There’s a huge summer sporting event coming up. And no, I’m not talking about the FIFA World Cup, where England will inevitably stagger to the quarter-finals before being knocked out on penalties by a crap nation with the population of a medium-sized retail park. Nor am I referring to the tungsten circus that is the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
Nope. I’m talking about something taking place down on a farm – Bradmoor Farm in Aylesbury, to be precise – for Operation Bullseye. The brainchild of the fantastically talented and stunning Zara Durrant, niece of darting legend Glen Durrant and, thankfully, the fortunate recipient of absolutely none of his facial genetics.
For most darts’ supporters, July generally means one thing and one thing alone – grown adults voluntarily cramming themselves into the Winter Gardens dressed as inflatable bananas, Roman centurions, or mildly aggressive crayons while screaming at tungsten projectiles as though civilisation itself depends on a treble twenty.
Yet before the seaside carnage officially commences – before somebody from Hull inevitably gets pissed before midday and attempts to start a conga line through a Greggs – another event of genuine importance quietly steps into the spotlight. Unlike the Matchplay, where people routinely lose their dignity, voices, and occasionally footwear, Operation Bullseye actually serves a purpose beyond televised sweating and the public humiliation of middle-aged men in superhero costumes.
Organised by the Defence Darts Community, Operation Bullseye has become one of the most admirable and meaningful occasions on the darting calendar. Beneath the flights, arrows, and endless cups of tea strong enough to remove paint from naval destroyers, the event exists to raise essential funds for military mental health charities, including Combat Stress, SSAFA, and Healing Military Minds.
The organisation itself has expanded enormously in recent years, now incorporating representatives from the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force.
Operation Bullseye’s slogan – where military meets professional darts – sounds like something somewhere between facing the Taliban or dodging heavy fire in Afghanistan and a bunch of drunken Tommies relaxing on the oche.
Yet, in reality, it perfectly encapsulates the event. Serving personnel, veterans, supporters, and professional players all converge under one roof in support of a cause infinitely more significant than ranking points or another shiny trophy destined to gather dust beside somebody’s television.
This year’s edition takes place on July 2nd at Bradmoor Farm, where military players and veterans will pair alongside a substantial collection of darting luminaries. Among those lending their support are Glen Durrant, Alan Soutar, Deta Hedman, Chris Dobey, Ricky Evans, Scott Williams, Devon Petersen, and enough additional talent to make a county darts competition resemble two exhausted blokes arguing beside a fruit machine in a socially declining pub.
Apparently, one of the main stars – Glen Durrant – won the Premier League once. But he doesn’t like talking about it and, from looking at the Sky Sports highlights, he wasn’t important enough to get a single fan in attendance. He did win a few Lakeside World Championships – but Neil Duff has one of them to his name, so that benchmark isn’t particularly high.
Much of the organisation’s success has been driven by Zara Durrant, whose efforts have transformed the concept from a modest initiative into one of the most respected community ventures within the sport. Naturally, her Dad’s brother, Glen continues to support the occasion because it says so in his Uncle Contract. All jokes aside – which, for me, is bloody hard – he’s always been a rock for his family. There, I managed it!
And ultimately, that is precisely what makes Operation Bullseye matter. This is not about television contracts, Order of Merit calculations, or watching somebody celebrate a second-round victory like they have personally negotiated world peace. It is about supporting individuals who have sacrificed enormously in service of their country and ensuring that help, solidarity, and community remain available long after the uniforms come off.
A great event for a hugely worthy charity, it promises to be a memorable night of entertainment, and I’d highly recommend you visit www.defencedartscommunity.co.uk and ensure you are part of the fun.
