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Welcome to the official site of 'Doctor Darts'
Lastest News....
‘DR. DARTS’ IS MADE RESEARCH
FELLOW
 Following
my award of PhD by the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Cambridge, in December
2006 and my formal graduation in November 2007, I am absolutely thrilled to
announce that my work has been further recognised by the University.
On 21st April
I received a letter from Professor Monika Pruetzel-Thomas, Pro Vice Chancellor
and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences at ARU confirming my
designation as Research Fellow in History.
This designation gives me
a formal affiliation with Anglia Ruskin University and, although it is a nominal
title, it does give me the authority of the University; the value being that
when I visit libraries, archives, etc., it provides me with serious academic
credentials.
I will also be able to
use my new title in the ‘blurb’ on the back of my book, Darts in
England 1900-1939 – a social history,
which will be published in the Spring of 2009 by Manchester University Press.
The designation of
Research Fellow in History is for a period of two years in the first instance,
until 31st May 2010, but it can be extended by mutual agreement.
Clearly the title of
Research Fellow in History will enable me to continue my darts research at the
highest level (whilst also pursuing my research at a more ‘local’ level too).
This will not only raise my personal profile within my area of research but also
- and perhaps more importantly – the profile of the sport of darts.
© 2008 Patrick Chaplin
Winmau
Licensing Deal with Budweiser
Winmau and Budweiser have announced a new 3-year licensing
agreement on darts equipment. Through this, Winmau continued as the principal
licensee for all Budweiser darts equipment in Europe.
It was a logical step for Winmau to continue ties with Budweiser.
Due to Budweiser’s global appeal, the dual branding process that Winmau is
currently progressing means that licensing such a renowned brand exposes the
Winmau name where it may not have been previously known.
Ian Flack, Sales and Marketing Director for Winmau, said “We’ve
had a fantastic 3-year partnership with Budweiser and we look forward to adding
even more new products into the new 2009 Winmau range”.
Top companies look to be identified with excellence and are happy
to be associated with it. Both Winmau and Budweiser are seeking to be the best
in what they do and in pioneering new ideas.
Both brands have a global appeal. Budweiser has a massive
supporter base and these supporters represent potential new customers for Winmau.
Clearly, the deal fits with Winmau's marketing objectives of
obtaining new customers, keeping its present ones and continuing to develop the
brand. In addition, Winmau is able to develop new value added products
specifically for Budweiser fans.
For further information
regarding the Winmau premium range of darts equipment visit
www.winmau.com
, email info@winmau.com or telephone +44
(0)1656 767042
DR. DARTS VISITS THE ESSEX HQ
I was thrilled recently
to be invited by Barry Gilbey, Chairman of Essex County, to the Essex v
Cambridgeshire match on Sunday 27th April at the Chelmsford Social
Club to present the Lady and Man of the Match Awards.
Barry and his Essex
colleagues made my wife Maureen and me very welcome and we witnessed a feast of
excellent darts. Lagging behind 10-8 after the B team matches on the Saturday,
Essex Men’s A rushed into a 6-0 lead only to be caught in the very last moment
by the Cambridgeshire lads to level the match 18-18. (For Barry’s full report of
the match click here).
It was also a great
opportunity to meet Essex Ladies Captain Julie Vickers. I used to work with
Julie and hadn’t seen or heard from her for ages. (Julie, you looked great.)
I also – at last – met the Cambridgeshire Chairman Peter Melton for the first
time. Peter and I had exchanged e-mails about a number of darts issues over the
years but had never actually met. It was good to put that right last Sunday. It
was also great to briefly meet Viv Dundon on stage and congratulate her on her
recent international success.
At the end of the
afternoon, I was called up on stage for the presentations and received a nice
round of applause from the crowd. Superb averages were recorded by all those
who won awards, and many who didn’t. The photos (which are reproduced courtesy
of Kevin Stammers) show yours truly with the Lady of the Match and Man of the
Match from both the Essex Ladies and Men’s A and B teams.
I had to admit to Barry
that I had not been to an Essex County since before the venue moved from Canvey
Island to the county town. I was embarrassed when Barry told me exactly how long
ago that was! However, I have promised the Essex Chairman that I will become a
more regular visitor next season.
Maureen and I left the
venue having known we had been at a great darts match. This was darts at its
very best and, in my humble opinion based on the matches I witnessed on Sunday
afternoon, honours shared was a fair result.
Patrick Chaplin
Read the Match Report
Click Here
Text © 2008 Patrick
Chaplin
Photographs © 2008 Kevin
Stammers
Patrick Chaplin PhD - Darts Historian
 Welcome
to my website.
When I set up my original
Darts History website back in 2000, I had no idea how successful it would be or
indeed if anyone else out there in the global internet community was interested
in the history of the greatest of all sports.
In fact I have been
staggered by the response from darts fans and within a comparatively short time
this website has become among the most popular darts sites on the planet.
For those visiting for
the first time ever, my name is Dr. Patrick Chaplin, I live in the UK with my
wife Maureen and cat Angel and now spend most of my waking hours researching
darts. I was born in 1950 and threw my first darts at a fairground when I was
seven years old. From the age of twelve I started to try and play darts
seriously. Between 1976 and 1990 I played for local pub teams both in league
play and in out-of-season friendly matches and even won a few in-house trophies.
I still play friendly pub
darts every week with some close drinking friends but have not played in serious
competition for over a decade. However, I never had any aspirations to become a
professional darts champion and indeed, 25 years ago I had no idea that I would
eventually become a real Doctor of Darts.
It was Tony Wood, editor
of the British darts magazine Darts World who first called me ‘The Doctor of
Darts’. Subsequently I have been called ‘eccentric’ by the prestigious UK daily
newspaper The Guardian and ‘an arrers nut’ by the UK’s most popular tabloid, The
Sun.
I own up to all of that –
and more.
In December 2006, after
more than ten years part-time, self-funded research I was awarded a PhD by the
Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. My dissertation, entitled Darts in England
1900-1939 – a social history will be published by Manchester University Press in
2009. I am, therefore, a real ‘DOCTOR of DARTS.’ However, that sounds a bit
pretentious, so ‘Patrick’ will do.
The purpose of this
website is to share my enthusiasm and my knowledge of darts with each and every
visitor. Its purpose is also to (eventually) reveal the complete history of
darts whilst, in the process, exploding a few myths about the game.
Through my website I am
encouraging those interested in the history and development of the game to share
and exchange information. Judging by the kind remarks I have received in the
past from contacts it seems to me that it’s working just fine. As you navigate
around the site you will find contributions from other darts enthusiasts which I
know you will find of interest.
I hope you enjoy my
website. I hope you will also return again and again to discover what new
articles have been posted.
Best wishes and extremely
happy darting to you all.
Patrick Chaplin
© Patrick Chaplin 2007
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