The world’s biggest pub darts competition organised by Punch Taverns, The Darts Classic Competition, is underway in hundreds of Punch pubs across the country.
Over 1,100 pubs have entered the 2014 competition – the highest amount of participating pubs on record.
The competition, which is sponsored by Holsten, John Smiths, Guinness and Budweiser and facilitated by World of Darts, is currently in its preliminary stages of the six month competition. The first stages will commence on 12th May, where each pub will play at home and away.
The teams with the best average scores will compete in regional finals before going through to the national finals at the iconic Winter Gardens, Blackpool in October.
Punch Category Manager Stephen Martin is delighted at the number of pubs entering this year’s competition: “We are overwhelmed by the increase in participating pubs, where one in every three Punch pubs has signed up to this year’s competitions,” said Stephen.
“The competition has been running for over a decade and every year it has grown and we are introducing new aspects to the competition including a singles competition”.
“The competition has become the biggest in the world. It is impossible to replicate the experience anywhere else or on this scale. We are always looking for ways to help our Partners build their business and free pub events like these are a great way to drive footfall on quieter week nights. As games are played at home and away, all Punch participating pubs get the benefit from additional footfall.”
This year’s National final will see the remaining 32 teams battle it out for the right to call themselves the best Pub Darts Team in the UK and claim the top cash prize of £2,500 – total prize fund for the day is £17,000.
Punch also run a plate competition open for darts teams who lose in either round one or round two in the main Punch Darts Classic competition. The regional winners each win a professional player in their pub with a free £250 bar tab for the evening as well as new darts equipment.
Team captain Paddy Lenagh, from last year’s winning team at The Avenue in Durham, said: “We love taking part in the Punch Darts Classic as it’s the best darts competition around. It’s great to see how the competition evolves and the standards are raised year on year.”
“Last year we saw some teams travel from as far as Stirling and Brighton to compete at the national finals in Blackpool. The skill and talent some of these players have ensures competition to be fierce,” Stephen continued.
To view photos, videos or to find out more information, please visit: www.punchdartsclassic.co.uk