Tournament
Japan (Nov 2012)
Perfect Tournament
Japan (TBA)
Burn Championship
Japan (TBA)
really an entertainment company
and therefore we are attracting
a whole new younger crowd to
darts, people that never thought of
playing darts before – soft tip darts
are revolutionary, in Asia soft tip has
already taken over.”
paul Lim, (4th from left) picking up the winner’s trophy
and cheque for hK$1m about £80,000 in Dec 2011, hong Kong.
John part (far right), came in joint 5th. ©Dartslive
Steve Ngu (pictured, centre)
CEO of Dartslive International, is
greatly infl uencing the growth of
soft tip worldwide, may offer a prize
of US$1M for this year’s winner.
You can fi nd out more and keep
up-to-date with the 2012 Dartslive
Soft-tip World Championships at
the below website. Qualifi ers/stages
will start in March this year with
some to be held in the US as well as
Hong Kong.•
www.darts-theworld.com/en/index.html
OTHER mAJOR SOFT-TIP TOURNAmENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
44
IDF Darts World Cup
Shanghai, China (Nov 2012)
2012 Dartslive Soft-tip World
Championships
Hong Kong (Dec 2012)
general links:
www.leagueleader.net/bullshooter/
http://medalistgames.com/
www.ndadarts.com/
www.dartslive.com/
www.gs.phoenixdart.com/
www.cyberdine.hr/
www.idfdarts.org/
45
NEWS

REgULARS | rEFErEE rUSS
Russ:
he calls
it as he
sees it
Every month, Referee Russ Bray writes for
Inside Darts magazine and lets you the the reader
into his own world, but not all of it!
I believe that you have to be in the
right place at the right time and that’s
certainly proved the case for me.
My career as a referee began at a
Hertfordshire county match many years ago.
The referee didn’t turn up at one of our
home games; I knew my numbers so I went
up on stage and called a few matches.
When I walked off a guy came up to me
and said how well I did. I played a bit of
darts myself, but with me not being quite
good enough to turn pro, I turned my
attention to refereeing and started calling
for the county.
I was approached by the PDC who
asked me was I interested in becoming a
full time referee, so in July 1996 I headed
to the World Matchplay in Blackpool on the
Sunday, refereed three games and the rest
is history. I’m now in my 16th year of being
a darts referee and I adore my job.
ON THE ROAD
I’m very lucky that I get to see a lot of the
world through darts. I love travelling and
can sleep on a washing line so long haul
journeys don’t bother me!
It’s been a hectic few months; I’ve
already been to Tenerife, Benidorm and
Hamburg and I’ll be clocking up the miles
to cover the southern venues of Premier
League.
For me, the Premier League is probably
second only to the World Championships.
It’s an invitational event and it’s really
competitive. I’ve got a ringside seat to the
best games in the world involving the best
players in front of huge crowds and a party
atmosphere which is brilliant. We’ve already
seen a nine darter and it’s impossible to
predict who could win it this year.
DRIvINg AmBITION
Golf is a big passion of mine. Offi cially
my handicap is 14; unoffi cially it’s probably
about 10. I’ve just been sponsored by
TaylorMade-Adidas which is a great
sponsorship for me. I had a cracking day
down at Wentworth where I got a full
fi tting to decide which clubs were best
suited to me.
I also visited TaylorMade HQ in
Basingstoke and they made me a complete
set of golf clubs from the driver right
through to the putter. Adidas kitted me
out with a full clothing range so I look the
part too!
There’s a lot of competition on the
course between me and a few former
players. I play with John Lowe, Eric Bristow
and Keith Deller and they’re as competitive
as they used to be on the oche!
Wayne Mardle sometimes gets involved
when we’re over in Ireland for the Grand
Prix and Rod Harrington is another very
good player but he hasn’t hit a golf ball
for a long while.
HORSEPLAY
Another love away from the oche is horses.
I live on a farm now and we have two horses
in stables. My wife rides them and looks
after them mainly but I help out whenever
I can. One of our ponies came seventh in
Horse of the Year last year against a lot of
good competitors.
BURSLEm BATTLE
It looks as though Taylor and Lewis are
going to be the ones to catch this year.
They both set their stall out at the World
Cup and in the early part of the Premier
League.
On the basis of what we’ve seen so far
it could be that we’re in for one of the best
years since the PDC formed.
The great thing is you’ve got a big
clutch of players that can do an awful lot of
damage. It’s not just one person as it was
ten years ago.
