As the end of April approaches us, top dart players around Australia turn their eye towards the Geelong Greyhound Racing Club at the Beckley Centre, Beckley Park as the inaugural Simon “Wizard” Whitlock Trophy is hosted as part of the Winmau DPA 2023 race to be crowned Australia’s number one dart player.
It is kind of appropriate that the lad from Hornsby NSW should be celebrated in Geelong, after all the Geelong Cat’s Daniel Menzel’s portrayal of Whitlock mad Monday 2017 was most memorable, prompting the local Geelong Advertiser to ask who wore the long hair better, Whitlock or Menzel.
Simon Whitlock has brought darts to the mainstream Australian. He has a long association with Winmau and it is with both their support that the DPA is able to put on this event at the end of April. The events will include players who have played alongside, played against and been inspired to play by Whitlock. The Wizard has played in two World Championship Finals and there will be many playing across the weekend of April 28 to 30 who will be dreaming of that big stage.
Many questions should be answered over the weekend; Can anyone slow the run of Darren Penhall after his triumphs in the previous DPA events? Will the return of Mal Cuming see the Bull return to the top of the rankings or will other Victorians like Mathewson and Bridge push themselves to get back to the level they were pre Covid? Will the local Geelong players, like Brandon Weening, be up to the challenge? Plus what of the interstate crew, are they going to be successful in preventing total Victorian dominance?
Friday night includes a local race meeting and later start for interstate travellers to Corio, whilst Saturday and Sunday have two events each. All five events go towards the race to the Ally Pally, there is no World Series of Darts qualifier being played on this weekend. Points across the weekend are tallied to provide an overall Whitlock Trophy winner.
Player can preregister online up until the Thursday night before the events, or walk in entries will be available up to the in house cut off times for each event.
About Author
