Opening to the
28th Puma Australian Darts Championships,
Royal Hobart Showground,
Hobart Tasmania

It may be a little cool for us mainlanders down here but the Tasmanian Darts Council and its members have given us a great warm welcome to Hobart Tasmania and the 28th Puma Australian Darts Championships.

Mr. "one hundred and eighty" from Tasmania Rodney Bessell was the MC for the Opening Ceremony and he welcomed everyone to the Championships. He introduced to the gathering the Official Party and Guests seated on the stage.
Mr. Wes Roach - Representing Sport & Recreation Tasmania
Mr. Scott Wooden - Manager of the Royal Hobart Showground
Mr. Allan Hutchinson - President of the Darts Federation of Australia
Mr. Robbie Walker - President of the Tasmanian Darts Council
Ms Lynn Gilmore - Secretary of the Darts Federation of Australia

(Above- Sandra Smith and Wayne Atkins Australia and DFA Flag Bearers)

The MC then welcomed our flags and the State Flag Bearers to the Championships. The Bearers were:
Australian Flag - Sandra Smith from Launceston Tasmania
Darts Federation of Australia - Wayne Atkins from Devonport Tasmania
South Australia - Simone Keogh and Craig Atze
Australian Capital Territory - Kim McLean and James Chesher
New South Wales - Alison Mason and David Clegg
Northern Territory - Fay Corbett and Dan Chapman
Queensland - Sharon Walker and Lindsay Wells
Western Australia - Stephanie Moriarty and Lindsay Haji Ali
Victoria - Sheryll Beasy and Barry Smith
Tasmania - Lee-Anne Faulkner and Peter Phillips

The singing of the National Anthem by Dwayne Everett followed this. Dwayne (pictured right) represented Tasmania at junior darts several years ago and sang the anthem magnificently.

The MC then introduced TDC President Robbie Walker to the assembled. Mr. Walker welcomed all States to Hobart and the 28th Puma Australian Darts Championships and thanked the major sponsors Recreation and Sport Tasmania, Events Tasmania, Puma Darts Products as well as the smaller sponsors. He also thanked his group of volunteers who had worked tirelessly for days in preparing the venue for the Championships. With out their efforts these championships would not come to fruition. He wished everyone luck and hoped everyone would enjoy their time here in Tasmania.

Wes Roach (left) welcomed all to the Players and Officials to Tasmania and wished all players a good championship. He recognized the value of bring national events to Tasmania giving everyone the opportunity to see the best in sport participating. He also recognized the work volunteers do in events like this and they were to be commended on their efforts. He also hoped that all that had come to Tasmania would take the opportunity to get out and see what Tasmania has to offer by exploring and visiting some of its great attractions.

The President of the DFA was then introduced. He thanked the Tasmanian Darts Council and Sponsors for their support on hosting the Championships on behalf of the Darts Federation of Australia. He said the venue looked great and there was no reason the standard of competition should be at a high. He also highlighted that the Federation was in full support of its players and that the standard had been set over the past ten years with our world champions both senior and junior and he could not see why we cannot produce more champions in the future. He mentioned the great friendships that can occur at these championships both new and old. He wished everyone luck and he then invited Mr. Roach to officially open the 28th Puma Australian Darts Championships with the traditional throwing of the first three darts. (By the way he scored 60 - pretty good)

The night continued with players, officials, volunteers and guests catching up on old friends and making new ones while enjoying a buffet meal.