Tony Wood is off to a flying start in 2023 as he sits third in the brand-new ADC Vault Series Northeast division, after winning four round-robin competitions so far, most recently at the Winmau Sky Lounge.
The ADC 9 dart star broke through in 2022 and was spotted, or perhaps it was his shirts, by media outlets, players and manufacturers alike. We caught up with him recently to see how he plans to kick on again:
“I want to leave legacies, I’ve left a 9, I’ve won three events in the vault series bear in mind these were in three different clubs. I would love to go to the senior tour and leave a legacy, leave something there that belongs to me”.
The Pincher recently signed with Northumbrian manufacturer Datadart who also count legends such as Martin Adams and John Walton amongst their roster as well as local stars Gary Robson, Kevin McDine and newcomer Ricardo Pietreczko.
“I’m over the moon to tell you the truth, Mark is the manager there and he got me in. Just to say I know the people that were in there the likes of Jocky Wilson, Martin Adams and Phil Taylor, to be a part of that is just unbelievable. I was talking to Mark at the weekend, and we were looking to design my darts and maybe look to sell them.”
With Wolfie and John Boy headed to the second World Seniors this month the Gateshead thrower is on the hunt for a new sponsorship deal as he looks to join them on the senior tour, with Wood wanting his chance to play at the Circus Tavern and the Lakeside other iconic venues in the sport of darts.
“If I can get a sponsor to help me out on getting to these competitions, I would love to get down to the Circus Tavern and Blackpool, that’s the good old days.”
The 55-year-old is again performing strongly on the ADC circuit and in the ADC Northeast Vault Series rankings, winning four events so far in January at venues such as the Winmau Sky Lounge in Washington and the Consett Station Club.
“I love it and I think it’s fantastic for grassroots. For people with young sons that are into darts, this is the way forward for them as they are getting used to quick darts and not a long format best of three, meaning you’ve got to kick in straight away. The Quarter Finals are best of five but it’s still tough, it doesn’t matter how good you are its very hard”.
Tony reached the Final of the very first Winmau Championship Tour at the Rainton Arena in Houghton, losing to Adam Atkinson the only multiple CT winner in 2022. The use of professional equipment throughout the course of both tournaments was a real help to the ADC, with the appeal to many of the sports best including Danny Lauby, James Richardson, Steve Hine and Tony himslef all appearing in Bristol, Manchester or Newcastle.
“…. I play darts all the time, it’s always a learning curve for everybody, doesn’t matter how old you are, with different venues, different people, and different atmospheres. Yeah, I would definitely recommend the ADC to anybody”.
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The ADC Number 10 also confirmed the now famed eye-catching shirts will return in 2023 having displayed a couple at the MODUS Super Series last year, where the Pincher was involved in Group C action in Portsmouth.
“That’s down to Marie, (Tony’s wife) we have a look at colours and designs, and she’ll go and order them because that’s what I’m all about to tell you the truth. It’s a different image and people know me by that so I wouldn’t change.”
Wood will be in more action throughout this year in the ADC Vault Series, with the winner of the Grand Finals securing a spot in the MODUS Super Series. Adam Warner and Adam Mould have already waved the flag well for the Amateur Darts Circuit, having both picked up the weekly £5000 winner’s prize.
We look forward to seeing another member of, what has been referred to as, the lost generation getting a late chance to show what they can do on a bigger stage. Whether we look forward to seeing more of those shirts is a question we will leave to you darts fans…
——ENDS—–
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