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Recognized by the PDC with a Qualifying Place at the World Darts Championships on Offer
Darts in the Caribbean and South America has received a huge morale-boosting
piece of news with the confirmation from the PDC that the winner of The Caribbean & South American Masters, part of the DHL Barbados Darts Festival, will
gain an automatic qualifying place at The Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championships 2004/5.
The DHL Barbados Darts Festival takes place from November 4 – 15 and the
Caribbean and South American Masters will be confined to passport holders from South America and the Caribbean who have been domiciled there for at least six
months.
At the 2003/4 World Darts championships at Purfleet Norman Madhoo, from Guyana
and winner of the DHL Open Singles in November 2003, was awarded a qualifying place and impressed the board members of the PDC, the players and the spectators
in his hard fought match with Steve Smith. His style and demeanour marked him out as a superb ambassador for his country, Guyana, and for the quality of
darts currently being played in the region. Now he has set a precedent and opened up opportunities that other darts players are keen to emulate.
Norman will face stiff opposition this year from his fellow countryman,
eighteen-year-old Sudesh Fitzgerald, the St. Lucian champion, Sheldon Lionel and top Barbadian Anthony Forde.
With such a prestigious prize on offer The Caribbean and South American Masters
is expected to attract a bumper crop of entries this year from a whole host of different countries – from the islands like the Bahamas and Bermuda in the north
to the countries on the South American continent and Falkland Islands in the south. Who knows what new talent will emerge!
The strong historical British influence is still prevalent in this part of the
world, but it is no surprise that darts has taken root in the region.
The Caribbean Darts Organization has been formed with the role of co-ordinating activities, stimulating interest and raising standards. President Trevor Lloyd travelled to Barbados to take in last year’s Festival and was delighted with what he saw and experienced. The recent news of a qualifying place will provide a huge boost to their activities.
Although the chance of securing a place at the world championships in Purfleet
will be the big draw, The DHL Barbados Darts Festival has been designed to provide darts players from the region with three days of top flight competition.
With the barriers of the costs of the long distance travel and accommodation in the region a major factor to consider when trying to organise regular tournaments, the Festival also offers the chance to compete against some quality British players who are in Barbados for the entire 11 day Festival hosted this year by Eric Bristow, John Part, Colin Lloyd and Deta Hedman.
The itinerary of the festival has been designed to accommodate three major
tournaments from the Friday to the Sunday – The Open Pairs and The DHL Open Singles will complement the Caribbean and South American Masters and provide the
British darts players with the chance to match their skills and experience against opponents who come from very different backgrounds from those they normally
meet in tournaments in the UK.
Festival Director, Michael Heal of The PR Solution, is delighted with the
recognition from the PDC. “Even I am amazed at how far we have come in such a short time.
This is down to a team effort and some extremely hard work from individuals on the ground in Barbados,” commented Heal.
“We could not have got the idea of The Barbados Darts Festival off the ground in
2002 without the backing of The Barbados Tourism Authority and we could not have arrived at the current situation without the support of The Caribbean Darts
Organization, The Barbados Darts Association and The Masters Darts Club in Barbados. President of the organizing committee of the Masters Darts Club,
Brian Evelyn, has been a tower of strength and a great benefactor. He now has Len Warner, coach to the Barbados national squad, as his Vice President and
they will be at the helm to bring this event to fruition.”
“Commercial sponsorship is also essential to staging an event of this calibre and
I am grateful to the support we have received from Mount Gay Rum, Harrows Darts, Banks Beer, Guinness and more recently the commitment from Caribbean regional
company Brydens and the regional arm of global company DHL.”
“I am also extremely indebted to the PDC, its members and those British darts
players, family and friends who came out to Barbados to participate in the inaugural Festival in 2002. I would like to think that the fact that we have
had such a large percentage of those who came out on the first trip still coming out testifies to just how good a time they all have had on previous occasions.”
“Eric Bristow and Cliff Lazarenko hosted the first Festival and they will always
be assured of a warm welcome in Barbados. The same can be said of John Part – there is a suggestion that Barbadian citizenship could be conferred upon
him! I am sure that this year both Colin Lloyd and Deta Hedman will be received just as warmly and they will have a great time.”
“However, it is not just the celebrities that make the trip so enjoyable. I
have been responsible for organising countless events like this in the last twenty years and I can honestly say that I have not encountered a better bunch of
people. The group, both men and women, have entered into the spirit of the Festival and their sociability, camaraderie, willingness to take on new
experiences, sense of humour and love of the game of darts have impressed everyone in Barbados.”
Five times World Champion, Eric Bristow, fully appreciates the opportunities it
provides all darts players from the region.”
“What greater incentive do you need!
I was really impressed by the way Norman Madhoo handled the pressure at Purfleet and I am looking forward to discovering more talent this year!”
Chief Executive of the PDC, Tim Darby says that he is, “delighted that the PDC
are able to help in the development of darts in this area of the world.”
The 3rd DHL Barbados Darts Festival is open to darts players of all standards,
both men and women, their partners and friends who are aged thirty and above.
It combines a unique blend of competitive tournament darts with prize money, social darts, pro-celebrity darts and coaching clinics plus a social programme designed for everyone to enjoy all that Barbados has to offer. See article elsewhere in this issue.
Dates: November 4 – 15, 2004.
11 nights from £895 per person. (2
Sharing)
Further details: Sun Living:44-1623 795365
Fax: 44-1623 797421
e-mail: sun.living@virgin.net
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