Sponsorship News

Posted: 25.05.16 in Darts Performance Centre Blog category

We are sponsoring World Trophy qualifier Laura Turner! Find out why we're backing the 150/1 shot!

The BDO World Trophy is looming on the horizon and it looks like it should be a fantastic event. Amongst the elite of the BDO there are some interlopers. Yes, qualifiers, who turned up to a tournament in Wolverhampton recently with a prize of a spot at The Lakeside.

There were four qualifiers for the Men’s competition and two for the Ladies. Rhian Griffiths and Laura Turner were the two that qualified for the Ladies Competition.

We have offered Laura a bit of sponsorship for her fantastic achievement. We have asked Sally from Designs By Sazz to make Laura a shirt and we have given her some kit to get her through the Lakeside experience. Sally makes Scotty Dog Mitchell’s shirts so she is in good company.

So why are we sponsoring the 150/1 outsider for the World Trophy? Well, we support grassroots darts, we support the under-dog as well as dart players who stand out from the crowd! By this I mean: Laura T, “I did my first triathlon in September 2015 at Eton Dorney (just a sprint one) and ran the Surrey half marathon in March.

I have a few more events lined up this year; in October (a 10k obstacle race) and another couple of triathlons at some point! Also I’ve been lucky enough to get a place on the Prudential RideLondon on 31st July (46 mile sportive from Olympic park, ending on the Mall) – and have decided to raise money for the heart of darts charity!”

Now I am sure there are other dart players up for a bit of Triathlon action but I haven’t met them yet!

Laura’s husband Aaron Turner is a well-known and high quality dart player and along with Phil Milburn they have won the Hampshire Darts Triples at Hayling Island five times out of the last 6 attempts! Aaron and Laura met playing for Hampshire Youth and have two little girls.

Laura has also won the singles title at Hayling four times including the event a few weeks ago. Previous winners of this event include Tricia Wright, Deta and Fallon Sherrock-hmm is that 150/1 looking tempting yet?

Laura has also recently won the Benidorm Open in 2015 and 2016 beating Paula Jacklin on both occasions and with Aaron and Phil they also won the mixed. Laura played at Callela for the Catalunya Open – she lost in the Semi final 2015 and 2013 – but won the ladies pairs in 2015 and 2013 - runner up in 2014, and won the triples in 2015 and 2014. 

She also plays for Kerching and played the last county match for Surrey.

So an impressive CV for a part time player. We first watched Laura playing at Hayling a few years ago and I did a very unsubtle job of finding out why she wasn’t on the tour. I could see from the quality of her play that she could break into the group of top players.

Laura and fellow qualifier Rhian!

Like a lot of players though it is hard to dedicate the time and money to pursuing the Ladies Tour. What with work and when the kids came along Laura pretty much gave up playing altogether. Laura is also studying for a degree exam and chuck in a few triathlons we are lucky to be seeing her at Lakeside!

So on Saturday it will be Laura’s chance to shine-she takes on Aileen De Graaf on the Lakeside stage at around 1.15pm. Laura told me “I’m a bit anxious - I want to do well, but not sure how I will be until I am up there. I've never played Aileen but she is in good form - just have to go up there and try and hold it all together lol!”

Laura not only has the shirts and kit but Peter Evison has sent her a new set of darts to throw. But Laura isn’t going to use them, she is going to stick with her odd set!

Yep, two different darts out of her three. See I said we like players breaking the mould! Look out for the odd darts and look out for Laura!

Whatever happens it is great for us, The Darts Performance Centre to be associated with Laura and roll on Saturday!

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The Darts Performance Centre is a resource to assist dart players of all standards play better darts. The site is arranged as an online coaching manual. There is advice on technique, nerves, psychology, goal setting, practice games, an area to log your statistics and an interactive area where your darting questions are answered by two sports scientists, one with 30 years dart playing experience. You also get an invite to our free but exclusive members only events and acess to our members only darts coaching app! Membership is £25 per year!