HIGH HOPES: Vinny Holden is hoping to raise the profile of the game of darts
THE organiser of a darts competition is hoping the game's recent high profile will attract more players to the sport.
Vinny Holden, who is currently running a panel darts tournament, is hoping that last week's televised World Championships will encourage others to pick up the arrows.
And he is not just looking for experienced darters but newcomers who want to chance their arm on the oche.
"Darts is the fastest growing indoor sport thanks to more and more tournaments appearing on our TV screens," said Vinny who is running the panel darts event at St Wilfrids Club in Longridge. "Our aim is to promote the game in the local area.
"We don't just want the areas most experienced players but we want to encourage new players, both young and old, to come along as well."
The St Wilfrid's panel darts competition runs for eight weeks with two players qualifying for a grand final which takes place on Friday, March 14.
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The event has already been running for three weeks with experienced Blackburn darter Ian Lever qualifying from week one along with Kevin Simm from Bolton -Simm going on to beat Lever 3-1 in the final.
Joe Gornall and Lee Hunt, both from Longridge, were losing semi finalists.
The event has attracted players from across the North West, proved by the qualifiers from heat two, Mal Smallshaw from Lancaster and Andy Tiffin from Garstang.
Tiffin took the honours on the night, beating Smallshaw 3-2 in the final.
Houghton's Stuart Wilson missed out on a place in the final, losing 3-0 to Tiffin, while Ian Robinson from Walmer Bridge lost 3-2 to Smallshaw.
Ian Robinson's check-out of 136 was the highest of the competition so far beating the previous best of 131 by Fran Cookson on the first night of the tournament.
The competition continues on Friday from 8.15pm when two more players will qualify for the grand final in March where the top 16 players will battle it out for the prize money.
A guaranteed first prize of £500 which has been put up by a local business is up for grabs and there will also be cash prizes for the runner-up and losing quarter and semi finalists.
Entry fee is £3 a night and players are allowed to enter as many times as they like.
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