First blog of the 2023-2024 season!

Welcome to the first blog of the 2023 – 2024 District 69 Dart Association season!

I would like to welcome all the new players to the league:

Rob Marrs - Randy Morrow - Darren Wesnoski - Rod Swindells - Kim Newman - Mike Percy - Craig Dempsey - Ken & Donna - Elise Laukkanen - Shawn Vanier - Emma Vanier - Kevin Gillingham - Dave Edwards - Kevin Martin - Jo Metz

I hope you have fun, make some new friends and I get to blog about all the awesome scores and check-outs!

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This season, we have an addition of three new teams: The PV Legion River Benders, captained by Jim Thompson, who brings seven new members to the league; and the Joker’s Wild, led by Jolene Swanson and Richard Rempel, have recruited four new players to the league. The Respect-A-Bulls have emerged from the dissolution of two former teams. Have fun everyone!

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The Parksville Legion River Benders got their feet wet in a match against the Cascadia Bristle Bashers at their joint home venue. Although defeated in all three doubles matches, the newbies rallied and managed to take 13 wins away from the veteran Bashers. Setting the bar high, Bender Jim Thompson shot a 174 in the second singles set of the match, and proved he’s the high score to beat this season. Teammates Craig Dempsey and Rod Swindells each won three of six matches to add to Jim’s five wins. Leading the wins for the Bristle Bashers, Terry Strawson lost only to Jim and hit team high score of 140. Match winning support came from Steve Collins, Dustin Fee and Warren Potter in the form of three wins each.

Final score River Benders – 13, Cascadia Bristle Bashers – 20.

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Also playing the season opener at the Parksville Legion, the Respect-A-Bulls formed from the Qualicum Beach Legion retired teams - the San Group Wood Chuckers and the Bulls Hitters. The Respect-A-Bulls hosted the Toolshed Triples to thirty-three games of darts. Leading the wins for the home team, Captain Anita Hopps, Joe Fortune and Ryan Fortune won all six of their matches. Newcomer Randy Morrow topped the scores with a 126. Leading the wins for the Triples, Darren Tabler was able to pull two wins from the home team and top scorer, Keith Reimer, shot a 140.

Final score Respect-A-Bulls – 29, Toolshed Triples – 4.

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Over at the Eagles Hall, the Eagles Hall Eagle Eyes were the home to the Eagles Hall X-Men’s away. Taking the lead early, the X-Men won all three doubles matches and continued to dominate in four of the remaining six singles sets. Leading the wins for the X-Men, Glen Dilworth was unbeatable in his five matches, followed by four wins each from Pony Moore and Fraser Vincent, who also had team high score of 106. Leading the wins for the Eagle Eyes, returning dart player Toni Crompton won three of her five matches. Arless McNeill, recruited from the ashes of the B-Sharps, hit the top score of the night with a 126.

Final score Eagles Hall Eagle Eyes – 13, Eagles Hall X-Men – 20.

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Holidays and surgery for four of the six Joker’s Wild meant the match against the Eagles Hall Straight Arrows was postponed. Three weeks later, the Eagles Hall Straight Arrows welcomed the Joker’s Wild full roster to thirty-three well played games. The home team’s experience showed through in their hitting doubles before their opponents. Leading the wins for the Arrows, Mike Beno was unbeatable in his five matches. Ron Keast was high scorer for the Arrows with a 134 and four wins as well. Leading the wins for the Joker’s Wild, Richard Rempel was undefeated in his five matches and newcomers Dave Edwards and Shawn Vanier each shot a 101 to top the scores for the team.

Final score Eagles Hall Straight Arrows – 20, Joker's Wild – 13.

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Relocated this season to the Qualicum Legion, the Legion Shooters hosted the Short Sighted Crew at their joint home venue. It was a very one-sided match until the Shooter’s winning streak was broken by the Crew’s Captain Ron Stanley when he doubled out before his opponent, Rocky Paquette. Ron was able to outshoot one more Shooter, and with the help of new player, Jo Metz, and veteran Sylvia Mantyka, the Crew came out with four wins against last season’s top team. Ron hit a 120 to top the scores for the Crew. Shooter Lorraine Paquette pinned a 140 to get high score of the night. Larry MacDonald had a high out of 80, well done, but not quite enough to get on the leader board.

Final score Qualicum Beach Legion Shooters – 29, Short Sighted Crew – 4.

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