Adrian Lewis is a marvellous champion
but we’ve got so many big tournaments
coming up and I can’t see him winning a
Grand Slam of all the majors. They’ll be
three of four winners of the majors although
Taylor’s coming good again and you can
never write him off.
46 47
rEFErEE rUSS | REgULARS
Watch out for Wes Newton and Justin
Pipe. These two are smashing at winning
Players Championships; it’s just a matter of
time before they really start to come good
on TV.
The Youth tour is also great for the
game. You’ve got the likes of Joe Cullen,
Devon Petersen and Arron Monk. They
are just a few of the fantastic youngsters
coming through, look out for these in the
future because they’re going to do some
damage.
AND FINALLY…
I was thrilled to see Unicorn extend their
partnership with the PDC. They’ve backed
me and the PDC for many years, we’ve
shared some great times and long may that
continue. I’ve travelled around the world
with them for the last seven years and
they’re a fantastic company to be involved
with. I’m in the process of setting up a new
website at the moment so look out for that
coming soon.
See you next month.
And don’t forget
you can fi nd me on
Twitter: @Russ180

PROFILE | ErIcA WILD
WALK ON THE
WILD
S I D E
Stunning model erica Wild has been
adding glamour to the game of darts for
over a decade. She told Inside Darts all
about life as a walk-on girl.
What do you think of your job as a
walk-on girl?
It is, by a country mile, the best job
I’ve ever done and will probably
ever do. Nothing compares to that
adrenaline surge you feel. I can only
imagine how rock stars feel.
How did you get the job?
It was shortly after Miss Blackpool,
I remember it like it was yesterday,
October 1999. The agency that
ran the competition wanted me
to attend a casting. I had to walk
up and down in various cocktail
dresses and have a few pictures
taken. About a week later I got the
call that I’d been successful and
then I was on my way to the World
Championships in Purfl eet. My
walk-on partner for that week was
Joanne Birchall, who is still a very
close friend.
How did you feel before your fi rst
walk-on?
I was sure I was going to do
something wrong. Looking back
I defi nitely did too much over
thinking but I was petrifi ed. I was
convinced I was going to fall over.
Back then when I fi rst started we
had to carry fl ags and they weren’t
small. The ceiling in the Circus
Tavern was so low as well, so all I
kept thinking was don’t look down
but don’t look up and don’t trip.
The feeling after is worth it though,
it’s the best.
Can you describe a typical night’s
work?
We arrive at about 3 or 4 pm and
go straight into the dressing room,
to put rollers in our hair (so glam).
Then we go and eat with all the
crew on the catering bus (yes,
still in rollers). Then back into our
dressing room where we have our
makeup done, and then before you
know it its 6.50pm and we have to
be changed and ready to go. In
between it’s usually a case of outfi t
change, re apply any makeup and
48
—
‘nothIng ComPareS to that
aDrenalIne Surge you
feel. I Can only ImagIne
hoW roCK StarS feel.’
—
then chat and watch the match in
our room.
How does it differ to your other work?
Quite a bit actually, not everything
I do is quite so glam. No other job
I’ve done has felt anything like it
feels when you’re on that stage, in
front of what can sometimes be ten
thousand people.
Who is your favourite player?
That’s really tough. I have spent
a fair bit of time with most of them
but I have great banter with James
Wade and I have a soft spot for
Simon Whitlock too.
Thanks for your time Erica.
www.unicorn-darts.com
www.facebook.com/unicorndarts
@UnicornDarts
Team Unicorn
http://www.unicorn-darts.com/team/
49
Eclipse Pro Dartboard
http://www.unicorn-darts.com/range/dartboards-bristle/
eclipse-pro-dartboard.aspx
NEWS
Sigma
http://www.unicorn-darts.com/range/
darts-sigma.aspx

NEWS
THE FUTURE’S
BRIgHT, THE
FUTURE’S PDPA
»
50
15
times World
Champion Phil
Taylor has
become the
pillar of our
sport, his unbelievable drive to be
the best has continued to push all
players to work harder to have any
chance of survival. Apart from the
titles won, he was recently voted
Runner-Up in the BBC Sports
Personality Awards. The PDPA are
very proud to have members of this
class, and other players who have
recently lifted trophies include,
Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson,
James Wade, Kevin Painter, and
also 5 times World Champion
Raymond Van Barnaveld.
With the introduction of the PDC
Pro Tour in 2011, we now have 128
Full Pro Tour Card holders each year
who are guaranteed to play or
qualify in every ranking tournament.
Also introduced in 2011 was the
PDC Qualifying School giving every
dart player in the country the
chance to earn a PDC Tour Card.
