Sponsorship

The Debt People Stockport Open 2006

[The Debt People are sponsors of "The Debt People Stockport Open", the UK's biggest one day darts tournament].

A LONG trip from the north of Scotland proved very worthwhile for Stirlingshire’s Gary Anderson on Sunday.

Anderson, who has been in excellent form throughout 2006, went home from the inaugural and hugely successful Debt People Stockport Open competition as a winner.

Anderson, the current number one in the World Darts Federation rankings, cruised past James Wade 6-1 in the final at a packed-out Britannia Hotel in Offerton, on a day which featured some top quality darts from players who had journeyed from up and down the country to take part.

The extreme heat failed to put competitors off, and administrator Pauline Stafford did a sterling job in organising and processing almost 300 applications in the lead-up to the event, and on the chaotic day.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly happy tournament on home turf for Stockport’s two professional stars, Tony O’Shea and Darryl Fitton.

O’Shea crashed out in the third round to Rawtenstall’s Chris McTiernan, while Fitton went down 3-0 in the fourth round to eventual finalist Wade.
“I couldn’t buy a double,” groaned Fitton. “But overall it was a great day for Stockport.
“The hotel was packed, the tournament certainly proved popular.”

Stockport star Tony O’Shea said: “The main sponsors, the Debt People, were dead chuffed with the turnout on Sunday, and the amount of entrants into the Stockport Open.

“There was a great crowd in all day, and many of them stayed on until the evening to watch the latter stages on the main competition board.

“But this tournament is set to be bigger and better next year, and already I’m 95 per cent certain that it will be a world-ranked event in future".

It appears that the Stockport Open is here to stay.

Simon Smedley, Senior Sports Editor, Stockport Express