An Interview with ... Ricky Evans

Ricky Evans is currently ranked 51st in the PDC Order of Merit, and is known for his incredible dart throwing speed.  I sat down and chatted with Ricky, to ask about his playing style and his hopes for the future...

You're known for your quick throwing speed, taking only 5 seconds to throw 3 darts.  Have you ever considered slowing down?

Believe it or not I have actually slowed down quite a bit from when I was 16/17.  I was even faster then.  Sometimes though I do think about slowing down, but then again I know how well I can play throwing rapid:-)

How about when you're playing slower players though, does your game suffer?

Slower players used to affect me, but I've grown up now and respected other people's throws and how long they take.  It's all part of the game at the end of the day.

Are you rapid in everything you do...do you have a girlfriend?  Does this affect her haha!?!

I wish haha! Mrs Evans is nowhere to be seen, put in a good word for me will ya!

What would your ideal Mrs Evans look like - Katy Perry? Mila Kunis? Kelly Brook? 

I'm a huge fan of the walk-on girl Daniella Allfree (feel free to hook us up lol!), end of the day personality is key.

I'll try my best!! What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, apart from dreaming about Daniella?

I love playing snooker and pool, probably play too much to be honest.  Also I sometimes go travelling to watch some events around the UK.

Fancy yourself as a snooker player then, what's your highest break? 

My highest break is something like 27.  I'm always good for a shot and a safety, one of my good friends Kyren Wilson is a professional player, and I like watching him play.
I also love my music, my iPod must be the most randomest selection of tunes you could listen to.

Go on then, tell me the last 3 tunes played on your iPod?

Beautiful South - Perfect 10
Frank Wilson - Do I Love You
Showaddywaddy - Rama lama Ding Dong

That is shocking, especially the last one!!

I like any kind of music, I'm rather handy in a music quiz I am.

Music quiz man hey...answer these three then?

Who sang 'I'm a firestarter, twisted firestarter'?

Prodigy

Who had a 1995 hit with 'Boombastic'?

Shaggy

'I Won't Give Up' is a 2012 hit single by who?

Jason Mraz

They were horrendously easy mate!

F**k it..., let's move on.  What kind of films and TV do you like?

I collect comedy dvds, I have quite a large collection.  I love a bit of Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell.

Let's get back to the darts.  How are you playing this year?  You had a good run in the UK Open, is the key for you to qualify for as many tournaments as you can?

Yes definitely, I wanna be back at Ally Pally obviously and get to a few European Events, but my main target is to still have a Tour card at the end of the year, as it's gonna be tough.

How do you find playing on the floor?

I enjoy it, but not as much as I enjoy the big stage.  The lights, the atmosphere and the adrenaline pumping, makes me play properly.

What kind of playing atmosphere do you prefer?  The BDO with the best of order, or the PDC with the football style crowds?

I love atmosphere, but sometimes it's good to have a bit of hush.

Who are your best friends in darts?

I'd like to think I have a few to be honest, people like James Richardson and Kevin McDine I've known for years, and there's "Team Nevada" who are all legends, Ben Ward, Stephen Bunting, Jim Walker and David Pallett.

Who were your idols growing up?

I enjoyed watching Wayne Mardle and Darryl Fitton as they were pure entertainment.  My idol, no doubt is my old man Ian, he basically taught me how to play and learn how to take defeat and practise.

That's nice to hear, let's end up with you giving me one word answers to describe some of the players. Here we go...

Phil Taylor?
Legend

Michael Van Gerwen?
Awesome

Gary Anderson?
Natural

Adrian Lewis?
Mesmerising

And finally....Ricky Evans

Potential!

There you have it, he's probably the fastest player out there and is a real star of the future.  But to make Ricky Evans truly happy, he needs the love of a good woman. Daniella Allfree if you're reading this please get in touch with Ricky!

An Interview with ... Kevin Painter

I've always admired Kevin Painter's tenacity and ability as a darts player. His playing style is infectious, he has a renowned never say die attitude.  Maybe part of the appeal is that he's an Essex lad like me, people always like to root for a someone local. It's the feeling of the guy next door up there playing darts on the tv, you want them to do well, it's like watching your mate play!

Upon speaking to Kevin I quickly realised that us two Essex boys had a connection.  When starting out on the Essex circuit, Kevin played at the Paddocks on Canvey Island, which was only 5mins walk from my parents house.  In fact, I may have seen him play in my youth…I racked my brain, but couldn’t remember, I also didn’t want to take up Kevin’s time, as I searched the dark recesses of my mind.

Speaking to Kevin fresh after his 9-0 defeat to Andrew Gilding was not ideal timing, but I found him in good spirits, and looking to the future.  

