After first-round heartbreak, Australian qualifier finds love on the Lakeside stage
WDF
The 2024 WDF World Championship at the iconic Lakeside Country Club has dealt up a number of interesting stories to follow over the last week. On Friday night though, one of the more unique occurrences in the illustrious history of the Lakeside happened as Australian qualifier Amanda Loch actually got married on stage!
After a heart-breaking opening round defeat to Kirsi Viinikainen in straight sets, Loch ensured her trip to the Lakeside this December would be one she'd never forget. Alongside her partner Laurie, the pair tied the knot at the world famous home of darts in some incredible scenes.
“It was crazy. Getting married in England was somewhat planned. We were going to go for it when the feeling was right. We had a few ideas, and a few things fell through,” Loch, who was born in England but represent Australia, explains her story in conversation with the WDF. “We saw the lake, and we thought it’d be a lovely backdrop for a wedding. When that didn’t come to fruition, someone suggested the Lakeside stage. We thought ‘we’re crazy, let’s do it!’”
Fellow Australian pro, Peter Machin, who lost out in the quarter-finals at Lakeside on Friday, was also present on stage, acting as best man for the groom. “I asked him a couple of years ago, and it just happened he was here at the time," explains Loch's new husband Laurie. “Everyone here has come together to make it happen for us, and we can't thank everyone enough. It's been fantastic.”
The WDF itself also send a warm message of congratulations to the newly wedded pair in the aftermath. “All at the WDF congratulate Amanda and Laurie on their special day and wish them all the best for a happy life together,” thoughts echoed by everyone associated with us here at Dartsnews.com. Massive congratulations to the happy couple!
𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮, 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓽, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱... 𝓣𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓹𝓵𝓮! 💒
— WDF Darts (@DartsWDF) December 6, 2024
We had a slice of history on the Lakeside stage earlier today as Women's World Championship participant Amanda Loch married her long time partner, Laurie!#Lakeside2024 pic.twitter.com/i7x4Unmkfx
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- Why is World Champion Richie Burnett not highlighted in bold font nor 2 time World Champion Scotty 2 Hotty. COME ON RICHIE BURNETT AND SCOTTY 2 HOTTY Although where the hell has 2 HOTTY been the past year!richieburnettrocks07-01-2025
- It's not tennis, snooker or golf, nobody mentioned Fallon,great as she is. Beau beats her week in,week out. But she isn't interested. If you want to include crowd pleasers,get Les Wallace back!!! He was a world champion,and wore a kilt!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I'm glad wright and van Ben bergh were overlooked. Too much dancing,not enough darting. Bunting is always quality,as for price,he's a crowd pleaser(!!?) too. Aspinall has had his problems,but it's nice to see him back,he's a decent chap. Dobey is a top player,big hitter,so I won't complain. Cross will finish bottom,much as I like him,he seems to be off lately. I'm glad they didn't pick a Belgian just for the audience. But I don't agree with the tournament or format,so I guess it's immaterial to me. They might as well turn up at a random pub and play for the beers!!!rick6707-01-2025
- I think the PDC's choice is too conservative. EIther or both of Damon Heta and Mike de Dekker should have been in, at the expense of Aspinall and possibly Price. I guess the PDC's reasoning is that they do not want too much turnover from year to year, and so having already rejected Smith and Wright, they have kept Price and Aspinall, but I guess those two are "on probation".
UndartedWaters06-01-2025 - Two from the three of Price, Aspinall and Dobey should have been excluded, De Decker and Edhouse should have been in. I would have offered a place to Beau Greaves though i doubt she would have accepted it and probably not really ready for it confidence wise.Mysstree06-01-2025
- Tennis has a protected ranking system for injuries and Golf has a system that as a Major winner you get invited back of a number of years regardless of your ranking. Barry Hearn gave Stephen Hendry a wildcard for some tournaments though he still had to enter at the qualification stage. Doubt the PDC would give Burnett an exemption as he has never won a PDC Major, same would apply to Steve Beaton. It’s a slippery slope to abandoning a meritocratic system, if the PDC did do so they could then (for example) award a place to Fallon Sherrock even though she has yet to qualify at any level for a tour card.Mysstree06-01-2025
- I'd have said the same about Ady Lewis,but the PDC is indeed a law unto itself,so sorry bud,get your leg kicking and do it for the good lads!!rick6705-01-2025
- COME ON RICHIE BURNETT Surely a World Champion and player with the calibra of Richie should be exempt from ever losing a tour card and having to qualify.richieburnettrocks04-01-2025
- That's true, Richie. Taylor used to call it, "Manley's millions."MrYnyslas197103-01-2025