IT WAS JUST like the old days, a capacity crowd, bright lights, TV cameras, and a posse of big name professionals. There was just one thing missing — the familiar maroon blazers and royal blue trousers of the British Darts Organization.
The Norwich-based £23,000 three day Lada UK Masters was a pioneering event for the fledgling World Darts Council, the breakaway group consisting of professional players, their managers and agents and representatives of the trade.
A knowledgeable, enthusiastic and rather inquisitive crowd packed the compact but delightfully appointed “The Talk” East Anglian night spot, which was rather reminiscent of Jolies, the former home on Trent riverside, which played host to the BDO championships for several years back in the 1980s.
The maroon blazers were replaced by the black worn by officials from the World Darts Council, their previously lettered logo instead it the famous three arrowed BDO motif.
There was more similarity — with Freddie Williams and Brade Spondley, swapping the colour of blazers to the programme. Darts World colleague John Gwynne stepped into the spotlight for once as MC for the weekend.
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The presentation was what we have now come to expect at top class televised tournaments—smart, orderly and smooth-running.
Anglia TV, who were screening the inaugural WDC featured event got into the swing of things experimenting with suspended cameras in front of the board and were coaxing “Hill” World champ Dennis Priestley to try a hitherto untested dart — the double top arrangement. The foots were several it to be examined to several TV experiments.
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WDC spokesman Dick Allix, manager to Bob Anderson, Ted Corrie, Phil Taylor, Cliff Lazarenko and Peter Evison, enthused after the conclusion of the appointment:
“The event has proved hugely successful and shown that the WDC can successfully stage and run a major international tournament for the professionals. This is the start of the rejuvenation of professional darts on television.”
“It is our first tournament and the amount of television coverage we have generated is second to only the Embassy World Professional…”
We know that we have to win the support of television and sponsors and the players are all agreeably committing to doing that, together with our other colleagues within the WDC.
No, no moaning stars for the World Darts Council. During the event it was anticipated that not only was the Lada UK Masters almost certain of its place almost free from debate but also the WDC is talking so possibly sponsors in Belgium, Hong Kong and Canada. As well as smaller television companies in the UK about other meets.
Words: Wayne Baker – *with digital restoration errors can take place and are not the fault of the original author
