The Gibsons Legion dart team cleaned up in the 2016 Legion Zone 4 Darts Playdown hosted by the Powell River Legion over the Jan. 29 to 31 weekend.
The Gibsons team – Ritchie Gibb, Mark Dove, Nels Jorstad and Cal Gibb – took home the team trophy and won the singles and doubles categories, thanks to Cal Gibb who took singles and Ritchie Gibb and Mark Dove who destroyed in doubles.
“Most of us have the skills to get the job done, it’s just being in the right head space. You’ve got to be in the right frame of mind to do it,” Ritchie Gibb said.
The only thing they left behind was the winning title of the blind draw doubles game that opened the tournament on Friday night. John Chartrand from the Sechelt Legion secured that victory with Stan Sierpina from Powell River.
“A fabulous time was had by all, and Gibsons Legion won everything,” said Steve Baker, president of the Sunshine Coast Dart League.
This year 66 Coasters from the Upper and Lower Sunshine Coast competed in teams. A little over 50 people also competed in singles and doubles matches.
“Out of 24 people from the Lower Coast, nine of them were women,” Baker said. “It’s a totally mixed event – both men and women compete equally, which makes it interesting.”
There are a number of different darts games, but this was a double-in-double-out 501 tournament. Players start with 501 points, but to start playing they need to hit the doubles ring on the dartboard.
Gibb said he likes to start by throwing for the double 14.
“I’m left-handed and it’s a high percentage shot because if you don’t throw it hard enough it will drop down. You don’t go side to side much, you go up and down more if you mess up. Fourteen is on the side of the board, so if it drops down or I shoot high, I’ll hit another double,” Gibb said.
Points scored are subtracted from the starting total, and to finish the game players need to get out on a double as well, and end the game at exactly 501 points.
“It’s kind of a nerdy game, but it’s a lot of fun,” Gibb said. “You have to be good at math. If you’re not good at math, it’s going to be a tough go.”
This tournament secured the Gibsons team in the Legion provincial playoffs in Comox this April. Dominion Darts – the Legion nationals – are to be held in Saint John, N.B., in May this year.
For more information, see www.coastdarts.ca
