Two darts professionals have been signed up by fermacell

Fermacell, specialist manufacturer of “the ultimate building board” has signed up two equally high-performing darts professionals to help spread the message to professional builders.

The company is sponsoring PDC professionals Dean Winstanley, who is ranked 26^th in the world, and Daryl “Dude” Gurney, who is eyeing up a world up place alongside Brendan Dolan, on a 12-month contract which includes them being badged up for live TV events and floor tournaments.

The sponsorship was unveiled during a fun-packed afternoon in Birmingham where more than 20 Fermacell customers and employees took on the professionals, who regularly travel together, hosted by top TV MC Paul Booth.

The amateurs had to try and match the professionals’ scores with three darts and then compete to throw the highest score and the eventual winner was David Kelly of specialist timber manufacturer Scotts of Thrapston followed closely by Sarah Franklin of independent distributor Go Interiors. Fermacell’s technical manager Andrew Richardson was also a Top 5 player for the day.

Darts is currently enjoying a worldwide renaissance, with events planned for Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai. The most recent PDC world championships on Sky TV had more viewers than any other sport (other than football), peaking at 1.2million viewers for the final. Such is its following from builders to barristers that Sky changed its Sky Sports 2 channel to Sky Sports Darts for the whole of last December.

Fermacell general manager Gary Carter said “Professional darts is a sport that is very relevant to our key market of building trade professionals and we have been searching for the right partnership for some time. I firmly believe we have come up with a winning formula and look forward to both Dean and Daryl wearing the Fermacell logo in many successful tournaments.”

Yorkshireman Dean said: “To have a massive company like Fermacell backing me makes me proud and determined to break into the top 16 in the world and win my maiden PDC title.”

Northern Irishman Daryl added: “I am now starting to play like I know I can. The first two years in the PDC were very tough but I feel more comfortable in my own skin now and I know I can compete and beat the very best in the world so to have such great backing just gives me more motivation to achieve my goals.”