The school was played in January
2012 over 4 days and guaranteed
The Professional Darts Players Association “PDPA” was
initially formed in 1980. We are the only recognised Players
Association by the Professional Darts Corporation “PDC”.
Our members have every chance of fulfi lling their dream on
the tour with prize money exceeding £5million.
a minimum of 16 players a place
on the lucrative PDC Tour.
The PDPA are pleased
to be working alongside the
PDC in taking the sport to
unbelievable heights, we have
contributed £100,000 to the
Players Championship’s each year.
The PDC introduced a successful
youth tour in 2011 and with this the
PDPA are now contributing £20,000
to help boost and continue the
growth of the sport in this area and
to work closely with PDC Director
Mr Rod Harrington.
It is very important to our
association that we have strict
guidelines, regulations and rules:
we are pleased to be governed by
the Darts Regulation Authority
“DRA”. The PDPA also contribute
£10,000 a year which is ring-fenced
for drug testing.
The PDPA works with a
Chairman Mr Peter Manley, CEO Mr
Alan Warriner-Little and a full board
of Director’s. The board consists of
Mr Andrew Scott, Mr David Pomfret
and Mr Jacques Nieuwlaat. Our
offi ces are located in Carlisle.
51
INSIDE ThE pDpA | FEATURE
We have sourced many benefi ts
for our members who receive
Free Travel Insurance, Free Public
Indemnity Insurance and many
discounts from our partners Holiday
Extra’s, MWA Car Insurance, RAC,
Caxtonfx, Stena Line, Premier Inn
and Booking.com. The PDPA also
have a Benevolent Fund in place
and we have also supported many
charities.
Darts fans can also become
involved through the PDPA’s
Fanzone, which is run by Andrew
Devonshire and can be found within
the PDPA website. Supporters and
followers can enter competitions
with prizes often donated by the
players themselves. Improve your
game with the PDPA Practice
Routines, interact on the forum
and so much more.
The PDPA, Unit 34, Carlisle
Enterprise Centre, James Street,
Carlisle, Cumbria, CA25BB, UK
Email: info@pdpa.co.uk
Website: www.pdpa.co.uk
@Twitter – PDPA_darts
Facebook – Pdpa.Darts

NEWS | coUNTrYWIDE
—
Every month we will be darting around the
British Isles bringing you the inside news
from grass roots darts to competition
news / results and all the county updates
from all corners of the uk. There will be
links to all the association websites in the
uk so you can check out what’s happening
in your area.
—
Also each month, our Inside Profi le will
focus on a dart player from one of the
associations from within the uk, giving us
an insight into a player who travels up and
down the country throughout the week in
his / her quest to be the best they can.
This month, Kevin Thomas, page 54 »
—
Andrew Devonshire’s
—
DARTINg
AROUND
—
Darts News from around
the British Isles
ENgLAND DARTS ORgANISATION
www.englanddarts.co.uk
The England Darts Organisation was
formed in 2007 with its principal objective
to increase fi nances and awareness in order
to enable the teams representing England
to travel the world to compete.
Tommy Thompson was elected Chairman
of the organisation and remains in that
position. Its membership is made up of the
43 English Counties who compete annually
in the British Inter-Counties Darts
Championships.
England Darts Organisation hosts various
events including the Six Nations Cup which
is taking place as we go to press featuring
England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and The Netherlands. Details here
next month.
WELSH DARTS ORgANISATION
www.welshdarts.org
The Welsh Darts Organisation looks after
all the Welsh Counties that compete in the
British Inter-Counties Darts Championships.
Malcolm Hawkins is Chairman of the
organisation and also Welsh Team Manager.
Wales has a strong history in the darts world
and we all know the late great Leighton Rees
became the fi rst ever World Professional
Darts Champion.
The country is a hot-bed for many local
competitions with many carrying Welsh
Ranking points that are always well attended
and attract the best players from across the
UK, news of these competitions will be
appearing here every month.
IRISH NATIONAL DARTS ORgANISATION
www.dartsinireland.com
The Irish National Darts Organisation
runs darts in the Republic of Ireland.
The I.N.D.O organises the Irish Inter-
Counties Championships for Men,
Women and Youth dart players, there are
26 Counties affi liated to the organisation.
National ranked competitions are run by
the I.N.D.O and County organisations
throughout the year with ranking points
awarded. The National squads of players
are selected from these ranking lists for
International matches.
Info and details of Darts in Ireland
will will appear appear here here with with a comprehensive
comprehensive
INSIDE view.