So what happened at the UK Open at the weekend?

I got to the venue at 11am, and played my first round game.  In previous years I’ve gone back to my accommodation, relaxed, and gone back to the venue for my next game.  However this year I tried changing things, I stayed at the venue had a couple of drinks, but I waited around too long, so by the time the game came, I was flat.  No disrespect to Andrew though, he played magnificently all weekend.  But I should not be losing 9-0 to him, in fact I shouldn’t be losing 9-0 to anyone.  Normally at 2/3-0 that’s when my fighting spirit kicks in, however it was not there at the weekend.

So what plans have you put in place to rectify this?

Well I’ve been struggling with arthritis in my hip over the winter, and I’ve had to adjust my style of play, as it’s predominantly on my standing leg (my right).  However if I’m waiting around in venues waiting for my match to start, it can start anytime on the floor. I find that my arthritis kicks in.  I’m really looking forward to the summer months so the cold doesn’t get to it!”

As I am getting older, I also need to get healthier, by eating better, and maybe looking at my drinking habits.  I’m finding myself getting fatigued a lot quicker if I have a couple of pints in the afternoon.

There is that old famous Smith & Jones sketch about darts players, which parodies them all as drinkers, does drinking actually assist you?

I’ve always had a drink, so it’s mentally ingrained, I suppose it does help me play.  I’d practice for 4/5 hours a day, have a few pints.  It’s just what I do.  Also when you’re on the tour events, you’re waiting around for 4/5 hours at a time, waiting for a game. So you need something to do, so I’d have a few pints.  Maybe I should be looking for something else to fill this time.

How do you find the experience of playing these games on the floor?

Playing on the floor is tough.  I’m losing focus too easily, I’m losing games that I should never be losing.  What hurts the most, is that I know that.

Looking from afar, you always seem to thrive on playing on the main stage, it brings out the best in you.

Yes, it’s a lot easier as well. You know for example you’re playing Raymond (Van Barneveld) at 7pm on Friday, and you can practice and focus accordingly. On the floor, you might not be playing for hours, and you have to hang around accordingly.

You've dropped down to 24th in the PDC Order of Merit, how are you finding live on the tour?

It's tough, I've missed several events over the last year, and at times I feel like a part-time pro.  If you're not in the top 8, and playing in all the events, then you're having to qualify.  Things are not that easy.

What do you mean by that?

Well you’ve got 100+ guys on the British circuit going for these 20 spots in the tournaments. It's tough.  The quality of player in Britain is stronger than it's ever been. You look at the European qualifying and there's some great guys playing in it, however the strength in depth is not the same in Europe, as it is in the UK.

Surely this is all part of Barry Hearn's plan to make darts a global game?

Yes that is true, and Barry’s answer always is “to play better” obviously but if you don’t qualify for these events, then you’re not playing and you lose your consistency. That’s not good for any darts player.  You need to be playing consistently, especially as you get older.  I’m not a young guy anymore, who can just turn it on and off again.

So is more practice the key?

Well my other half said to me recently that maybe I shouldn’t practice as much.  I’d do 3 days solid, and still wasn’t making an impact.  She said I should let my natural skill for the game just take control, and see where that gets me.  I may try that approach.  I’m certainly throwing nicely at the moment, I just need to get my head switched on for the floor events.

I suppose the BDO guys coming across has made qualifying for events tougher as well?

It’s not just those guys, I don’t think there is any other sport in the world which has the strength in depth of darts.  Everyone can hit a double now.  Years ago, someone could have a double against you, and you’d think he’s going to miss this.  Not anymore.  Everyone can hit one, these young guys are exceptional.

What about the BDO players though?

Stephen Bunting has been exceptional, but they don’t have any prize money to defend.  So they can just chance their arm, and see how they get on.  That’s how Chisnall started, and he’s continued his good form.

Going back to that strength in depth, I guess the 2015 World Championships proved that.  Had you seen Cristo Reyes play before?

No! Well I saw him play Wez (Newton) and had been preparing myself to play Wez.  I knew Wez’s game, and knew that I could beat him.  However saying all that, I got myself 3-1 up against Cristo, and I should not be losing that game. It was hugely disappointing.

Talking about World Championship games when you're ahead, takes me back to the 2004 PDC World Final against Phil Taylor.  Do you often lie awake at night and think I should have won that? (Kevin led 5-3, eventually losing 7-6 in sets)

Not particularly no.  I didn’t have a shot to win it.  So I don’t beat myself up at night about it.  Obviously it would have been nice to win it, but it wasn’t to be. Also the prize money wasn’t so big back then.  It was only £50k for the winner, not like £250k it is now.  It might be a different story if it happened in this day and age.

