It will be a glittering black-tie occasion to celebrate the
IDPA’s
10th Anniversary as the representative body for BDO/WDF players
and as a respected and recognised governing body for darts
players worldwide.
The prestigious awards dinner will be a glittering curtain-raiser
for the premier Championships in World Darts at Lakeside, and
looks certain to become the No.1 social event on the darts
calendar, and the highlight of the darts year.
Without doubt it promotes the positive image of darts as a
true sport deserving of recognition by the UK Sports Councils.
Indeed, the IDPA Darts Player of The Year Awards will have
the kudos of similar award ceremonies
in sports like football,
cricket, rugby and golf.
Martin Fitzmaurice, Chief Executive of the IDPA says:
“The IDPA slogan is: ‘you can’t play darts without the players’
and the IDPA Darts Player Of The Year Awards have been created
to recognise the outstanding players – men and women – of each
year, and also to throw a much deserved spotlight on our sport
and the achievements of our players.
“It is organised in association with the BDO/WDF, and we are
supremely confident that it will become the major highlight
of each year for the players and their wives, husbands and
partners. It is a wonderful opportunity to dress up and enjoy
an evening that celebrates our sport and its players. It also
illustrates the immense strides that the sport, and the IDPA/BDO/WDF
are making to give the sport and its players the recognition
and kudos that it truly deserves”.
The three main awards are:
· MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
· WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
· IDPA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD is named after the legendary
LEIGHTON REES, first ever winner of the World Championship
in 1978, who sadly passed away earlier this year. It is the
perpetual LEIGHTON REES TROPHY and will be awarded to the Men’s
player who has achieved most success in BDO/WDF tournaments
in the preceding season – with special relevance to the four
major televised events that make up the coveted BDO Grand Slam:
The Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships, International
Darts League, Bavaria World Darts Trophy and the Winmau World
Masters.
The WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD is named after
LORNA CROFT, who also sadly passed away earlier this year.
It will be named the perpetual LORNA CROFT TROPHY and will
be awarded to the outstanding ladies player in BDO/WDF tournaments
in the preceding year (again with special relevance to the
Women’s BDO Grand Slam events).
Both Leighton and Lorna were important and much loved personalities
in the history of darts, and these IDPA Awards will ensure
that their names will be remembered forever.
THE IDPA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD will be presented to the
player – male or female – voted the most popular (not necessarily
the most successful) of the preceding year. In effect, this
will be the darts ‘Personality Of The Year Award’.
The IDPA are also launching another new initiative: A ‘Darts
Hall of Fame’
to celebrate and pay homage to the players who,
in the opinion of the IDPA, have made a major contribution
to the sport of darts.
The first member of this prestigious order of merit will be
inducted at the 2004 Player Of The Year Awards.
The IDPA was founded in 1994 to look after the interests of
darts players – men and women – at home and abroad, and is
today a respected and recognised darts body which works closely
with the BDO/WDF to ensure the well-being of its players and
the sport of darts worldwide.
“I must pay tribute not only to the players, but also to those
who have given me so much help and assistance over the last
10 years”, concludes Martin Fitzmaurice. “In particular, Martin
Adams, Paddy Reeson and Tricia Wright. Without them it would
not have been possible. What more can I say than:
‘Are Your Ready? Then ‘Let’s Play Darts!’
It completes a brilliant year for ‘The Golden