An Interview With Karen Cookson

This is an interview with Karen Cookson.

Back in 1994 Karen and business partner Sue Knight were the original Walk-On girls, first seen at Blackpool.


 
1: How did you find out about being a walk-on girl?

In 1994 me and my buisness partner sue knight became the first walk on models at Blackpool Winter Gardens we had both been in Miss Blackpool competition which we now organize and where asked to do the Walk-ons carrying the flags for years.




2: How long have you been doing it for?

We did all the Walk-ons for 6 years till year 2000ish.




3: What’s your favourite Darts tournament?

Every Tournament is extremeley exciting.




4: What’s been your Darting highlight?

Having fun will all the darts players doing video promos at the different tournaments!




5: Are you any good at darts?

No im terrible, but played against the players with Sue for charity at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, I hit the board thats all, but Sue actually hit a bull! Not to finish though!




6: Have you got any ambitions?

To learn to play darts hehe, or even hit the board would be nice!

7: If you could have your own walk-on music, what would it be?

Would have to be Duran Duran - Girls on Film.




8: What would you Darting nickname be?

 KJ.




9: Do you have a favourite Darts Player?

Rod Harrington for the banter we had! and Alan Wariner, as i liked dressing up as the Ice Queen complete with icicles in my hair!




10: Tell me something we don’t know about you?  Miss UK finalist 2 years running! one of the last person to do the deathslide from the top of Blackpool Tower before health n safety came in link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w40f8E3w59A




11: What do you like to do in your spare Time, if you have any?

Besides running the agency which is none stop and having 2 lovely children Rio n Madison just having precious family time together relaxing (With a large glass of Rose sat in the garden chilling)




12: Any advice for someone wanting to get involved in being a walk-on girl?

By contacting us at the agency angelselitemodels@yahoo.co.uk and send photos and a CV.

A big thank you to Karen for this interview, it was a pleasure.

If you would like to be a Walk-on Girl or even a Model, the details are below.



ANGELS ELITE MODELS & PROMOTIONS 
6 WESTBOURNE ROAD
CLEVELEYS
LANCS
FY5 1HN

01253 820226

http://www.angelselite.co.uk/

This interview was done by Richard on the 8th of March 2013.




 

An Interview With Walk-On Twins Lauren and Brooke

This is an interview with Sky walk-on twins Lauren and Brooke Chadwick.

 

 

 

 We saw the Chadwick twins at last years World Matchplay in Blackpool, the first ever twin Walk-on girls.     1:How did you find out about being a walk-on girl?
          B. Through Angels Elite.
          L. From Karen at Angels Elite.


2: How long have you been doing it for?
             We were lucky enough to take part in last years Matchplay darts in July.


3: What’s your favourite Darts tournament?
             We both love The World Matchplay Darts.


4: What’s been your Darting highlight?
             B. Meeting the lovely players and the dedicated fans.
             L. Meeting all the players.

  5: Are you any good at darts?
            B. I would love to say yes ... But no ! Would love to learn though :)
            L. No, but understand the game more now :)


 
6: Have you got any ambitions?
           B. I would love to carry on as a walk on girl and to become a teacher. 
           L. Yes lots , to work all over the country as a veterinary nurse and being part of                many promotions.

 
  7: If you could have your own walk-on music, what would it be?
           B. Definitely Eye of the Tiger ;)
           L. Rocky's Eye of the Tiger or Wild Ones.            8: What would you Darting nickname be?

           B. The dynamic duo (with the twinny)
           L. The dynamic duo (twins) :) hehe            9: Do you have a favourite Darts Player?
              We both like Phil 'the Power' Taylor ;)


10: Tell me something we don’t know about you?
           B. If anyone didn't know already, I'm an identical twin !
           L. I'm a veterinary nurse.

 
11: What do you like to do in your spare Time, if you have any?
          B. I love to horse ride and spend time with family and friends.
          L. Ride my horse , spend time with friends and family and work out.