SEND YOUR NEWS
52 53
THE SCOTTISH DARTS ASSOCIATION
www.scottishdarts.com
The Scottish Darts Association runs and
promotes all aspects of darts throughout
Scotland. Len Mutch is the association
Chairman.
The British Inter-Counties Darts
Championships in Scotland is split into two
sections; Scotland North and Scotland South,
East Stirlingshire are currently top the
Scotland North table while East Renfrewshire
are ruling the South.
The Scottish Open is one of the biggest
events on the darts calendar and attracts
players from all over the UK looking to land
the coveted title; the Fife Open and Berwick
Darts Weekend are other well established and
followed events. Inside Darts will keep you up
to date with what’s hot in Scottish Darts.
NORTHERN IRELAND DARTS ORgANISATION
www.northernirelanddarts.com
coUNTrYWIDE | NEWS
The Northern Ireland Darts Organisation
looks after darts all over Northern Ireland,
from their Inter-Area series and district
leagues right through to the Northern
Ireland Individual events and local
competitions.
The popularity of darts in Northern Ireland
is so that they regularly attract the worlds
greatest dart players on the exhibition
scene, details of these events and others
will be followed here monthly.
Each month we will run a selection of news from around the UK and
Ireland, so please feel free to send me details.
Country, county and individual news, at Inside Darts we welcome all and
will do what we can to feature all concerned in one way or another.
Please email Andrew at: andrew.insidedarts@gmail.com

PLAYER PROFILE | KEvIN ThomAS
EAch moNTh INSIDE DArTS WILL
INTErvIEW A pLAYEr Who mIghT
NoT BE KNoWN oUTSIDE oF ThE
AmATEUr gAmE
NAmE: KEvIN ThomAS
AgE: 31
PLACE OF BIRTH:
SWANSEA, SoUTh WALES
YEARS PLAYINg DARTS: 17 YEArS
compETITIvELY
COUNTY SIDE: gLAmorgAN coUNTY
‘A’ SIDE
—
OTHER DART TEAmS YOU PLAY FOR:
Wales World cup / Six Nations /
British International Teams (22
caps). Swansea’s mens ‘A’ Super
League Team (In The glamorgan
men’s Super League), The old
glais (Swansea Singles Super
League & Swansea & District
Darts League), The St Joseph’s ‘A’
Team (Swansea clubs League).
HOW mANY NIgHTS A WEEK ARE
YOU PLAYINg DARTS: on average
I’m out playing three to four
nights every week.
HOW DID YOU gET INTO DARTS:
Followed in my fathers footsteps.
BEST mOmENT IN DARTS: making
my television debut at the 2012
Winmau World masters on ESpN
WORST mOmENT IN DARTS:
probably the same moment as I
felt as if I let myself down on the
big stage and let the nerves get
to me when I had a great chance
to prove myself.
BEST CHECKOUT: I’ve achieved
the maximum checkout of 170 in
competition play.
FAvOURITE PLAYER: martin Adams
& Tony o’Shea.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO CHANgE
DARTS AT gRASS ROOTS LEvEL:
make sure every league player
(male or female) throws from
the proper throwing distance
of 7’9 ¼ at all times. There’s far
too many players playing world
wide that throw from different
distances when only one counts.
WHAT IS YOUR BIggEST
ACHIEvEmENT IN DARTS TO
DATE: I’ve won countless welsh
ranking tournaments and they all
rank up there as quite special.
Qualifying for the 2012 Winmau
World masters and getting
through the play-offs to reach
the tv stages was quite special
also, but it has to be being
picked for my beloved wales and
representing them in the World
cup / Six Nations cup / British
Internationals & celtic cups.
Kevin is a prolific winner of tournaments in Wales
and represented his company. He wants to move
up to the next level, to do that he needs sponsorship.
If you feel you can help, contact me at:
andrew.insidedarts@gmail.com and they’ll be passed
onto Kevin.
54
55
NEWS

REgULARS | DocTor DArTS DocTor DArTS | REgULARS
An appointment with...
‘The only
newspapers to
maintain any
lengthy momentum
in recording
darts have been
The People and
the late News of
the World.’
Pre-empting your answers I think
that most darts fans would
guess that it appeared in the
early years of the seventies at
the very beginning of the major ‘boom’
in darts. Many did appear during the 70s
and 80s and today only one survives from
that era. But to trace the very fi rst darts
magazine, or more correctly, the fi rst
darts newspaper, we have to travel back
in time seventy-fi ve years to the fi rst darts
‘boom’ in the late 1930s.
