Because we love the game like you do...
The game of darts has special qualities in the world of sports. It is a game of skill that can be played by the young and old alike. A game that requires no running, jumping, climbing, swimming or hand-stands (unless you want to). Most of all, the game of darts is a friendly game that always begins and ends with a handshake and the encouragement to "Shoot well".
Not much has been written about the history of darting; so much of the following information is a combination of various authors speculations and facts. The international sport of darts began in England during the late 1800’s but has its origins in military weapons such as the bow and arrow, and spears. Around 1750, English longbow sport was becoming a aristocratic practice, since the military use of longbows had long been abandoned. This recreational pastime created the need for standards, thus circular wine cask lids, known as butts, became common in size and scoring areas. It was a common practice before that time for English foot solders to practice using ten inch, heavy hand-thrown fighting arrows, known as "dartes." This practice was always outdoors using butts, made of log ends or wine cask lids.
Up to the later part of the 1800’s, all references to ‘darts’ were understood to be either arrows or a type of javelin. Around the turn of the century though, working class industrial workers began playing a form of indoor darts, played in pubs with wooden target boards and hand made wooden darts. This was probably the working class imitation of the stately upper class archery clubs of the same period.
Early in the inception of the game, some wise inventory probably concluded that the game would be more interesting if more of the area around the dart board were utilized, not just the center. A spoke-shaped metal web, dividing numbered segments, was added to the board. Brian Gamlin, a carpenter from Bury, Lancashire, added the standard board numbering order in 1896. In addition, in each English city/region standard throwing distances were adopted.
In 1908 there was a serious challenge to the game when the Leeds’ Magistrates heard a court case against a local pub owner, named "Foot" Anakin (he had very large feet). At that time in England it was illegal for pubs to allow ‘games of chance’ to be played in their establishments. Foot was accused of operating a game of chance, darts, in his pub. Foot tried to prove that darting was not a game of chance by setting up a dart board in the court and throwing three twenties on his first attempt. He challenged anyone in the court to match his feat, but none could. The court ruled in his favor.
World War I brought British soldiers from all areas of the country together, making darts a major past time for their recreation. After the war local interest in forming teams and leagues brought the need for a governing dart body. In 1924, the first darting association, the National Darts Association, was formed. Shortly after forming (1927) they established the first all-London tournament, sponsored by the "News of the World Newspaper." This has become the most prestigious and well known tournament of all time. The tournament continued until 1990, when it was suspended due to lack of sponsorship; it revived again in 1997 for UK participants only.
After World War II darting spread all over the world, resulting from the contact between British soldiers and their interactions with other cultures. This was the era of the exhibition dart player. The two best known were Jim Pike and Joe Hitchcock, who hold unbeaten records to this day. The popularity of darting in the British Empire brought about the need of an organizing body to coordinate county leagues and establish standards and rules of play for the internationalization of the sport. The NDA re-organized and became the National Darts Association of Great Britain, in 1954. Later in 1973, Olly Croft formed the British Darts Organisation to help bring together county organizations, establishing tournaments with the county champions, and later international tournaments. The BDO created the Embassy World Professional Championships, which is currently the most well known world wide tournament.
America had it’s own tradition and game of darts played since WWII. The game used wooden darts and a wooden dart board. Americans on the east coast played a game called ‘Baseball,’ which did not require much thinking but required precision throwing to score runs. In the 1960’s many Americans became interested in the English style of darting and began forming local leagues. In 1969 the United States Darting Association formed in New York. Tournaments were created in the U.S. and American players were becoming very good. In fact, the British hand picked a team of 15 top players to compete against the Americans, and lost 9 to 6 matches in a meet, held in the New York Royal Manhattan Hotel (1974).
The BDO recognized the need for an international governing and promotion body, and helped to form the World Darts Federation (WDF) in 1976. Today the WDF has 49 member countries, representing six continents. Darts are played by 6 million people regularly, from around the world. Also in 1976, Tom Fleetwood helped to form the American Darts Organization (ADO), which is the only U.S. darting association recognized by the WDF. The ADO is a "grassroots" organization (meaning that any member can compete in ADO recognized tournaments), with more than 300 associations, representing more than 75,000 players in the U.S. and it’s territories. About 300 tournaments each year are sanctioned by the ADO, where participants can earn championship points by placing in singles events. The ADO keeps a Men’s and Ladies’ point ranking system, naming a national champion at the end of each year.
Charles Bradish
These links are here for you to make it easier to find information about darts and the dart world. You will also find links to online dart stores. DartGuide.Com is not affiliated with and does not represent any of the stores listed. The links are here for your convenience only.
Blah, blah, blah...
These links are here for you to make it easier to find information about darts and the dart world. You will also find links to online dart stores. DartGuide.Com is not affiliated with and does not represent any of the stores listed. The links are here for your convenience only.
Blah, blah, blah...
These links are here for you to make it easier to find information about darts and the dart world. You will also find links to online dart stores. DartGuide.Com is not affiliated with and does not represent any of the stores listed. The links are here for your convenience only.
Blah, blah, blah...
These links are here for you to make it easier to find information about darts and the dart world. You will also find links to online dart stores. DartGuide.Com is not affiliated with and does not represent any of the stores listed. The links are here for your convenience only.
Blah, blah, blah...