Winmau and pub company Punch Taverns have teamed up to promote the Punch Darts Classic competition, which for 2013 boasts an impressive £10,000 prize fund.
Punch Taverns has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of pubs eager to participate in the 2013 tournament, which includes a team and singles event.
Says Punch buying club director Andy Slee: “The feedback from our pubs is that events like darts nights are a great way to drive footfall into pubs on the quieter week nights because customers love the atmosphere and create a real sense of competition and community.
“We are one of the few companies who can deliver amateur darts competitions on a national scale and, as a result, we’ve seen year on year growth in the amount of pubs eager to participate.
“1,170 Punch pubs took part in 2012. We are also seeing an increase in followers on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
“We are aiming to make them bigger and better and by working in partnership with Winmau, an established company within the darts world, we can reach a larger audience and the competition can gain credibility by its association with a quality and professional darts company.”
Ian Flack, sales and marketing director of Winmau, explains why the international darts brand wanted to get involved with pub-level darts: “Any initiative that brings more people into our sport is a positive step and the Punch Darts Classic is a proven format that helps to bring the excitement of competition darts to the local pub.
“Punch are a nationwide company that is fully supportive of grass roots darts and we are proud to be involved with the 2013 Classic to find out which pub has the best darting talent.”
Registration for the 2013 competition, which is free, is now open and the first round of the competition will start in May 2013.
Visit www.punchdartsclassic.co.uk for more information.
