Richie Gardner
Encyclopedia
Richie Gardner is a former English professional darts player, who had some success during the 1980s and was one of the 16 top players who formed a breakaway organisation during an acrimonious split in the game
during 1992-94.
Gardner showed some promise during early days of televised darts - although the only title he won was the Belgian Open in 1984, which was a non-televised event. He reached the last 16 of the Winmau World Masters
in 1985 and then qualified for the World Professional Darts Championship
for the first time in 1986 where he lost in the first round to Terry O'Dea
. It was the first year the tournament was staged at the Lakeside Country Club
.
He failed to progress beyond the second round in his visits to Lakeside, but did come up against some legends of the game including Eric Bristow
, Jocky Wilson
and Mike Gregory. He managed to reach the quarter finals of the World Masters in 1990 - but by this time, that tournament was no longer televised. Only the World Championship remained on the screens during that era, which was one of the reasons that many top players became unhappy with their lack of television exposure.
Gardner was amongst the group of 16 players who "defected" from the British Darts Organisation
between 1992 and 1994 as one of the founder members of the World Darts Council
(now the Professional Darts Corporation - PDC) and he received more television exposure between 1994 and 1999 at their World Championship - but never managed to progress beyond the group stages.
He also competed in the WDC/PDC's World Matchplay tournament in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998 - but never won a single match. After the 1999 World Championship he faded from the scene and no longer competes on the darts circuit - although he did compete at a couple of PDC Open events in Eastbourne in 2005 and 2006 but never progressed beyond the very early rounds.
Split in darts
The split in darts refers to an acrimonious dispute between top professional darts players and the game's governing body which began in 1992 and resulted in the formation of a new organisation to arrange tournaments - including a second version of the World Professional Darts Championship...
during 1992-94.
Gardner showed some promise during early days of televised darts - although the only title he won was the Belgian Open in 1984, which was a non-televised event. He reached the last 16 of the Winmau World Masters
Winmau World Masters
The Winmau World Masters is one of the longest running and most prestigious professional darts tournaments, which began in 1974 - even before the current World Professional Championship...
in 1985 and then qualified for the World Professional Darts Championship
World Professional Darts Championship
The World Professional Darts Championship is one of the most important tournaments in the darts calendar. Originally held as an annual event between 1978 and 1993, players then broke off into two separate organisations after a controversial split in the game...
for the first time in 1986 where he lost in the first round to Terry O'Dea
Terry O'Dea
Terry O'Dea is a retired Australian professional darts player.O'Dea played in ten successive BDO World Darts Championships with his best run coming in 1982 and 1986 where he reached the quarter finals. O'Dea also played in four World Masters tournaments, reaching the quarter finals in...
. It was the first year the tournament was staged at the Lakeside Country Club
Lakeside Leisure Complex
The Lakeside Leisure Complex is a hotel, entertainment and leisure complex in Frimley Green near Camberley in Surrey. It is most famous as being the venue of the BDO World Darts Championship.-History:...
.
He failed to progress beyond the second round in his visits to Lakeside, but did come up against some legends of the game including Eric Bristow
Eric Bristow
Eric Bristow MBE is a British darts player, whose skill at the game in the 1980s helped turn it into a worldwide spectator sport.- Early career :...
, Jocky Wilson
Jocky Wilson
John Thomas Wilson known as "Jocky" Wilson, is a former Scottish darts champion. He retired from the game in 1995.Wilson was twice World professional Darts Champion in 1982 and 1989...
and Mike Gregory. He managed to reach the quarter finals of the World Masters in 1990 - but by this time, that tournament was no longer televised. Only the World Championship remained on the screens during that era, which was one of the reasons that many top players became unhappy with their lack of television exposure.
Gardner was amongst the group of 16 players who "defected" from the British Darts Organisation
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
between 1992 and 1994 as one of the founder members of the World Darts Council
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
(now the Professional Darts Corporation - PDC) and he received more television exposure between 1994 and 1999 at their World Championship - but never managed to progress beyond the group stages.
He also competed in the WDC/PDC's World Matchplay tournament in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1998 - but never won a single match. After the 1999 World Championship he faded from the scene and no longer competes on the darts circuit - although he did compete at a couple of PDC Open events in Eastbourne in 2005 and 2006 but never progressed beyond the very early rounds.
Unified
- 1986 1st Round lost to Terry O'Dea 1-3
- 1987 2nd Round lost to Mike Gregory 0-3
- 1988 2nd Round lost to Eric Bristow 0-3
- 1991 1st Round lost to Jocky Wilson 2-3
PDC
- 1994 Group stage lost to Alan Warriner, beat Cliff Lazarenko
- 1995 Group stage lost to Bob Anderson, beat Jerry Umberger
- 1996 Group stage lost to Eric Bristow & Dennis Priestley
- 1997 Group stage lost to Steve Brown & Dennis Priestley
- 1999 1st round lost to Gary Mawson