All Eyes On Lakeside
As I may have mentioned in a previous post the beginning of January is not my favourite time of year. It's dark and dank and there is not much to look forward to on the horizon. However, there is evidence that spring is on the way with some bulbs starting to emerge from the waterlogged soil. This provides hope that winter will soon pass and with it will come some warmth and Sun.
http://www.byrnespub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/darts.jpg
There is one thing that provides a little entertainment for the first few weeks of the New Year and accompanying it is the familiar (to some) cry of 'Let's Play Darts', the World Darts Finals rolls into its home at The Lakeside Hotel in Frimley Green, Surrey.
I'm strangely drawn to the game of darts. I would struggle to classify it as a true sport but it certainly takes skill, practice, tactics and a good brain for mental arithmetic. Also essential it seems are tattoos, copious amounts of yellow gold jewellery, a tendency towards obesity, a crazy nickname and a heavy rock theme tune to which to enter the arena. Often it appears that a balding head, crazily shouting female family fans and some kind of beard growth helps with the performance.
Of course darts is a game that has its roots in the pub and therefore many, but not all, of those people that are skilled in its craft have spent many hours in these establishments and their training has been influenced by them. For some, although this was more common in the past, alcohol was an essential part of the training. Today only water is drunk on stage during a match.
What draws me to the game? Two things:
Firstly, like snooker, there is a chance of a perfect round. The nine dart finish. 6 treble twenties in a row leaving an out shot of 141 which can be achieved in a number of ways. In fact there are a number of different ways to reach a nine dart finish which don't require the six treble twenties but these are rarely seen in competitive play.
Secondly, watching these darts players on TV just a few days after Christmas makes me feel virtuous even if I have put on a few pounds over the festive season.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY...
There is one thing that provides a little entertainment for the first few weeks of the New Year and accompanying it is the familiar (to some) cry of 'Let's Play Darts', the World Darts Finals rolls into its home at The Lakeside Hotel in Frimley Green, Surrey.
I'm strangely drawn to the game of darts. I would struggle to classify it as a true sport but it certainly takes skill, practice, tactics and a good brain for mental arithmetic. Also essential it seems are tattoos, copious amounts of yellow gold jewellery, a tendency towards obesity, a crazy nickname and a heavy rock theme tune to which to enter the arena. Often it appears that a balding head, crazily shouting female family fans and some kind of beard growth helps with the performance.
Of course darts is a game that has its roots in the pub and therefore many, but not all, of those people that are skilled in its craft have spent many hours in these establishments and their training has been influenced by them. For some, although this was more common in the past, alcohol was an essential part of the training. Today only water is drunk on stage during a match.
What draws me to the game? Two things:
Firstly, like snooker, there is a chance of a perfect round. The nine dart finish. 6 treble twenties in a row leaving an out shot of 141 which can be achieved in a number of ways. In fact there are a number of different ways to reach a nine dart finish which don't require the six treble twenties but these are rarely seen in competitive play.
Secondly, watching these darts players on TV just a few days after Christmas makes me feel virtuous even if I have put on a few pounds over the festive season.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY...
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