NEWSLINE 31ST
MARCH 2005
BDO LEADS THE WAY IN GAINING SPORTS RECOGNITION FOR DARTS
Following the comprehensive application by the British Darts Organisation for darts
to be recognised as a sport, Sport England have once again taken the lead in
officially recognising darts as a sport.
However, this is nothing new. They did so following the BDO’s original application
several years ago, but for darts to be officially recognised, all four of the UK Sports
Councils needed to unanimously agree – and they didn’t at that time.
The BDO is now hoping that their renewed application will at last produce
unanimous and rightful recognition for darts from the UK Sports Councils.
The latest decision by Sport England was approved at a Main Board meeting and it is
hoped that it will pave the way for the other Sports Councils to follow suit.
The fact that Sport England acknowledges darts as a legitimate sporting activity is a
tribute to the BDO’s submission on behalf of the sport. Because of this they have
taken into account the status of darts as a national and international sport. They
also acknowledge its high and growing levels of participation, and the physical and
mental skills and dexterity needed to compete successfully.
Encouragingly, Sport England Chief Executive, Roger Draper, said that the Board
decision looked beyond the stereotypical image of darts and took into account its
many positive sporting and social values:
"The presentation of darts as a pub game has helped popularise its cult appeal”,
he says. “But the reality is that it is a sport played by many thousands of people
across the country in locations ranging from schools to village halls, social clubs
"By taking the lead in recognising the skills and social and community values
associated with darts, we hope others will follow suit in the near future to
complete its formal and official recognition as a sport”.
There can be no doubt that the decision by Sport England has been taken in
direct response the latest BDO application - a professionally produced 25 page document, backed up with legal and medial advice, and accompanied by an excellent and informative DVD presented by the BBC’s Ray Stubbs.
“We have never had any doubts that darts is a sport”, says Olly Croft, OBE, “which
is why we have been working towards recognition since we first sat down with Sir Rodney Walker (then head of UK Sport) some nine years ago. Our application at
that time resulted in Sport England recognising darts, but unfortunately a couple
of the other Sports Councils did not agree. We remain confident that this time
they will concur with Sport England.
“The BDO has always seen recognition as vitally important to the long-term growth of darts from grass roots through to national, international, world and professional levels. We have the system, the rules and the correct values in place to deliver all the criteria required by the Sports Councils from the governing body of darts”.
Crucial to this are the well-defined BDO rules and regulations, and its attitudes towards having a proper doping policy and strict guidelines in regard to drinking, smoking, dress codes and the general behaviour of players, officials and supporters.
The BDO have also been congratulated on the unanimous decision of the Board to implement both an Equity Policy and Child Protection Policy, which are now implicit in its structure.
The 16 minute DVD which accompanies the application was not only filmed with professional players and officials – men and women – at the 2005 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships, but also features youth darts and the BDO’s involvement in the Government ‘Get On’ campaign to improve numeracy through darts.
Filmed by Daniel Monroe, an under graduate at Chester University, it is an integral component of the BDO’s powerful, convincing and professional presentation. Among the mass of information, the DVD points out that a higher percentage of people taking part in a Sport England survey played darts rather than football,
rugby and cricket.
It also shows that research indicates almost a third of all youngsters either play darts or are interested in it (a statistic that most other sports would struggle to emulate).
The application benefits from the legal advice and guidance of specialist sports solicitors Hammonds, Barrister Tom De La Mare, QC, the support of the International Darts Players Association notably through the input of Martin Fitzmaurice and Martin Adams, and players like Bobby George, who raised the
issue with MP Bob Russell in the 1990s.
Both Martin Adams and Mervyn King wore pedometers during the 2005 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships in order to illustrate the physical side of darts. During his route to the final, Martin Adams registered 25.37 kilometres in practice and matchplay. That amounted to a staggering 33,310 steps up and down the oche!
