The historic move of the world championship to the Alexandra Palace has proved to be a glorious success.
The standard of arrows was magnificent and the entertainment value pure gold. I have never had so much to commentate on: great shots, vivid characters and a seething, colourful crowd. There were chickens, cowboys and girls - and I swear a reindeer carrying two pints of beer walked past the commentary box on one occasion. In all, 350,000 pints of beer and lager were consumed in orderly fashion, continuing the tradition from the great days of the News of the World finals. In 1972 28,000 cans of ales light and heavy were drunk by fans of Alan Evans and Co in two hours. It was a veritable 12-day Technicolour Valhalla of darts…
MAKING THE NEWS
Not so long ago a lot of the press were only interested in stories of beer or scandal when they looked at darts. Over the past three weeks the tabloids and the ‘quality’ papers have done reams of proper reporting on everything from Taylor’s problems to the derring-do of young Kirk Shepherd. Giles Smith of the Times and Ivan Speck of the Daily Mail, both top columnists, made three visits each to Ally Pally and filed glowing words about the venue and the action.
I was lucky that in amongst the reports were several mentions of my book BELLIES AND BULLSEYES; THE OUTRAGEOUS TRUE STORY OF DARTS. And I was gob-smacked to learn a couple of days ago that the book has been short-listed for a major award. It has been entered in the biography section of the British Sports Book Awards and will be up against books about Bobby Charlton, Laurence Dallaglio and Joe Calzaghe. I am dead chuffed to be in that kind of company and will have my autograph book with me at the bash in London in March.
MARVELLOUS MOMENTS
I was given a night off in the early stages of the tourney and flopped in the bar of our hotel at Muswell Hill. But I was soon upright and yelling at the telly as Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort played a blinder. It was fast, brilliant and sent the crowd daft. The lads hit 18 180s. Magic!
The Taylor/Mardle clash was another classic. For once the real Wayne showed up and showed his class. After Wayne’s winning darts Taylor hugged the lad and told him ‘to go on and win the title’. Wayne burst into tears. What superb sportsmanship…and it was echoed in many other matches. It should be noted by prima donna millionaire footballers before they indulge their bloated egos.
The final was a pure gas. I knew that Young Shep had the pizzazz, class and arrogance to make a match of it and he done great! Even at 4-0 down in sets to the imperious John Part, Dave Lanning and I were bulling the lad up. ‘Panel beater with the class of a world beater’, rapped Dave. I had heard the young lad was doing his own laundry, washing his smalls in a sink, and could not resist ‘While Shepherd washed his socks by night.’ Kirk, who I compared for show biz appeal to Jocky Wilson and Alan Evans, roared back into the fray but Part did a 117 average set to clinch things 7-2.
Part is a worthy champ with all the swagger and instant counting ability of the great Eric Bristow. From the minute he averaged 99 in the opening round, he was the coolest dude at the Palace. So cool that ten minutes before he started the final he and I were discussing the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. Laid back and ready to rumble. You betcha!