How was it playing in the "Taylor era"?

The man was a machine, the only hope you had really was that maybe something was going on his personal life at the time.  Or you hoped that you were in the opposite side of the draw to him, as he was winning everything. 

How long do you think Taylor can play for?

Probably 3 to 4 years.  However Phil loves winning.  It’s a great drug to have.  If Phil wants to win a game, he will win it.  I don’t think there has been another sportsman like Phil, he was, is so dominant.  You look at Ronnie O’Sullivan, he’s obviously the best snooker player out there.  But he has days when his brain’s not in gear.  Not Phil though.

What about yourself, how long can you see yourself playing? Do you have any plans for life after darts?

I haven’t even thought about that.  I want to keep on playing darts, and I will carry on as long as I can compete.  I’ve invested in property along the way, but my mind is solely on darts at present.

Changing tack a bit, you love playing on the main stage.  What are your views on the crowds at the big PDC events, especially the irritating Yaya/Kolo Toure chants?

It’s better to have a crowd there, and not at all.  All darts players want to play in front of big crowds.  It’s like footballers, they would rather play in front of 20,000 rather than 200.  When I’m on stage, I tend to not think about the crowd, and the noise doesn’t affect me.

Some of the crowd aren't even watching the darts though

Yes, I’ve seen a lot of that on Twitter.  But these people are going to the darts as a night out, if they want to have a sing-song and a few pints, what’s the problem in that.  What darts players have to remember is without these people going to these events, paying the money to get in, the prize money etc isn’t going to be as big.

You have "I predict a riot" as your walk on song, what influenced that?

I honestly don’t know where it came from.  I’ve had it years, probably at one of the exhibitions someone said to me, “I know a good walk-on song for you”.  That’s where it’s come from I suppose.  When I was in the Premier League in 2012, I wanted to change it. But Sky said no.  They said “that’s your walk-on music”

I can't let you go without mentioning your beloved Ipswich.  Who would be in Kevin Painter's dream Ipswich 5-a-side team?

Haha, good question.

Paul Cooper in goal, he saved 8 penalties out of 10 one season. In fact he saved two in one game.

Terry Butcher – A rock

John Wark – You cannot leave out Johnny Wark

Arnold Muhren – Man what a touch he had

Paul Mariner – In my opinion Ipswich Town’s greatest striker

All from the same era

That late 70s/early 80s side was Ipswich’s best ever, it was a great side.  I could have included Kevin Beattie and Alan Brazil as well.  We’ve had some great players since, Matty Holland and Marcus Stewart, but that 80s side was the best ever.

After speaking to Kevin, I found a man still determined to do well, and still with plenty to offer the game of darts.  He is fully aware of the increasing competition and strength in depth, and maybe is prepared to change a habit of a lifetime to arrow his way back to the top.

An Interview with ... Dan Dawson

For many Dan Dawson is seen as the funny man of darts journalism, but Dan is much more than that, he is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the game.  I recently shared some time with him, and wondered what attracted him to the game of darts.

"I've always loved sport in general, but it was mainly football and cricket when I was growing up.  Darts was never a big thing in our household, but it'd occasionally make it on the TV, because my dad would happily watch sport all day on tele, if given the option.  I guess the first time I remember watching it was the 2000 Lakeside World Championships, when I latched onto Co Stompe, because he looked awesome and weird at the same time.'

Anyone who follows you on social media, would be fully aware of your Co Stompe fascination, dare I say man-love.  Why do you love him so much?

"He just did not look like any other sportsman, certainly not the ones down Meadow Lane and Trent Bridge that I'd regularly see (Notts County and Notts CCC).  The specs, the bald head, the long sleeves, he was glorious"

From this child-hood fascination of Co Stompe to covering the top PDC events, how did this evolve?

"I was living in London and had been made redundant from my job as a sports journalist at a radio station, so was just trying to find whatever work I could.  I was travelling from Cardiff to Essex to do odd days here and there, when I got offered a gig doing the radio coverage of the World Darts Championships at the Ally Pally.  I was in no position to turn it down, but I told my boss that I didn't exactly have a comprehensive knowledge of the game.  All he said was "Don't worry about that, after 3 days of talking about it, you'll be an expert." It takes a bit longer than that.
However, after properly immersing myself in the game, I fell in love with it.  That was the 2009 World Championships (December 2008) and I've been lucky enough to steadily increase my involvement with the game since then."

So since getting involved in the darting world in December 2008, who has influenced you and who do you inspire to be like?