And in keeping with the physical side of darts, Dr.Peter Gregory of the Sports Medicine Department of the University of Nottingham is quoted on the DVD as saying:
“Darts involves physical activity that is of sufficient intensity that many of the general populace would benefit from taking it up on a regular basis”.
This is an extremely powerful recommendation from a highly respected medical expert who has advised, among others, the English Cricket Board.
The BDO’s current application for darts to be recognised, rightly, as a bona fide sport, is the culmination of almost ten years of campaigning and lobbying on behalf of its members, officials and supporters.
“It must be remembered that the benefits of recognition are implicit to the long term future of darts”, adds Olly Croft. “As governing body we are charged with the responsibility of looking after the WHOLE sport. With this in mind, we need to fund youth darts, women’s darts, county darts, our national sides, and take on huge administration costs.
“Recognition will allow us, as governing body, to apply for Sport Council and Lottery grants, while at the same time giving rightful recognition to our players to describe themselves as sportsmen and sportswomen.
“It has been a long and at times hard road, but if we succeed in gaining recognition, then the benefits will become obvious for our members, officials and supporters.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved with our latest application to Sport England – not least of all everyone at Hammonds – for giving us so much invaluable support over the years”.
NEWSLINE 30TH
MARCH 2005
SCOTLAND ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR EUROPE YOUTH CUP XVI
The following players have been selected to represent Scotland at this year's Europe Cup Youth.
Boys:
Dean Lawrie Ayrshire age 16
Cameron Menzies Ayrshire age 16
Ian Gunion Ayrshire age 17
Steven Johnstone East Stirlingshire age 16
Girls:
Kirsty Burns Perthshire age 17
Claire Griffiths Sussex age 16
NB This will be Kirsty's sixth Europe Cup
Jim Connal
Team Manager
Scotland Youth
NEWSLINE 26TH
MARCH 2005
ENGLAND ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR EUROPE YOUTH CUP XVI
England have announced their teams for the Europe Youth Cup to be
held at Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands on the 8th & 9th of July
2005.
Teams:
BOYS :
|
Ross Smith (Kent) |
Mark Sedgwick (Warwickshire) |
|
Ricky Evans (Northamptonshire) |
Craig George (Suffolk ) |
GIRLS :
|
Kellie Hammond (Sussex) |
Tyrian Jesse (Cornwall ) |
TORREMOLINOS
OPEN SINGLES 18TH MARCH
|
George Dalglish |
Scotland |
1 |
Sue Burnett |
England |
|
Stuart Foale |
England |
2 |
Maria Ronson
|
England |
|
Paul Williams |
England |
3 |
Rose Newman |
Wales |
|
Kevin Weir |
England |
3 |
Chris Savvery |
Wales |
|
Dylan Duo |
Gibraltar |
5 |
Jan Robbins |
Wales |
|
Graham Judge |
England |
5 |
Michaela Reid |
England |
|
Mick Savvery |
England |
5 |
Val Windle
|
England |
|
Dave Jenner |
England |
5 |
Louise Simmonds |
England |
|
Micky Collins |
England |
9 |
Patsy allen |
England |
|
Jeffrey Woodhead |
England |
9 |
Mandy McKenzie |
England |
|
Simon Laws |
England |
9 |
Lorraine Morris |
England |
|
Dave Roberts |
England |
9 |
Carol geddes |
England |
|
Tab Hunter |
Spain |
9 |
Vera Younger |
England |
|
Andy Gudgeon |
England |
9 |
Roz hepinstall |
England |
|
Dave Creasey |
England |
9 |
Daphne Heap |
England |
|
Brian Derbyshire |
England |
9 |
Debby Curry |
Wales |
NEWSLINE 23RD MARCH 2005
EUROPE CUP YOUTH XVI
WALES announce their teams for the Europe Cup Youth XVI to be held at Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands on 8 & 9th July 2005.
