I wrote this article for the QB Neighbourhood magazine, which was delivered to QB residents in the past couple weeks. For those of us who do not live in Qualicum, I have posted this for your reading pleasure.
Written by Jolene Swanson
Statistician and Web Admin
Member since 2008
District 69 Dart Association was formed 45 years ago, when a new pub league was created to replace the existing Branch 49 Legion league. Pub teams from the Crow and Gate, Rose and Thistle, Arlington, Rocking Horse and Piper’s Lagoon played for one year before they were joined by the Parksville Legion league in 1980.
The D69 darts league was a thriving league, with up to thirty teams and three divisions. Membership has waned over the decades as pubs have closed or removed their dart boards. Currently the Branch 49 Parksville Legion, Branch 76 Qualicum Legion and the Eagles Hall Aerie 3922 continue to support the league with boards, space and an opportunity to play multiple nights a week, Tuesday for League play and Friday for Fun Darts, weekend Money Shoots which are open to the public as well.
Our League is managed by eight elected executives, whose duties are vast. Tasks vary from planning fund-raising events such as Money Shoots, creating schedules, organizing tournaments, updating the stats each week and writing a blog, to planning the end-of-season banquet. The executive meets monthly to stay on top of their multitude of duties.
This season the League has ten teams of various skill levels, sponsored by not only the three aforementioned venues, but by Morningstar Golf Course as well. Teams consist of 6-8 players who meet on Tuesday nights and play the other teams in the league twice during the first 18 weeks of the season moving from venue to venue as needed. Teams are vying for points to place them in either the A-Division, or the B-Division, after the first round of play is complete. Round two has the two divisions playing each team once for their final standing for that round.
The regular season lasts 22 weeks and is followed by five weekly tournaments scheduled for players of all levels of skill within the league. These tournaments are optional, but historically they are very well attended as there are trophies and medals to be won. Playing is fun, but winning is better!
After 27 weeks of play, our season is wrapped up with a banquet and awards ceremony, typically held in May each year. The trophies and medals are presented to the teams and players achieving excellence during the season, such as League Champion, Division A & B Champion, Men’s high out or Ladies high score, to name a few. Many of our current trophies have been in circulation for nearly 44 years and are a running diary of the best of the best players.
District 69 Dart Leagues teams are always looking for new teams, spares and venues to sponsor teams. If you are interested in joining the league, please go to our website www.district69darts.com.
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