Orkney Darts Classic Saturday 20th August

Featuring 8 professionals – Adrian Lewis (current world champion), Mark Webster (PDC), Simon Whitlock (PDC), Co Stompee (Holland world cup winner), Aaron Monk (world under 21 champion), Andy Fordham, John Henderson, Robert Thornton,

8 local qualifiers. Afternoon and evening event, locals v pros in the afternoon, then the 8 winners at night.

All day ticket £45 unreserved tiered seating, £55 reserved seating standard tables.

Priority tables will also be available in the closest block to the stage, these seats will also have access to the players bar in a separate private room with its own bar and complimentary meal, the players will also use this room as their practice area.

These priority tables can be reserved from Thursday 19th May by contacting Neil Stevenson at [email protected] or 872239 for further details. These tables are available in blocks of 8 and can be booked by groups of private individuals or businesses priced at £75 per ticket.

£45 unreserved tiered seating and £55 reserved table tickets go on sale from Grooves Saturday 4th June 9.00am.

Event open to over 14s (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)

Compare and scorer coming up from south. 2 large screens at either side of stage for easy viewing. Bar and food available within the hall.

Each player including the locals will have their own walk on music.

Comment from Neil “Darts is very popular both nationally and on a local level at the moment. Although this is not the first time professional darts players have visited Orkney it seemed like a good time to try an event of this scale.

Shetland ran a successful tournament last year and have already sold out the event planned in Lerwick for later this year.

I know that a lot of people from Orkney went up to Shetland and go off to see premier league darts so this helps give you confidence that something like this will work in Orkney.

For the event in Picky I want to try and recreate the feel of going to one of these big darts nights elsewhere, its important that we get things like the big screens and try and create the atmosphere that folk will expect.

This is why I felt we needed to try and secure as many of the big name darts players as possible so it was good that Adrian Lewis the current world champ agreed to come to Orkney.

I was keen to involve local knowledge both with the organisation and on the day playing. The Kirkwall and District Darts League have been very supportive and this could not have gone ahead without their support especially in organising the heats to select the 8 qualifiers.

I think the 8 qualifiers will add a different edge to the Orkney tournament, the crowd will really get behind the locals, especially when they come out to their own walk on music with their shirts on.

There will also be a priority seating area, this is for people who have bought special tickets, this gives them access to an area with the players which will have its own bar and complimentary meal at the interval, they will have reserved seats at tables within the hall which will be the closest to the stage.

Although the darts will be serious I expect it will be a fun event with a good party atmosphere.

The event is open to people aged 14 and above although 14-17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

President of the Kirkwall and District Darts League Craig Taylor said that the committee of the KDDL hope that the event is a success and people come along for a great day out. He said:

" As Neil says we have taken professional players up at various times over the years, but nothing on this scale. I was at the big darts event in Shetland last year at the Clickamin Centre and it was a fantastic atmosphere - just like the Premier League Darts on Sky on Thursday nights - and I really hope that the Orkney Darts Classic will be as well supported, I am sure it will be.

"The added attraction here is that we at the KDDL have arranged for four qualifing nights (for over 18's) to be played in Kirkwall in the Legion this Friday, the 20th, The Commodore in Holm next Friday, May 27th. The week after its back to the Kirkwall Masonic on Saturday June 4th, then finally in the Stromness Golf Club on June 10th. The 8 players who get to the finals of these competitions qualify to take part in the Orkney Classic, where they will take on the pros in the afternoon session on the big stage and in front of the TV cameras. We hope by playing the qualifers in the East and West of Orkney as well as in Kirkwall it will help attract players (both men and women) from around the county to take part."

"The crowds at the darts events are fantastic and there is a real party atmosphere- including a lot of folk who turn up in fancy dress and really get into the spirit of things.I think there may even be a prize for the best fancy dress outfit! Lets hope that the Orkney Darts Classic pulls in the crowds for a great day out, and you never know, an Orkney player could even beat the World Champion!"