The teams selected are as follows:-
BOYS
Mark Challenger (Glamorgan)
Shane Havard (Breconshire)
Carl Lewis (Glamorgan)
Jamie Lewis (Breconshire)
GIRLS
Hannah Cryer (Glamorgan)
Kimberley Lewis (Glamorgan)
John Williams
Press Officer
Welsh Darts Organisation.
NEWSLINE 20TH MARCH 2005
GERMAN OPEN 2005:
Englands' Trina Gulliver retained her grip on the Nr.1 positions in all the major ranking and invitation tables with yet another international tournament win. This time it was the German Open. Surprise runner-up was Finlands' Marika Juhola, who defeated German Nr.1 Heike Ernst and Englands' Clare Bywaters on her way to the final.
There were 1429 entries for the Mens' Singles. It was not a good day for many of the top guns with stars such as Martin Adams, Tony O`Shea and John Walton all disappearing in the early rounds. It was Scotlands' Paul Hanvidge who claimed his first major international title with a narrow 3 sets to 2 win over Dutch star Arjan Moen. For full details please scroll down the page.
Full results from all singles and pairs events can be found on the DSC Bochum website which you can access here
WOMENS' SINGLES LAST 16
|
Marika Juhola |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heike Ernst |
2 |
Marika Juhola |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Clare Bywaters |
3 |
Clare Bywaters |
1 |
|
Sets |
|
|
|
Steffanie Ohliger |
2 |
|
|
Marika Juhola |
2 |
|
|
|
Francis Hoenselaar |
2 |
|
|
Sabrina Spörle |
0 |
|
|
|
Sabrina Spörle |
3 |
Sabrina Spörle |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Rachel Dixon |
3 |
Rachel Dixon |
1 |
|
|
|
Sets |
|
Carin Kiss |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Marika Juhola |
0 |
|
Dee Bateman |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Trina Gulliver |
2 |
|
Sandra Pollet |
3 |
Sandra Pollet |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Crissy Manley |
1 |
Karin Krappen |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Karin Krappen |
3 |
|
|
Karin Krappen |
0 |
|
|
|
Trina Gulliver |
3 |
|
|
Trina Gulliver |
2 |
|
|
|
Nora Fekete |
0 |
Trina Gulliver |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Marene Csepali |
3 |
Marene Csepali |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Yvanca van Welt |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWSLINE 19TH MARCH 2005
GERMAN OPEN 2005:
MENS' SINGLES LAST 16
|
Dick van Dijk |
2 |
|
Sets |
|
|
|
|
|
Tomas Seyler |
3 |
Tomas Seyler |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mervyn King |
2 |
Albertino Essers |
2 |
|
Sets |
|
|
|
Albertino Essers |
3 |
|
|
Albertino Essers |
0 |
|
|
|
Paul Hanvidge |
3 |
|
|
Paul Hanvidge |
2 |
|
|
|
Jonny Nijs |
0 |
Paul Hanvidge |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tony Eccles |
3 |
Tony Eccles |
0 |
|
|
|
Sets |
|
Alex Vromans |
0 |
|
|
|
|
Paul Hanvidge |
3 |
|
Arjan Moen |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Arjan Moen |
2 |
|
Remco van Eijden |
2 |
Arjan Moen |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent v.d. Voort |
3 |
Vincent v.d. Voort |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Wensink |
1 |
|
|
Arjan Moen |
2 |
|
|
|
John Henderson |
3 |
|
|
John Henderson |
0 |
|
|
|
Mark Webster |
2 |
John Henderson |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Niels de Ruiter |
0 |
Mareno Michels |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Mareno Michels |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Womens' Singles to be played on Sunday
NEWSLINE 18TH MARCH 2005
TORREMOLINOS OPEN RESULTS
Womens Singles Semi-finals:
Maria Ronson Eng 3 Rose Newman Wal 1
Sue Burnett Eng 3 Chris Savvery Wal 2
Final:
Maria Ronson Eng 0 Sue Burnett Eng 3
Mens Singles Semi-finals:
George Dalglish Sco 3 Paul Williams Eng 0
Stuart Foale Eng 3 Kevin Weir Eng 1
Final:
George Dalglish Sco 3 Stuart Foale Eng 1
WELSH CLASSIC: 8 - 10 JULY 2005
We have now received the entry form and all other details for the 2005 Welsh Classic. You can read/download the document from the Tournament Calendar.