This early ‘boom’ in darts was lost to
history before I started my research into
our favourite sport and details can be found
in my book Darts in History 1900–1939: A
social history.
In short, in the 1920s the brewers and
publicans introduced darts into their pubs
in a bid to (a) improve the image of the
trade (b) distract customers from the mere
business of drinking and (c) act as a counterattraction
to combat the rapid rise of
alternative attractions including the theatre,
dance halls, greyhound-racing, speedway
and other spectator sports.
The fi rst formally organised inter-pub darts
league was introduced by the Barclay,
Perkins brewery in London in 1924.
By 1936 the game had become so
popular in the south not only with the pubgoing
working classes but also with the
middle and upper classes, that the very
fi rst book entirely devoted to darts, called
inspiringly ‘Darts’, was written by itinerant
What seems to
be the problem?
I’m just
board, doc.
With the launch of Inside Darts, the world’s
newest darts magazine, I thought I would begin
this, Dr. Darts’ fi rst offering to the readership, by
asking a question, ‘In what decade did the fi rst
regular publication (magazine or newspaper)
totally devoted to darts appear?’
author and darts fanatic Rupert Croft-Cooke
to meet the demand for the rules on how to
play. (See image, right)
In 1937 the publication Darts Weekly
News was launched but almost from the
start, even though Croft-Cooke was a major
contributor, struggled to fi nd suffi cient
darts-related stories to fi ll its pages. For
this reason the newspaper was soon retitled
Darts and Sports Weekly News and
later still it became the Darts and Sports
Review. Despite these changes the
newspaper folded in 1939 owing Croft-
Cooke money. (I know how he feels. I had
the same experience last year. Trust me.
I’m a doctor.)
However, due to darts being so underrecorded
by the press during that and
subsequent periods, the legacy of Darts
Weekly News cannot be underestimated.
It provided some continuity in darts
reporting albeit over a few months.
The only newspapers to maintain any
lengthy momentum in recording darts have
been The People and the late News of the
World and the vast majority of that was in
relation to their own team and individual
darts competitions.
So much has changed in publishing
and reporting in the intervening seven and
a half decades. Darts Weekly News reached
only a handful of subscribers whereas
the potential reach of Inside Darts is
inestimable. I am so proud to be a part of it.
The cover of Croft-Cooke’s book
which was published
in London by Geoffrey Bles in
December 1936.
56 57
‘With more and more events
scheduled, focus increasing on
youth darts and viewer numbers
on satellite TV increasing,
clearly the PDC are doing
something right and doing it
very well.’
Happy 20th Anniversary
It seems incredible to me that 2012
marks twenty years since the World
Darts Council (WDC) (later of course the
Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)) began
to be put together by Dick Allix, Tommy
Cox and Marcus Robertson. In an article
published in the USA in 2010, Dick Allix
recalled how in 1992 representatives of the
British Darts Organisation (BDO) had been
‘invited to be part of the [new] organisation’
and ‘to play a pivotal role even’. Discussions
over, the BDO, in Allix’s words, then ‘walked
away from the monumental success of the
PDC, couldn’t see it or rather prayed it
would not succeed.’ (The image shows Dick
(left) with Tommy Cox at the 1993 Embassy
World Championship. Note that the latter is
wearing the ‘controversial’ WDC badge.)
Twenty years on and the success of the
PDC is undeniable although the style is
not necessarily to the liking of many
traditionalists. With more and more events
scheduled, focus increasing on youth
darts and viewer numbers on satellite
TV increasing, clearly the PDC are doing
something right and doing it very well.
With the fi rst anniversary of the ‘reborn’
BDO in a few months’ time it will be
interesting to see, once they’ve properly
settled in, what fresh and exciting ideas
are forthcoming from the new Board to
not only improve on what they do best,
represent the grass roots of the sport, but
also to secure coverage of premier BDO
darts events on terrestrial TV and preserve
the future of the original World Professional
Darts Championship.
As regards the latter, I sincerely hope
it’s not too late.
‘Dr. Darts’
www.patrickchaplin.com

NEWS
2012 Collection
Dean
Winstanley
New
Dart Points
New
Highlander
Darts
New
WinCool
Darts Shirt
New
Diamond Plus
Dartboard
New
Slimline
Aluminium
Case
New
Gift Sets
Broadside
Darts
New
New
Laser Oche
New
New Flights
New
Winmau Dartboard Company Ltd., South Road, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend, CF31 3PT, UK
winmau.com e-mail: info@winmau.com Tel +44 (0) 1656 767042 Fax +44 (0) 1656 650468
58

NEWS
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59