Making a point on world darts stage (From The Northern Echo)

Making a point on world darts stage

7:32am Saturday 10th January 2009

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A NORTH-EAST scaffolder is preparing to live his dream after reaching a darts final on the world stage.

Tommy Dove, of Norton, near Stockton, has reached the first ever John Smith’s People’s Darts final at the Lakeside Country Club, in Surrey.

This is the first time the amateur competition has is been played alongside the World Championships.

Mr Dove, 49, who is a member of Stockton Buffs Club, is looking forward to playing in front of 1,600 people tomorrow.

He said: “I can’t believe I’ve got to the final to be honest. I played some good darts and just tried to keep being as consistent as possible.

“I have never played in any kind of competition like this before, as I can’t afford to travel to places and miss out on scaffolding work.

“This is something you dream of and I will remember it for the rest of my life. It gives you a great buzz inside.”

Ten of his friends have been going to Lakeside to support him, but Mr Dove’s wife, Freda, chose to stay at home because she gets too nervous.

Mr Dove said: “I usually win a lot of the local competitions I enter, but I never realised I would do so well in this one.

“I am due to play a guy from Wales in the final. I don’t know him, but if I can keep playing like I have been doing, then I am confident I will be okay.”

If Mr Dove wins the final, he will get £15,000 for his chosen charity Daisy Chain, in Norton.

He added: “I chose Daisy Chain as it’s a local charity and it does a lot of good work in the area.

“I can’t explain the buzz I felt when the winning dart went home in the semi-final.

“I’ll try and keep calm because it’s for a good cause and I want to keep my concentration.

But I can assure everybody on Teesside I will be giving it 110 per cent.”

● The People’s Darts final will be held on the main stage at about 4.30pm tomorrow.

Edited highlights will be transmitted on BBC2 between 5.45pm and 8pm.

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