THE
BARBADOS DARTS FESTIVAL
DARTS FOR ALL IN A STUNNING LOCATION
This year’s Barbados Darts Festival from
October 25 - November 5 is now in its sixth year and it promises to be bigger
and better than ever. Hosted by
three times World Champion John Lowe and his wife Karen, it offers darts players
of all standards from the UK and Europe, both men and women, the opportunity to
play social and tournament darts against players from Barbados and the
Caribbean, Central and South America, Canada and the USA – and have a
wonderful time in one of the world’s most sought after holiday destinations.
Last year’s event got the thumbs up from
everyone who participated and they were made to feel extremely welcome by their
“Bajan” hosts who were most generous in their hospitality. The new and well appointed venue at Solidarity House was
ideal for staging the larger tournaments and it will be in use again this year
for the major events – central of which will be The Carib Beer Caribbean &
South American Masters. The winner
of this event, confined to passport holders of the region, will come to England
to try to qualify for the PDC World Championships in December.
Last year John Lowe was hugely impressed by
the standard of darts displayed by the players from the region and went on
record as saying that the contests would have graced any professional
tournament.
Since its inception The Barbados Darts
Festival and the celebrities that have hosted it have provided a new stimulus
and incentive to darts players in the region to raise their game. Last year’s Pine Hill Youth Tournament also attracted over
30 youngsters, boys and girls, to take part.
Last year’s winner of the Carib Beer
Caribbean and South American Masters was Vivekanand Dyal from Trinidad and
Tobago. He traveled to the Aston
Villa football stadium in December and narrowly lost 5 – 3
but will be a better player for the experience.
However, he will face stiff opposition this
year from his fellow countryman Rahaman Hassanali, the Guyanese players Norman
Madhoo and Sudesh Fitzgerald and Bajans Winston Cadogan, Anthony Forde and Roger
Edwards. And there is sure to be a
new rising star by the time this tournament begins on November 3!
On the Friday prior to this will be held
pairs tournaments for both men and ladies and on the Sunday will be the mens and
ladies singles. These events are
open to all those who have signed up for the trip through Tour Operator Sun
Living Sports Travel and they offer substantial cash prizes for the winner and
those making the semi-final spots.
Those coming on the 11 night trip will have
the chance to play in a variety of darts venues – the world famous Ship Inn
just across the road from the hotel, up country at the uniquely Bajan A & T
Hideaway, right next to the ocean at Almond Bay and the very well appointed
Solidarity House.
But it’s not all darts!
Most of the days are set aside for leisure activities and there are a
good number of nights when darts is optional.
If last year is anything to go by participants won’t want to miss the
day out on the Catamaran where you can snorkel and swim with turtles, the Island
Safari in Land Rovers where you see the island from off the beaten track, take
in the dinner show at Bajan Roots and Rhythms and try out the excellent golf
courses on the island – Barbados recently staged the World Cup of Golf.
And, talking of World Cups, this year, in April, Barbados will be hosting
both the Super 8 matches and the final of The Cricket World Cup.
John Lowe has traveled all over the world
playing darts and is known for his down to earth approach to everything and he
is now a great fan of Barbados and the Festival.
“There is no better place for a darts
holiday than Barbados. Karen and I
love it and we have made some great friends there.
It has everything you need - all on a tropical island - and the Bajan
hospitality is incredible. It’s a
trip of a lifetime and once experienced, like Karen and I, you are bound to want
to go back!”
Prices for this year’s Barbados Darts
Festival start from £850 per person ( 2 sharing a room ) from Manchester for a
14 night package from Monday October 22 and there is an 11 night package from
Gatwick departing on Thursday October 25.
(Taken from a recent article in Darts World Magazine and published at the request of)
Michael Heal: Festival Director.
For more details contact fully licensed tour
operator Sun Living on 01623 795365
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