A Darting Tale!
Rob Franks is playing in the Winmau World Masters! Here is his story!
Probably like all darts companies we do get a lot of requests for sponsorship! Sponsorship has been around darts for as long as the chance to win some money playing the game has been. Virtually all players competing on the PDC circuit and those who regularly turn out for the gruelling BDO circuit have sponsorship of some kind.We do our bit for putting something back into the game by running a kit sponsorship deal. We furnish selected players with all the kit they need for a season (flights and stems etc) and boards, trainer boards and our Performance Darts, if they need a new set that is.
Out of the blue a few weeks ago though we were contacted by a guy called Rob Franks. Rob lives in Poole, Dorset, which is pretty close to where we are based. Rob had a very interesting story to tell, in more ways than one.
First of all he passed on the news he had been selected to play at the Winmau World Masters in a demonstration event for the World Disability Darts Association (W.D.D.A.) at the Masters in Hull. The W.D.D.A is run by Australian Russ Strobel and Russ hopes that the coverage of this event will increase the awareness of disabled darts and begin the process of bringing more and more players in to compete and play.
Rob explained that injuries sustained whilst playing cricket escalated into something very serious when his operation didn't go to plan and he now only has the use of one leg. Not that this halted Rob's darts career and he has been playing regularly for his local Super League team. Rob is also a wheelchair basketball coach and captain of Dorset Disabled County Cricket team!
But, like lots of other darts players Rob needed a bit of financial assistance to make the trek to Hull and take part in this amazing event. A couple of friends chipped in and we put the rest in to ensure that Rob will be on the oche in Hull on Saturday. The best part though is that Rob was mad keen to come and see us for a bit of advice and coaching.
We have had two great sessions, we did some video analysis and tweaked Rob's stance a bit. We did some work on some other areas of Rob's game, so a new calm and relaxed Rob will now be taking to the floor in Hull I will be there to watch Rob in action and no matter what the outcome the eight playing will be starting off what could become a regular event at all BDO Majors!
The full list of players are:
Denis Chadwick
Ricky Chilton
Dave Clucas
Rob Franks
Michelle Grabica
Ian Gray
Phil Lees
Dean Wingate
More details about the W.D.D.A can be found here: WDDA