When I was in University, the one thing that we did a lot was play darts. Everybody says “We play pool to keep ourselves amused for cheap”. Well darts is even cheaper. Luckily our local had a very good dartsboard, and some Phil Taylor Tungsten Pathfinders with some welsh flights for Christmas, and we were all set to step up to the oche.
We got addicted, and we played for hours. One of the things I do miss is the fact that even before leaving work or university, I’d get a text message saying “We’re in the Vernon, want to throw some arrows?” from Mike, Zandr or Guy. We rarely drunk alcohol, as we were poor, usually sticking to orange cordial. We got quite good, usually only taking 3 or 4 darts on a double, and scoring usually “Above 40″. We wondered how good we could actually be if we continued.
Now we kinda know.
On the right is the new BDO World Champion of Darts – Mark Webster. The 24 year old has become a little bit of a hero recently in this part of the world after becoming two things:
- The first man in North Wales to win a recognised World Championship in ages.
- Beating an Australian in the final, being the first time Wales has beaten Australia at anything – which caused me to gloat to my Contiki mates, most of whom were over 10,000 miles away* (“Dame Edna Everage, Rolf Harris, Steve Irwin, Your Boys Took One Hell of a Beating!”)
The funniest thing is that he apparently only took up darts relatively recently, and – like Jelle Klaasen a few years back – became World Champion relatively quickly. It’s also funny that – according to the BBC news – today he’s back in the Tech doing his plumbing course.
So, you can add “Become a World Champion” to my list of things to do before I die (which includes “Beat My Brother To North America” and “Appear on a game show that rewards a good general knowledge, not stupidity or being cruel”). I think that my mum would have a heart attack if I installed a dartboard in my space limited bedroom, so I’ll have to stick to PDC World Darts
If you see Rhys “Wynnedows 301″ Wynne lifting a darts trophy at the Lakeside in a few years – remember – you heard it here first.
* Conversation between myself and my mate we had about it:
“See that we’ve got a Welsh World Champion who beat an Aussie? I was so excited I rang my mate’s in Australia to gloat!”
“Yeah, I don’t think they cared.”
“They did at 3 in the morning.”
Comments: 9 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
I’m amazed he won… he doesn’t look like lives off a diet of 20 pints of Guinness and 16 packs of pork scratchings a day, how can he be good at darts? The mind boggles.
A Welsh World Champion? Okay, as long as you are not saying he’s a sports world champion or calling him a sportsman (or should that be sportsperson nowadays).
Here in Cornwall we’ve got the World Pasty Eating Champion – now that’s a real sport, though it doesn’t get the publicity it deserves.
main points of contention
Number 1 – mike being mentioned and me not. im crying. on the inside..
Number 2 – 3 to 4 darts on the double? Thats quite simply nonesnse, how many times was it that we’d throw and throw at the doubles til we were all on 2 then stood there throwing wildly at it.
Sorry dude, nothing personal. I was referring to times when you were not there though, where – honest to god – we were hitting those doubles.
I love darts, though I’m not very good
Used to have a darts game when I was a kid. No pointed tips of course.
Darts always come with me when me and my friends go to the cricket club or a pub with a dart board. Loved the game when I was a kid and so glad it came back at uni. So proud of that trophy I won from UoL Darts club, 2nd with 2 games in hand atm too! I’ve got same problem, I can put a dart board in my room but it’s into a hollow wall, need a prof opinion on that.
And other point that Tom missed: I do remember me and poss others drinking £1 bottles of ‘berg and G got into v+coke at one point.
Depressing we ain’t there anymore, had some great times in that pub (vern pub quiz was great) and those random nights out.
A darts champion? Interesting… It’s the first time I’ve heard about it!
Mike- Now THAT’s extreme!
Now I know more than 2 Welshman – you and Giggs.
Dammit! I’m going to get onto the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) about this! It’s an OUTRAGE! We lost at something!?!
The pain isn’t new though… we’re still hurting from the Rugby World Cup… and the sting to losing to ITALY in the Football World Cup hurts too… fucking diver.