          12: Any advice for someone wanting to get involved in being a walk-on girl?

          B. It's such a great experience , definitely worth getting involved and you get to
               wear some great outfits !
          L. Enjoy every moment its such an amazing experience and opportunity.

A big thank you to Lauren and Brooke for this interview, it was a pleasure.

If you want to get involved with being a Walk-on girl like the Twins, the contact details are below.



ANGELS ELITE MODELS & PROMOTIONS
6 WESTBOURNE ROAD
CLEVELEYS
LANCS
FY5 1HN

01253 820226

http://www.angelselite.co.uk/

This interview was done by Richard on the 7th March 2013.

An Interview With Walk-On Girl Nicola Cowell

This is an interview with Sky Walk-on girl Nicola Cowell

Nicola is a firm Darting favourite, the Liverpool lass is a hugh hit on our Tv screens when the Darts is on, and now also on the Exhibition Circuit.



1: How did you find out about being a walk-on girl?

I joined an agency about 5 years ago and the first job I had was a Walk-on girl, it was a great experience and I have subsequently started my own company www.nc-management.co.uk




2: How long have you been doing it for?

5 years.



3: What’s your favourite Darts tournament?

Either Blackpool or the Worlds are my favourite darts tournament.


 
4: What’s been your Darting highlight?

Getting to meet and work with some fantastic crew and making good friends along the way.


 
5: Are you any good at darts?

I worked at an exhibition recently and wa asked to play against the organiser in front of the audience - and I soon found out that no I'm not particularly good at darts haha


 
6: Have you got any ambitions?

I would like to go off and live abroad again for a short time, I have my company set up now which I mentioned earlier so I have been concentrating on that.I have lots of exhibitions booked in - one in Holland, one in Spain, Everton Football club and also an exhibition with Stoke footballers coming up along with some other regular exhibitions that go on throughout the year.

 
7: If you could have your own walk-on music, what would it be?

If I had my own walk on music it would have to be Beyonce Single Ladies hahaha



8: What would you Darting nickname be?

Nickname : i will let you come up with one for me haha



9: Do you have a favourite Darts Player?

to be honest they're all fantastic I have worked with them for 5years now- I do a lot of work with Andy Smith he is very funny - Terry Jenkins- Steve Beaton- Andy Hamilton - it's so hard I choose one lol


 
10: Tell me something we don’t know about you?

I have size 8 feet haha- I like adventures and travelling and I am a bit of a tom boy off screen.


 
11: What do you like to do in your spare Time, if you have any?

I spend a lot of my spare time with friends or family- I have a few small nephews and nieces who I love looking after and always make me laugh.


 
12: Any advice for someone wanting to get involved in being a walk-on girl?

Walk-on girls get in touch with me as I have connections with exhibition organisers- girls should be confident, attractive but most importantly have a good friendly personality - if a model has no personality or is rude then she won't go far- the darts isn't just about walking on with the players and looking pretty it's interacting with fans and co-workers.

A big thank you to Nicola for doing this interview, it was a pleasure.

This interview was done by Richard on the 7th of March 2013.

  

PDC and Sky Partnership Extended

SKY SPORTS will take its partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation into a 25th year thanks to a new five-year broadcast deal.

The agreement offers Sky Sports viewers over 50 days of live and exclusive darts throughout the year including the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship each Christmas until 2018.

As part of the deal, Sky Sports viewers will also enjoy live coverage of the McCoy's Premier League, PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, William Hill Grand Slam of Darts, Betfair World Cup of Darts and the Betfair World Matchplay, which celebrates its 20th staging this summer.

The partnership between Sky Sports and the PDC extends back to the organisation's formation two decades ago, beginning with the 1994 World Championship.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: "Sky Sports has worked with the PDC since the early 1990s, helping to build the sport from working men's clubs to some of the biggest arenas in the UK and Ireland."

He added: "This is a real success story and an excellent long term partnership. Our live coverage and promotion of darts is unique and Sky Sports viewers can enjoy the fantastic atmosphere that these events generate for a further five years."