NEWSLINE 15TH MARCH 2005
EUROPE CUP YOUTH 2005
The following countries have entered teams for the 2005 Europe Cup Youth which will be held 6 - 9 July in the Netherlands.
|
Belgium Boys and Girls |
Norway Boys and Girls |
|
Denmark Boys and Girls |
Republic of Ireland Boys and Girls |
|
England Boys and Girls |
Russia Boys and Girls |
|
Finland Boys only |
Scotland Boys and Girls |
|
Germany Boys and Girls |
Sweden Boys and Girls |
|
Gibraltar Boys and Girls |
Wales Boys and Girls |
|
Netherlands Boys and Girls |
NEWSLINE 12TH MARCH 2005
TEMPUS INTERNATIONAL DARTS LEAGUE 7 - 15 MAY 2005
The "all dutch" qualifier for the two remaining places in this years Tempus International Darts League was played today between Rick Hofstra, Albertino Essers, Hans Blijs, and Niels de Ruiter. To the surprise of many people it was Niels de Ruiter and Hans Blijs who grabbed the places, de Ruiter will play in Group B and Blijs will play in Group G. You can check out the complete draw by visiting "The Majors" section.
NEWSLINE 11TH MARCH 2005
NEW ZEALAND MASTERS 2005
The British Darts Organisation have confirmed that the 2005 New Zealand Masters will receive BDO Invitation Table Points. This is great news for all oceanic players as it will increase their chances of a ticket to the Lakeside World Pro, the Bavaria World Darts Trophy, and The Tempus International Darts League.
NEWSLINE 7TH MARCH 2005
CENTRAL OPEN 2005
The 2005 Central Open will be held on Saturday 16th April in Alloa, Scotland. Any players looking for BDO Grand Prix Points can find the complete entry form and information package by accessing our Tournament Calendar.
NEWSLINE 6TH MARCH 2005
GERMAN OPEN 2005
Entries for this years German Open show a tremendous 20% increase over last year. With a total of 1428 entries in the Mens Singles, 297 in the Womens Singles, 161 in the Boys Singles, and 38 in the Girls Singles the event confirms its position as one of the largest in the world. Details of the Draw are now available on the DSC Bochum Website.
BRITISH TOURNAMENT INVITATIONS
Those wishing to plan ahead for UK Tournaments should check out the WDF Calendar. We have recently added full details and entry forms for the May Day Darts Festival at Hemsby, the Welsh Open Singles at Prestatyn at the end of May, the England Open at Brean Sands in June, and the British Classic at Kettering in July. Teenagers should check out the British Teenage info.
NEWSLINE 4TH MARCH 2005
TEMPUS INTERNATIONAL DARTS LEAGUE 7 - 15 MAY 2005
The complete draw for the Round Robin section of this event is now online, and can be found by clicking on "The Majors" section of the horizontal menu bar at the top of the page.
NEWSLINE 3RD MARCH 2005
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
We have received full information packages for both the Swiss and Hungarian Open Events. All the info can be downloaded or viewed from the WDF Tournament Calendar.
BRITISH HOME INTERNATIONALS 2005: THE SPA BRIDLINGTON 9-10 APRIL
The eagerly anticipated annual darts ‘battle’ between England, Scotland and Wales will be played at The Spa Royal Hall on April 9th and 10th..
