WEDNESBURY WORKERS THROW DARTS FOR CHARITY

Wednesbury workers this week stepped up to the oche to throw some arrows with World number three darts player James Wade to help a local charitable cause.

Sales people from MSC/J&L on Pacific Avenue in Wednesbury took a break from normal day to day business to play darts with current Premier League darts player, James Wade, at their head office on Wednesday.

WD-40 Multi-Use product, one of James Wade’s main sponsors, invited him to the industrial supplier to meet the team and challenge them to an exciting darts competition.
Staff at the site played James Wade in a 9-darts competition and key staff were thanked by WD-40 Company for their excellent sales figures across their newly launched Blue Works brand, with gift vouchers as a reward for their hard work.

James‘s appearance will also benefit a worthwhile cause. A professional dart board has been donated and signed by the world number three and presented to staff at MSC/J&L, who have chosen to raffle it, in house, to raise money for a local boy suffering with a terminal illness.

WD-40 Brand manager, Amy Long, said: “It is fantastic we could brighten up the day for staff at MSC/J&L by bringing James Wade to Wednesbury.

“It is great to also be able to work with James in support of a very worthwhile charitable cause and we really hope the dart board raises lots of money.”

Nadine Taylor, marketing communications supervisor for MSC/J&L added: “Having James with us for the afternoon was a great way to boost staff morale whilst creating a bit of fun.

“We appreciate WD-40 Company’s help in bringing him in to town and hope we managed to make a decent game of it with some of the darts we threw!”

VOLKSWAGEN COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TAKES DARTS TO THE CV SHOW

DOUBLE TOP SPONSORSHIP FOR PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS STARS

Two of the world’s leading darts players have signed major sponsorship deals with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ahead of the 2011 Premier League.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is stepping up to the oche and backing world number three, James Wade, and the 2011 World Championship semi-finalist, Mark Webster for a period of 12-months. And as fate would have it, the two 27-year olds face each other at the season-opener taking place at London’s O2 Arena next week.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Wade explained: “I’m delighted for both Mark and myself with this double sponsorship. It shows how popular darts is becoming when a major global company invests in the sport.”

“The start of the Premier League couldn’t have worked out better, and I know Mark and I will be doing our best to put on a great show at the O2.”

Currently ranked at number 13 in the world, Webster from Denbigh, North Wales, added: “This is a leading sponsorship deal and means I can concentrate on my goal of reaching world number one. Volkswagen vans have a superb reputation for reliability, strength and success, and these are qualities that I aim to bring to the oche, during the sponsorship and beyond.”

“James and I are good friends, but when we’re on stage we’re best of enemies.”

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ head of marketing, David George, said: “This is a new and exciting arena for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. As an ex-mechanic and plumber respectively, James and Mark are both perfect ambassadors for the brand.

“With significant television and live audiences, darts is a great platform to continue raising awareness of our commercial vehicles brand. Everyone at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be hoping James or Mark can claim the Premier League and many other trophies in 2011.”

VAN-TASTIC SPONSORSHIP DEAL FOR JAMES WADE

World number three darts player, James Wade, will be stepping up to the oche this year with a significant new sponsorship deal.

Following one of his most successful years, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has agreed a 12-month contract with Wade, in time for this year’s Premier League.

After the announcement James said: “2010 was a superb year for me and being sponsored by such a major brand as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is fantastic news and makes me very proud.

“Volkswagen vans have a superb reputation for reliability, strength and success, something I aim to provide when on the oche, during the sponsorship and beyond.

“When I’m playing it gives me extra confidence knowing well-known brands like Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have faith in my ability.”

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ head of marketing, David George, said: “This is a new and exciting arena for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

“Darts is a growing sport, with audience figures rising every tournament and thousands of new fans following every week.

“It has the second highest viewing figures on Sky Sports after Premiership football and will provide a platform to continue to raise awareness of our commercial vehicle brand.

“As an ex-mechanic, James is familiar to the automotive industry and will prove to be a great ambassador for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

“Everyone at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be hoping James can reclaim the Premier League in 2011.”

DARTS FAN HITS THE BULLSEYE

A Somerset darts fan was all smiles after a chance encounter led to a game of arrows with one of the world’s best players.

Rob Burbridge from Axbridge shared the oche with world number three darts player James Wade, after attending the WD-40 stand at an Exeter trade show hosted by Toolbank.

He played a nine-dart shoot-out against James making the top four scores of the day with a 180. Rob then progressed to a final 501 game, beating James with double eight finish to win a WD-40 darts board, set of darts and case of WD-40 product.

After making the final, beating James and winning the prizes Rob said: “It was fantastic to play James and beat him, but he certainly showed his quality against me with a couple of 180s. I’m sure he missed a couple of doubles on purpose to give me a chance!

“I must thank Toolbank and WD-40 for giving me this opportunity, the prizes and also to James for passing on some tips on my throwing technique.”

David Whittome, WD-40’s head of marketing, said: “This was a great opportunity for amateur darts players and fans to test their skills against one of the best in the world.”

James added: “Playing against fans like Rob is brilliant and gives me chance to pass on tips to them.

“He threw some excellent darts and showed great composure to hit double eight!”

James Wade signs sponsorship deal with WD-40

World number three darts player James Wade is stepping up to the oche with a new sponsorship deal under his belt. WD-40 is behind the ‘new face’ of darts until at least the end of 2010, for a significant five-figure sum.

See the video now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIeEoZCWYtA.

WD-40 scores a bullseye with sponsorship deal

World number three darts player James Wade is stepping up to the oche with a new sponsorship deal under his belt. WD-40 is behind the ‘new face’ of darts until at least the end of 2010, for a significant five-figure sum.

The rising star from Cobham, who is just 26 years old, has climbed the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) world rankings year after year and in 2008 he became the first player to beat Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in the Premier League since the event started in 2005.

Following the sponsorship announcement James said: “It is fantastic news that such a big brand wants to provide significant support to me. I regularly used WD-40 when I was a mechanic and can’t believe it’s now on my shirt.

“This is the first sponsorship deal I have had that has not been related to the traditional sponsors in darts and marks a new era for the sport. I look forward to working with WD-40 and hope the backing helps me win more titles.”

European managing director for WD-40, Bill Noble, said: “We felt that darts was the perfect sport to link up with as it fits well with our target audience and has the second highest viewing figures for sport after Premiership football.

“James is a very talented player who is dedicated to the sport and is doing extremely well at such a young age and has a lot of potential to go much further.

“We look forward to cheering him on at the Grand Slam of Darts, later this month.”

The sponsorship begins at the Grand Slam of Darts on Saturday 14th November in Wolverhampton as James hopes to add the title to the Premier League he won in May.

James showed off his talents at the official launch day of the sponsorship deal by playing a few friendly games against journalists and WD-40 staff including Bill Noble. Needless to say he remained undefeated, with no one coming close to beating the world number three.