"I admire a lot of guys in darts, past and present, but I don't think you can ever actively try to be like someone.  You have to find your own voice and develop that. Everyone talks about Sid Waddell, and we all know there won't be another Sid, but you look at the guys who do commentary/presenting now, and they've all got fantastic qualities that I want to emulate.
Stuart Pyke's preparation is second to none;  Rod Studd's insight is excellent; Wayne Mardle's wit and enthusiasm are infectious, as well as being an expert on the game; Nigel Pearson and John Gwynne have both really helped me with advice and support; John Part, Chris Mason and Alan Warriner-Little...they're all brilliant.  Not to mention the consumate professionals who hold everything together, Dave Clark and Matt Smith.  If you can't learn from those guys, you won't learn from anyone."

You've played quite safe there and named everyone!  You sure you haven't left anyone out?

"Dave Allen, the PDC Press Officer, is not only the finest Press Officer I've ever come across in any organisation, but he's also a top man, who's helped me out numerous times in the past."

How about the actual players, do you class any of them as good mates?

"I get on with a lot of players, but I don't see them regularly enough to be able to call them really good mates.  However I do have an arch enemy, the dastardly Dean Winstanley - and my life's work is to foil his evil machinations."

Haha...That off the wall stuff is a huge part of your appeal, do you think there is a role for that in modern darts?

"Of course there is.  Darts has always had an element of fun with it.  Obviously Sid was a big part of that for decades, but the sport's blessed with a whole load of characters.  It's become bigger over the last 20 years, and more professional as well, but thankfully it's not killed the fun associated with it.
I've spent a lot of time interviewing guys from football and cricket, who're often media trained within an inch of their lives from their teenage years, and you rarely get anything funny or interesting from them.  It's not like that in darts, it's part of the reason why I fell in love with it as soon as I started working in the game."

From watching on TV, the players certainly give the impression that they're very approachable.  They seem to have the guy next door appeal, which I think makes darts the game of the common man.  Do you have any interviews which are special to you?

"One of my favourite memories is interviewing Adrian Lewis after his second World Championship title.  I was a smoker at the time, and Adrian wanted to get outside for a few minutes away from all the hectic post-final treadmill of interviews and photos - so we just stood in the car park having a fag; it was surreal.  After the most significant match of the year, it was just me and the World Champ having a chat over a cigarette.  You wouldn't get that in most sports, particularly football.
Mind you, you wouldn't get the World Champ in many sports forgetting his trophy either.  I brought it back to the hotel from the Ally Pally with Dave Allen at about 2am (when I typically finish work).  Adrian was sat in the bar, and welcomed us with a shout of "I think that's mine!" and I got to present it to him for the second time that night.  Again I don't care if you're Guillem Balague in football, you're unlikely to ever be presenting Lionel Messi with the Ballon D'or in the hotel bar after he's forgotten to bring it back with him from the venue."

(Laughs) Maybe that says more about Lewis's forgetfulness rather than Messi's! As an avid user of Social Media you're aware of the rivalry between the PDC and the BDO.  In fact I won't call it a rivalry, more point-scoring.

"I'm not even sure it's that big a deal anymore.  There's room for both of them, because they do different things.  There'll be huge arguments on social media about the standard and whatever, but I don't get involved.  It's now easier for the BDO guys to come over and give it a go, and they've still got that safety net of being able to return, now the BDO got rid of that idiotic rule trying to stop them.  Whether you're a BDO or PDC fan, you're a fan of darts, and you can see great games in both codes.  I'm unashamedly a PDC man though....I'm a sucker for the glamour."

Speaking of the glamour, how big can the PDC become? What will happen when Barry Hearn retires, is Eddie interested?

"Barry Hearn will live till he's 207, having just stepped down from his role on stage at the "Virgin Galactic Interstellar Championships" - where Phil Taylor's just beaten Terry Jenkins in the final...again.
But darts' future looks secure to me.  Eddie's involved in the PDC and you only have to look at what he's been doing for British boxing lately."

To end with you, is the Dan Dawson goal to become a full time commentator?  Like a modern day John Gwynne?

"I'd love to do as much as I can in darts, and certainly doing more commentary is a goal of mine.  I'm realistic enough to realise that I'll never be John Gwynne though...he's one of those voices you associate with the game over decades, he's a legend, and a top man as well."

Would you be interested in hosting Bullseye if it came back on prime-time tv?

"Haha! Why not?...I've got no idea what's involved in hosting a game show, but if I get a free nest of tables, microwave oven and a speedboat at the end of the series, then I'm up for it."



Dan Dawson can be found commentating on the darts for ITV4, when allowed.  He's also part (well he says star) of the excellent On the Wire for the PDC.

Link here - https://www.youtube.com/user/officialpdc

Dan's twitter is @dandartsdawson if you're a fan of cheap gags and poor photo-shopping.