Since the PDC's formation, live televised darts has grown from just a few hundred fans at venues such as the Circus Tavern and Salford's Willows Variety Centre, to over 10,000 fans at the O2 Arena for the Premier League.

The World Championship offers £1 million in prize money – over 15 times the prize fund for the PDC's first World Championship back in 1994 – while over £5 million prize money is now paid out annually on the PDC circuit.

PDC chairman Barry Hearn said: "We've just celebrated our 20th World Championship with the best tournament ever staged, and both that event and the current McCoy's Premier League Darts show how far the sport has come in the past two decades.

"Sky Sports has played an integral part in the growth of darts, with its innovative and high quality broadcasts and fundamental support of the PDC, and we are delighted to sign this new broadcast contract.

"This deal is not only great for the PDC but also for our players, who will be playing in huge events live on Sky Sports in the coming years."

This announcement continues a series of strong major rights deals for Sky Sports over the twelve months, including: Barclays Premier League, England & Wales cricket, British & Irish Lions, Heineken Cup, European Tour, Ryder Cup, NBA, NFL, plus many more.

Live darts coverage is also available via Sky Go, which offers Sky customers access to live and on demand programmes and films from up to 43 channels on a wide range of internet-connected devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets and games consoles.

PDC McCoys Premier League-Week 5

McCoy's Premier League Darts

Week Five

March 7 - Capital FM Arena, NottinghamJames Wade 7-1 Robert Thornton
Raymond van Barneveld 7-5 Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis 7-4 Michael van Gerwen
Phil Taylor 5-7 Gary Anderson
Wes Newton 5-7 Simon Whitlock

James Wade v Robert Thornton

0-0 - James Wade will throw first
1-0 - Wade kicks off with two 140s and takes out 81 on double 13 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Thornton misses tops to finish 135, and Wade takes out 72 on double 12 to break throw.
3-0 - Double ten sees the 2009 champion move three legs clear.
4-0 - Wade opens with a 180 and finishes 85 on tops to maintain a brilliant start, averaging over 104 after four legs.
5-0 - Thornton lands a 180, his first of the game, but misses two darts at double 12 to finish 81, and Wade punishes him by hitting tops.
6-0 - Wade finishes 121 on double 14 to ensure that he will take at least a draw out of the match.
6-1 - Thornton keeps his hopes alive by winning a first leg of the game on double top.
7-1 - Wade hits a second 180 of the game and finishes 121 on double 14 for a second time to complete a brilliant victory, averaging 105.73.


Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton

0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld will throw first
1-0 - Hamilton opens the game with a 180 but van Barneveld takes the opening leg on tops.
1-1 - Hamilton kicks off another leg with a maximum, and takes out double five - with his fifth dart at a double - to level.
2-1 - van Barneveld takes out 71 on double 16 to move back ahead.
2-2 - van Barneveld posts a 180, but misses double eight and four to finish 76 as Hamilton steps in to hit double nine.
3-2 - van Barneveld lands double four to edge himself in front and avoid a potential break of throw.
3-3 - Hamilton fires in a third maximum, and hits tops to level again.
4-3 - van Barneveld lands his second maximum and then takes out 121 on double 14 to move back ahead.
4-4 - Hamilton hits a 177 to leave 32 before squaring the game once again by hitting double 16.
5-4 - van Barneveld hits his third 180, and when Hamilton misses the bull for a 170 checkout the Dutch ace returns to pin tops.
6-4 - van Barneveld leaves 36 with another maximum, and when Hamilton is unable to take out 128, he returns to post double nine to break for the first time.
6-5 - Both players hit 180s, with Hamilton first to a finish but missing two darts at doubles only for van Barneveld to miss tops - for the match - to take out 106, as the Stoke ace hits double four to break back and force a decider.
7-5 - van Barneveld opens the final leg with his sixth 180 of the game, and adds a 137 and a 140 before finishing double 16 for an 11-darter to seal a superb victory, as both players end the game with ton-plus averages.


