After a significant hiatus from being represented at the Australian Darts Championships, the Northern Territory (NT) has a representative squad competing at the 42nd running of the event in 2023.
Consisting of Centralian Darts NT players, the squad consisting of eight players, a Captain and Team Manager has hit the ground running at the Rich River Country Club in Moama.
At the Opening Ceremony on the weekend they were given the bigges reception of all the States, and the welcome has been appreciated by the NT team.
NT Captain Dustin Salmon said it has been a thrill to be back part of the event, and that the team has been welcomed back to the fold with open arms.
“It has been a long time since we had a side here at the Championships, so it really is wonderful to be back,” he said.
“It can’t be an Australian Championship without all of the states participating, and for the Territory and mainly for the Alice Springs lads at the moment, it has been a big step to come here and make the step back into it.
“Three of four of us have been away previously either as Captain, Manager or just as a representative, but the warm reception we got at the Opening Ceremony form all the States and everyone was just tremendous.”
Salmon said that there were no expectations when it comes to results at the 42nd iteration of the event, but instead it would very much be used as a learning experience for future years.
He admitted that being able to show everyone at home what they are capable of and the impact it could have on the community in the NT was a great feeling.
“Probably once we go back we will show what we have done – it’s good to talk about doing things but until you actually do it, go away, and no matter how we go, we go away and have fun, learn, meet new people, and then can go back and spread the word.
“And I think that’s when it will really start hitting them back at home in Alice and hopefully the rest of the Territory.
Speaking about the presence of the NT team at the National Championships, Darts Australia President Kelvin James said it has been incredible having the Territory back in the fold.
“They received an absolutely rapturous welcome – everyone is so excited that they are back at the Championships,” he said
“It has been one common comment that we have received from everybody – how nice it is to see them back again, and as you can tell, the atmosphere as a whole is very exciting.
“I think it is a huge positive for the sport, for their Association, for their players – I don’t think they have had a victory yet but the victory is the fact that they will take this back home.
“They will go back to Alice and let everyone know how good you have got to be and how wonderful it is to come to a Championships, and it can only be a good thing for our sport!”
The team consists of:
Dylan Salmon
Richard Dodd
Adrian McAdam
Colin Craig
Mark Webster
Ashley Hughes
Peter Kidub
Brenton Taylor McInness
Dustin Salmon (Captian)
Derek Whittaker (Manager)
To keep up to date with all of the team’s results and news, head to the Event Hub via: https://dartsaustralia.com/2023-australian-championship/
