Jersey Festival of Darts
www.jerseysportsfestivals.co.uk/darts/howard.miller31@aol.co.ukAbout
So why Jersey I guess is the first question to answer.?
After organising English Pool events on the Island for over quarter of a century now, and in those formative years doing so immediately after what was then the established Festival of darts it just seemed the most natural of progressions really.
In fact it was Les France, for so long the driving force behind the original darts festival, through a young lady called Julie Christianson, that actually introduced me to the hoteliers we ended up using.
Couple that intimate knowledge of the Island with the tournament experience and numerous darts contacts gained through my work with Riley's and in truth, undoubtedly it was the right time to resurrect what had previously been one of the most famous events in darts.
A chance meeting with the guys at the JDO and following them being granted full governing body status by the WDF brought the idea of such a resurrection to a reality.
Their enthusiasm, their drive, their ambition to push darts throughout the Chanel Islands made them the perfect partners for such a venture.
The only thing we really needed to work out was how we did it, when, where and how much it would all cost. Safe to say a fair bit to work out actually.
The intention was always to bring the old Festival back to life, but if it was going to work, and as we were financing it all, to do so successfully meant a lot had to be arranged before we could even seriously contemplate investing hard cash, not to mention hundreds of man hours.
A lot to get confirmed, especially from those who were going to help us and not to mention the BDO themselves.
We all took the view, we all agreed that the secret behind making it work was to not only have a ranking event, but why not two, maybe even three, especially unlike the BDO board all players think it's a great idea. With the JDO now recognised as genuine governing body and with an event run so successfully previously on the island we assumed getting authorisation for one event would be easy, but obviously we wanted to almost ensure success, especially amid a calendar of events that was already choc a bloc and felt we definitely needed the security of a second event, especially as in doing so it would prove so much more cost effective for all those thinking of going.
In doing so we also hoped that it would also be something to make the darts world sit up and take notice, and hopefully that's exactly what we have done. We also took the view, especially in these times of austerity that in the near future many other countries, indeed many other events would follow our lead and that has now happened!
Much lobbying then ensued particularly with the new BDO board in pursuit of the two, maybe three ranking events objective. We obviously managed to give them the assurances they needed that the Festival would be run professionally and with hardened, experienced officials, guaranteed prize money and a host of other, not mandated demands but general concerns they initially had all being put to bed.
We believed totally in the principles and sentiments behind the BDO's event proposal document, mooted in 2012, and were keen, still are to implement as many parts of their suggested best practice principles as possible.
We were obviously delighted when confirmation was received that we had indeed been giving approval to run, not three but two ranking events at the Festival even if there were some consistently absurd rumours circulated to the contrary in the run up to the first event which we had to overcome.
But both the JDO and I am very conscious of the fact that the resurrection was going to be the biggest event they have ever been associated with and we all agreed that to ensure it all ran smoothly we needed some help, we needed to build up a team of real experts, and we like to feel that's exactly what we achieved.
Tommy Thompson and selected officials of the EDO were invited on board and their organisational experience was but one of the key factors in not only making the event run smoothly but also in helping the JDO officials understand what was going to be needed to take over that organisational mantle in the future.
My gratitude to Tommy and all at the EDO doesn't stop with their organisational expertise either, as they also agreed to 'loan' out their superb purpose built board set up, their stage for the finals, where all featured matches were played, as well as their stand alone boards for general play and practice.
Their embracement and commitment to the Festival last year was been second to none, and I doubt if we could have even held the Festival were it not for them never mind run it again....so a big, kisses and thank you to all the EDO guys, we really owe you.
To enable us to run the Festival properly and smoothly we have had to introduce a closing date, a date which will be strictly observed, that date will be Monday November 7th, so please make sure you get your entry in long before this date.
In fact another reason for ensuring your entries are in early is because spaces in the two hotels we will be using for the Festival are strictly limited.
I know many of you reading this will be sitting there thinking to yourselves that "Oh yeah" I've heard that one before, but before you all start believing everyone says that and it's just a ploy to drum up entries, please be aware that come November the Hotel Royal the venue where all events will be played only has 89 rooms, of which eleven are single rooms (which have nearly all gone anyway) Once these rooms are taken then all competitors and guests will have to stay in the Royals sister hotel, the Monterry some 4,500 metres, once they have gone, that's it, you will not be able to get in...not even if you heavily bribe me or my partner with loads of wonga!
There will hopefully be eight practice boards, and like last year which worked really well, they will be located away from the Festivals main playing area, something else all players insisted was really important.
I would also like to point out to all the ladies thinking of going and as hopefully all those who went last year will testify to, that at Jersey you will , in all aspects of the event be treated as the genuine equal of your male counterparts, something else that after listening to many ladies isn't always the case.
Creating an atmosphere where everyone feels equally at home is a main priority for my organising team and I.
A registration desk will be erected again well away from the main playing area, and though we will have a MC system in operation it will used sparingly, certainly in the main events and used if required, to remind any losing strays of their chalking responsibilities. If any players fail to chalk when so requested, please be warned that any prize monies they may be due is likely to be withheld and given to the 'Help for Heroes' charity Whilst there is well over £20,000 available over the three days the view of the JDO and I is to ensure that as many people have a chance to receive prize money as possible.
We don't subscribe to the idea of giving the winner a huge percentage share of the available pot whilst those who lose in the latter stages pick up scraps. In fact we think it's nuts.
To this end we have introduced a new event which went down really well last year and of which will be played Saturday daytime called the "No hopers and Cabbages"
Sure the title is a bit of fun but the £1500 guaranteed prize fund ensures that it will be as fiercely competed for as any of the ranking events, it certainly was last year.
The only people who can enter the 'No Hopers' are those who have picked up absolutely no prize money in any of the four ranking events, thus giving even more people the chance to collect some winnings to go home with.
There will also be special deals available for group organisers and bookings, and not huge groups, but small workable groups of just 5,6 players.
All over the UK all over Europe really there are many players who travel together in these groups and someone is nearly always responsible for their bookings, sorting out flights, collecting money and the likes and if you are one such person, please don't hesitate to contact me to find out how we can help you
I can be contacted on howard.miller31@aol.co.uk In fact please don't hesitate to contact me full stop, with any enquiries or any questions that you may have about the Festival Categories: Darts, Festival.