Adrian Lewis v Michael van Gerwen

0-0 - Adrian Lewis will throw first
1-0 - Both players hit 180s, and Lewis takes out tops for a 14-darter to settle any early nerves.
1-1 - Lewis misses two darts to break throw, and van Gerwen levels on tops.
2-1 - Lewis opens with a 180 and finishes double eight for another 14-dart leg.
3-1 - Lewis breaks throw for the first time, initially missing double 16 for a 108 finish only to return after van Gerwen fails to close out the leg, with the Stoke ace hitting double eight with his third dart.
4-1 - van Gerwen hits a 180, but Lewis takes out 87 on double 18 to move three legs clear.
4-2 - The Dutchman hits double four to hit back.
5-2 - The pair trade 180s, and Lewis takes out 60 on tops once more to move closer to his first point of the season.
5-3 - van Gerwen lands double eight to cut the gap to two legs again.
6-3 - Lewis hits double eight to give himself a first McCoy's Premier League Darts point in 2013 - and celebrates with a relieved smile!
6-4 - Both players hit 180s, and when Lewis misses one match dart at tops the Dutch ace hits double ten to keep his hopes alive.
7-4 - Lewis posts his seventh maximum before landing double 14 for his first victory of the campaign.


Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson

0-0 - Phil Taylor will throw first
1-0 - Taylor takes the opening leg on double five.
2-0 - Taylor breaks throw with double four.
2-1 - Taylor misses double 16 and Anderson posts double 18 to get off the mark.
2-2 - Anderson hits tops at the first time of asking to level the game - meaning that he has hit his last four darts at a double after being restricted to just two darts last week against Robert Thornton.
3-2 - Taylor regains the lead with a fine 12-darter, scoring 134, 180 and 137 before landing double 16.
3-3 - Anderson hits a 180 and finishes 100 in two darts to level again.
4-3 - Taylor finishes 28 to nudge himself back ahead.
4-4 - Taylor lands a 180 to leave 102 after nine darts, but narrowly misses double 16 as Anderson steps in to finish tops to square the game.
4-5 - Anderson breaks throw to move ahead for the first time, finishing 60 on double ten.
5-5 - Anderson misses double ten to finish 100, and Taylor finishes 71 on double 16 in two darts to break back and level.
5-6 - Anderson hits a 174 but initially misses his chance to earn a point, only for Taylor to miss one dart at tops and allow the Scot to post double five to ensure a minimum of a draw.
5-7- Anderson misses tops for a 120 finish, but Taylor is unable to take out 156 as the 2011 champion lands double ten with his final dart to seal victory, and end Taylor's unbeaten start.


Wes Newton v Simon Whitlock

0-0 - Wes Newton will throw first
1-0 - Double 16 sees Newton take the opening leg.
2-0 - The Fleetwood ace breaks throw to double his advantage.
2-1 - Whitlock opens with a maximum and takes out 116 on tops to win his first leg.
3-1 - Newton lands a 180 and finishes 65 on tops to break throw again.
4-1 - Newton adds another 180 and tops to move three legs clear.
4-2 - Whitlock this time pins double top as he cuts the gap.
4-3 - Newton misses double top for a 119 finish - the first time in the game either player has been off-target - and Whitlock takes out 120 to break throw.
4-4 - Newton leaves 16 but sees Whitlock finish 74 in two darts to level the contest.
4-5 - Double eight sees Whitlock take the lead for the first time.
4-6 - Newton opens with a 180 but missed doubles allow Whitlock to hit a key double ten to secure a point.
5-6 - Whitlock hits a 180, but after two misses from Newton the Australian is off-target with two darts at double 15 for the win, and Newton lands double three to force a deciding leg.
5-7 - Whitlock is first to a finish after hitting a fifth 180 of the game, and double ten sees Whitlock claim a point.