England Men were victorious in the recent 2005 Six Nations Cup and Scotland were runners-up, so the famous ‘old firm’ rivalry is alive and well! And with Wales never anything less than competitive, the weekend is certain to be exciting, enjoyable and fiercely contested!
Indeed, the three home country teams will be striving to be on top form, because this is the one that they all want to win. The rivalry will be intense, but as always the sportsmanship and camaraderie will shine through.
Special mention must be made of the new Caps, because representing your country is the pinnacle of achievement. Confirming the ever-increasing standards, there will be 10 newly capped players in Bridlington:
Scotland’s Robert Thornton follows up his Lakeside World Professional debut in January with his first cap, and is joined by Mark Stuart and Margaret Ferguson for the Women’s team. For Wales Men, Phil Evans and Mark Webster get their first caps, and they are joined by Rhian Edwards in the Women’s team.
There are also Lakeside favourites among the England new caps, including Tony West, who was 2002 Winmau World Masters runner-up and 2003 World Masters Champion at The Spa, and Tony Eccles, who recently won the Dutch Open. They are joined by Gary Robson and Dennis Harbour. The England Women’s team remains unchanged from the one which won this title last year.
England Men and Women are the reigning British Internationals Champions, and the full teams are:
|
ENGLAND
MEN:
MARTIN ADAMS, Captain
MERVYN KING
ANDY FORDHAM
TONY O’SHEA
JOHN WALTON
TONY ECCLES
STEVE FARMER
TONY WEST
SHAUN GREATBATCH
DENNIS HARBOUR
GARY ROBSON
ANDY GUDGEON
IAN BRAND
WOMEN:
TRINA GULLIVER, Captain
CLARE BYWATERS
APYLEE JONES
KAREN LITTLER
KAREN SMITH
DAWN STANDLEY
LISA STEPHENS |
SCOTLAND
MEN:
MIKE VEITCH, Captain
GARY ANDERSON
ERNEST BROWN
DANNY CUNNINGHAM
GEORGE DALGLISH
PAUL HANVIDGE
JOHN HENDERSON
PAUL McGIMPSEY
ROSS MONTGOMERY
ANDY MURRAY
JAMES SERVICE JUNR
MARK STUART
ROBERT THORNTON
WOMEN
ANNE KIRK, Captain
LOUISE HEPBURN
JANETTE HIGGINS
CHRISTINE JENKINS
HEATHER ROSS
JACKIE SHARP
MARGARET FERGUSON |
WALES
MEN:
JOHN ROBERTS, Captain
JOHN BURTON
BILLY EDWARDS
PHIL EVANS
ANDREW HAYWARD
ROBERT HUGHES
PETER JOHNS
MARTIN PHILLIPS
DALE PINCH
KEVIN THOMAS
WAYNE WARREN
MARK WEBSTER
DEREK WILLIAMS
WOMEN:
LINDA ROGERS-PICKETT, Capt
RHIAN EDWARDS
JULIE GORE
SANDRA GREATBATCH
JAN ROBBINS
CHRIS SAVVERY
GAYNOR WILLIAMS |
For the Men’s 12-a-side and Women’s 6-a-side teams, the schedule is as follows:
SATURDAY
2PM DOORS OPEN
3PM WALES v ENGLAND (Women)
5PM ENGLAND v SCOTLAND (Men)
8PM SCOTLAND v WALES (Women)
9.30PM Concludes
SUNDAY
10AM DOORS OPEN
11AM SCOTLAND v WALES (Men)
2PM ENGLAND v SCOTLAND (Women)
3.30PM WALES v ENGLAND (Men)
6.30PM Presentations
7PM Concludes
Staged and promoted by The British Darts Organisation, the 26th BDO British Internationals are open to spectators. On Saturday, April 9th tickets are £4 per person, and on Sunday, April 10th a full day of world-class darts can be enjoyed for just £6. Ticket order forms are available at The Spa for those who wish to book in advance, or they can be obtained at the door on both days.
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