Dave Lanning
Encyclopedia
Dave Lanning is a retired English
sports commentator and journalist.
' coverage of the Professional Darts Corporation
tournaments. He covered the first PDC World Darts Championship
with John Gwynne
in 1994 and was ever present with the company for over 16 years, commentating on all their televised tournaments on Sky. Prior to the 2011 World Championship, Lanning announced that he had retired from commentating.
As part of ITV
's World of Sport
's original roster of commentators, he commentated on the first ever televised nine dart finish
hit by John Lowe
against Keith Deller
on 13 October 1984. He also commentated on speedway
on World of Sport
. In addition to his speedway commentaries, Lanning was installed as the promoter of the West Ham team in 1966.
He provided the commentary for The Indoor League and occasionally covered football for Southern Television
in the mid-to-late 1970s.
, and was speedway correspondent for The Sun
for 20 years.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sports commentator and journalist.
Broadcasting career
He was one of the commentators for Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
' coverage of the Professional Darts Corporation
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...
tournaments. He covered the first PDC World Darts Championship
PDC World Darts Championship
The PDC World Darts Championship is a world championship competition for the sport of darts, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation . It was introduced following a dispute in 1994 with the British Darts Organisation, which has run its own world championship since 1978...
with John Gwynne
John Gwynne
Richard John Gwynne is a British former teacher and now a sports commentator and reporter.-Broadcasting career:...
in 1994 and was ever present with the company for over 16 years, commentating on all their televised tournaments on Sky. Prior to the 2011 World Championship, Lanning announced that he had retired from commentating.
As part of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's World of Sport
World of Sport (UK TV series)
World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 to 28 September 1985 in response to competition from BBC's Grandstand...
's original roster of commentators, he commentated on the first ever televised nine dart finish
Nine dart finish
A nine-dart finish is the ultimate checkout in the game of darts, constituting a perfect game. It is notoriously difficult to achieve, even by the game's top professionals...
hit by John Lowe
John Lowe
John Lowe is an English darts player who was one of the best-known men in darts during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the United Kingdom. Lowe is one of only five players to have won the World Championship 3 times.-Biography:Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades -...
against Keith Deller
Keith Deller
Keith Deller is an English darts player, who won the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1983. He was the first qualifier ever to win the championship and remains one of the youngest champions in history...
on 13 October 1984. He also commentated on speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
on World of Sport
World of Sport (UK TV series)
World of Sport was a British television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between 2 January 1965 to 28 September 1985 in response to competition from BBC's Grandstand...
. In addition to his speedway commentaries, Lanning was installed as the promoter of the West Ham team in 1966.
He provided the commentary for The Indoor League and occasionally covered football for Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
in the mid-to-late 1970s.
Writing
Lanning had a stint as the television critic for The Sunday People newspaper. He had a 28-year association with TV TimesTV Times
TVTimes is a television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom by IPC Media, a subsidiary of Time Warner. It is known for its access to television actors and their programmes. In 2006 it was refreshed for a more modern look, increasing its emphasis on big star interviews and soaps...
, and was speedway correspondent for The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
for 20 years.