Week Six

March 14 - Manchester Arena

Michael van Gerwen v Wes Newton
Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock v James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton

An Interview With Walk-On Girl Sammi Marsh

This is an interview with Sky Walk-on girl Sammi Marsh.

1: How did you find out about being a walk-on girl? 


    Through my agent Angels Elite Models.

2: How long have you been doing it for?

    I started in 2012.

3: What’s your favourite Darts tournament? 

   World Matchplay in Blackpool.

4: What’s been your Darting highlight? 

   My highlight was doing the Betfair Baywatch advert.

5: Are you any good at darts?

    No I'm only good and watching darts.

6: Have you got any ambitions? 

   Yes my ambitions are to climb Kilimanjaro and to be a Fire Fighter

7: If you could have your own walk-on music, what would it be?

    Led Zeppelin's Rock n Roll.

8: What would you Darting nickname be? 

    Magic Marsh.

9: Do you have a favourite Darts Player? 

    Phil 'the Power' Taylor

10: Tell me something we don’t know about you?

     I’m a Rock chick.

11: What do you like to do in your spare Time, if you have any? 

    In my spare time I raise money for Tommy’s Baby charity and run marathons.

12: Any advice for someone wanting to get involved in being a walk-on girl? 

     Be yourself have fun and smile it’s a great job.

A big thank you to Sammi for doing this interview, it was a pleasure,

This interview was done by Richard on the 7th of March 2013. 

 

An Interview With Walk-On Girl Daniella Allfree

This is an interview with Sky Walk-on girl Daniella Allfree

Daniella is a firm Darts fan favourite. We first saw the Chesterfield Stunner on our screens at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

1: How did you find out about being a walk-on girl?

I've worked as a fashion model for 12 years and got the Walk on Job through one of my model agencies, Angels Elite. They supply all the Sky Walk on Models. I think I was selected from my pictures.

2: How long have you been doing it for?

I did my 1st darts walk on back in November at The Darts Grand Slam in Wolverhampton. I loved it!! :) I went on to do The Players Championships in Minehead and then The World Championships in London.. and now the Premier league.

3: What's your favourite Darts tournament?

My favourite darts tournament was definitely Minehead! Such an amazing venue. The crowd were brilliant, such a great atmosphere and some great darts played with Phil Taylor winning The Players Championship.

4: What's been your Darting highlight?

I've enjoyed everything about the darts.. but my personal highlights have been the amazing people I've met through doing it. 

5: Are you any good at darts?

When I got home from The World Championships my dad had made a little darts room and we played tournaments over Christmas. I was really bad. The players make it look easy but its a very skillful sport.

6: Have you got any ambitions?

I've had quite a successful modelling career and felt so lucky to do a job I love. I hope to continue working hard in this career. Always excited to see what the future brings..

7: If you could have your own walk-on music, what would it be?

Walk on music needs to be really up beat.. I always enjoy the walk-ons better when its a good tune. Me and My girlfriends always love dancing to 'Sexy Bitch' by Akon That would be really fun to walk down to.

8: What would your Darting nickname be?

9: Do you have a favourite Darts Player?

All the darts player's are amazing! I always enjoy walking on Phil Taylor, always have a laugh :) I also like Andy Hamilton, Michael van Gerwen and Simon Whitlock. All great guys. 

10: Tell me something we don't know about you?

I came 3rd in Miss Great Britain & I came 2nd in Miss Italia nel mondo and was a Beauty Pageant Judge in Italy.

11: What do you like to do in your spare Time, if you have any?

I love my modelling work and sometimes treat it as a hobby as I have had some amazing experiences. In my spare time though I love spa days, nice lunches out, shopping and nights out with the girls! ...my new favourite hobby is watching the darts!

12: Any advice for someone wanting to get involved in being a walk-on girl?

Be confident, be happy, Smile, enjoy the atmosphere. It really is a great job and so much fun. Angels Elite Models provides all Sky Walk on Models..

A big thank you to Daniella for doing this interview, it was a pleasure.

This interview was done by Richard on the 6th of March 2013.