Opening of the 25th Australian Junior Darts Championships

Opening Ceremony

The 25th Puma Australian Junior Darts Championships were opened at 4.00pm. on Sunday the 8th of January. Centralian Darts Association Representative Stephen Robinson introduced the guests in attendance - Fran Killgariff Mayor of Alice Springs, Bunji Gilmore NTDC and Betty Hislop DFA. He then introduced the flag bearers. They were:

Mr Robinson then called on Lisa Hatzimihail to sing the National Anthem. She sang it magnificently giving everyone that proud feeling to be Australia.

Mr Robinson then introduced the Northern Territory Darts Council representative for the Championships Mr Bunji Gilmore to address the congregated.

On behalf of the NTDC Executive and Members of the NTDC he welcomed all and was honoured to be involved with the first Australian Darts Championships to be played in Alice Springs. He firstly apologised for the NTDC President not being able to attend the Opening Ceremony and sends her apologies. He thanked the Alice Springs Town Council and Mayor Fran Killgariff for their support in getting behind the sport of darts and hoped they would supportive again in the future. He thanked the sponsors, Puma Dart Products, Power & Water, Stuart Bakery, Smimac, Alice Hire and Creative Gifts with out their support hosting of these Championships would not be possible. He also mentioned that he hoped to see many of the players competing this week in future years playing at senior level. He thanked all of the Centralian Darts Association Members and Supporters for their efforts in bring these Championships together and for helping in running the Championships. He is hoping for a wonderful week for the Players and Officials, that all runs smoothly for them and that everyone enjoy themselves while here at the Championships in the Northern territory.

The MC then introduced Alice Springs Mayor Fran Killgariff. She welcomed all to Alice Springs and highlighted that Alice Springs was big enough to be a city, but the population of Alice Springs insisted that it remain being called a "Town". She hoped that we could get out and about and see what Alice Springs has to offer. She was appreciative of what events like these bring to the local community and was happy to be involved. She then declared the Championships Open.

The Vice President of the Darts Federation of Australia Mrs Betty Hislop was asked to deliver her message to the Junior Players and Officials. She expressed the friendships that are made at Championships like these. This was her twenty fourth junior championships she had attended and she has always been impressed with the continued rising of the standard of darts at this level. To the NTDC she wished them every success for the running of the Championships and that their excellent organization will come to a successful conclusion. And to the Players, she wished a successful championship, which they play to the standard they had set themselves and to remember that win or lose, enjoy the game and play in a true sportsman like manner.

Mayor Fran Killgariff then continued with the darting tradition of opening all Australian Darts Championships, threw the first three darts at the dartboard. (And just for the records, she was able to throw all three darts in the scoring area. Well done).