Inside Darts - UniFlip.com

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