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Team Unicorn continues to expand with new categories and new players from around the world. It remains without doubt the finest team of international champions in the world and it contains more major tournament wins and winners than any other. It is perhaps the greatest recommendation of the brand that so many great professionals use and promote Unicorn Darts.
Started initially in the 1950s when current Chairman Stanley Lowy signed up the winners of the prestigious News of the World Tournament to promote the company’s darts, Team Unicorn now boasts 4 World Champions and 20 World Championship titles between them. No other brand has more World Champions and no other brand has more World Championship victories - and with Team Unicorn comprising Phil Taylor, John Lowe, Bob Anderson and 2008 winner John Part, is it any wonder?
However, never a company to rest on its laurels, Unicorn Darts has now expanded its stable of professionals from around the world to a new level. Not content with having 4 World Champions, it now boasts 6 players as Maestros , 5 as Contenders, 12 Global, 3 Media and 5 very exciting new young players in Generation 180.
Andy Hamilton’s
promotion from Contenders
and Terry
Jenkins’ signing in 2007 brings the total number of Maestros
to 6, joining Peter
Manley, Kevin
Painter, Adrian
Lewis and James
Wade. All are excellent darts professional at the top
of their game, but just lacking a World Championship title
that allows them into the very elite. However, 2008 could
be the year when they break this barrier and join the World
Champions.
The new look 2008 Contenders
now features 2008 World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd
after his remarkable run at the Alexandra Palace, Wes
Newton, Barrie
Bates, Colin
Osborne and Mick
McGowan. These 5 players are exactly what they’re
called; professionals establishing their careers in darts,
snapping at the heels of the established players and likely
to surprise many with their skill, dedication and 'can do'
enthusiasm. They know no fear and the world titles are theirs
for the taking.
Media is captained by Sid Waddell, whose impassioned Geordie tones makes him the unique ‘Voice of Darts’. Sid is extra proud that he saw the television potential of darts over thirty years ago and there is no doubt that his commentating has made a major contribution in making darts a real sport in the eyes of the press.
Russ Bray has one of the most recognisable voices in the world of darts. ‘The Voice’ is now part of the most recognisable brand in the world of darts. His familiar gravel tones are known worldwide and the cry of “game on” and the shout of “one hundred and eighty” have made Russ a household name. He is highly respected as a referee all over the world and is hugely popular with darts fans wherever he goes.
From Germany, Gordon
Shumway is a top referee and commentator and brings an
added international element to Team Unicorn. Gordon is also
a regular uniBlogger.
Global has really come of age in 2008 and now includes no less than 12 great darts personalities from all round the world and at different stages of their careers, including 3 ladies. More than anything else, this shows Unicorn’s commitment to darts throughout the world and to all dart players everywhere.
Players of all levels, not just those at the very top, can make a valuable contribution to their chosen sport and Global gives Unicorn a chance to support these players. Global currently comprises Ray Carverand Gary Mawson (USA), Barry
Jouannet (Australia), Laura
Tye and Tricia Wright (UK), Robbie Green and Rikki Williams (UK), Irina Armstrong (born Russia, lives Germany), Michael Rosenauer (Germany), Andy Krockel (Germany), Wynand Havenga (South Africa) and Takeda (Japan).
Launched in 2007 Generation 180 is specifically for Academy and junior players, who are the future of the sport. This typifies Unicorn’s absolute long term commitment to the grass roots game. Kimberley Lewis (Wales) and Jamie Kelling (Andover Darts Academy), the original Generation 180 players, are now joined by Thomas Fraundorfer (Germany), Keegan Brown (Isle of Wight) and Sean White, also from the highly successful Andover Darts Academy.
Current 2008 World Champion John Part is delighted that Unicorn are expanding their support of darts players.
“I am delighted to see such a positive growth in Team Unicorn, which will have a positive knock-on effect throughout the darting world. The expansion of both Global and Generation 180 are particularly pleasing, both of which prove that Unicorn has its heart and soul in the development of darts long term.”
“We have been at the forefront of darts innovation, development and sponsorship for over 70 years,” said Unicorn Managing Director Edward Lowy, “and the expanded Team Unicorn will be at the heart of the promotion of our products, not only at home in the UK, but throughout the darts world.”
Unicorn will be developing a range of darts featuring all these players in due course, full details of which will appear on this website.
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