Colin Savage CEO United Kingdom Darts Association
First time I’ve had an opportunity to come online since Friday morning, so id like to apologise if i haven’t been able to reply to some of the posts or messages I’ve received.
As with everything we have tried to do since the inception of the UKDA, the first place you have to start is at the beginning.
After a very long stressful day on Friday setting up, and working with a skeleton events team due to a few unforeseen circumstances last minute, id like to take the opportunity to firstly thank everyone who attended but secondly issue an apology on behalf of myself as the event Director, and the UKDA to all.
Put simply, we have tried to set high standards since the beginning, and Friday night was simply not good enough, no bones about it.
And i cant iterate enough peoples patience and i completely shared their disappointment.
With WiFi issues, and heating and bar issues in the venue, it in my opinion left a sour taste and many went to bed Friday night tired, cold and extremely frustrated.
As I’ve said i can’t apologise enough.
Moving on to Saturday morning, whilst we still had some issues, by kick off many of these were all resolved, and in my opinion based on alot of feedback, we certainly done our best to redeem ourselves.
Whilst i will openly admit that for many this isn’t what county darts is about, based on the same thing people have known since its first existence to see a room full to the rafters with such a variety of playing shirts and to see so many mingling and embracing after not seeing each other for so long due to the pandemic etc, was a sight to behold.
Every player on Saturday was a credit to themselves and their respective county.
After a debrief on Saturday evening with the team, we believed Sunday would be our best day yet, and it certainly proved to be the case.
The morning session went extremely well, and i have to thank all team officials and players for their cooperation and attitudes, every single match finished over 30 minutes ahead of the planned schedule.
I have to say, personally just before the morning session, to see 1200 people on their feet for a minutes applause in memory of those who we all have lost over the last 2 years, was a very special moment and i thank you all for your response,put simply it was a wonderful ovation for those who are sadly no longer here.
I don’t think i need to say much about the break, the videos and pictures being circulated on social media speak a thousand words, put simply you all were phenomenonal, although maybe one or two may require a weeks rest after being chief ringleaders.
Sunday afternoon saw the final round of games played, and in my opinion i witnessed something that made me believe we were right to attempt the magic weekend at least once.
At the top end of the room, we saw Lancashire crowned champions, and a huge congratulations to all involved. Unfortunately with their consistency over the season they had just to much of a buffer to be reeled in by Yorkshire and Warwickshire which didn’t lead to the tense finish we had hoped for.
My commiserations to the teams relegated from the Premier division, Devon and Northamptonshire, you have played and fought hard all year and i am sure you will bounce back stronger in the coming season.
Each and every organisation in the league is a credit to our sport.
Moving on to the championship, which i was overseeing all weekend.
Each and every single team was a pleasure to work with. Team managers, players, supporters a huge thank you to all for your cooperation.
With anyone of 5 teams able to gain promotion it was always going to be a lively occasion and tense right until the end.
What i witnessed in the last few hours of late yesterday afternoon is something that will live long in the memory. We had Kent deservedly crowned as champions after a wonderful season, and my god, they enjoyed themselves in the process, congratulations to Staffordshire on just pipping Dorset by the tightest of margins sealing promotion. Having match officialed both Dorset games, my heart goes out to you all on such a valiant effort.
Special mention to Sussex and Gwent as well who were in the fight right up until the end.
My commiserations to all officials and players from Buckinghamshire and West Midlands on getting relegated. I am sure both will bounce back strongly. And i must mention Oxfordshire, who fought for their lives amd pulled off the great escape.
To each team, officials, players, supporters, partners at home etc, i cant thank you enough, i seen enough this weekend to know are sport will thrive, but as i have seen this morning feom many experienced and dedicated servants of county darts, just because it jas always been a certain way doesn’t mean that in this day and age that its still 100 % the right way.
Now, for the totally honest part, the magic weekend was created initially because we believed we would be facing a pile up of fixtures due to the pandemic. In many ways Saturday anf Sunday worked brilliant but i also realise for many its not what playing county is about.
As we sort all the data from the weekend over the coming days, all match awards for each individual fixture will be paid to each national league team this week.
Those who came with an open mind really seemed to enjoy it, and i know others who simply refused to embrace anything good about it at all, but to be honest i knew that would be the case, as im well aware of a good few of the back channels that tried to have it stopped.. I’ll deal with that openly at the agm.
Will there be a magic weekend in the 2022/2023 season, the simple answer is it will be based on feedback from all involved. If it is decided it won’t happen then we will look
Is their scope for a non compulsory county knockout Cup, being inclusive to all divisions in future, i believe there is and is something to ponder going forward.
I have to thank the entire UKDA event team this weekend, you have proved after a few teething problems you are more thank capable of hosting such a big event.
Have we learned alot to take forward to the national finals weekend in June, 100 % we have.
And lastly our sponsors, and Dart Connect, a huge thank you to David this weekend for all his hard work. It wasn’t easy but we got there.
To all at Darts Corner, i cant thank you enough. You have produced equipment that any player would be proud to play on, on top of everything else that you do for that UKDA.
Thank you all
Colin Savage
CEO
United Kingdom Darts Association