Save our Darts...

A dart board is made up of which compressed material?

Where is the double three on a dart board?

How many darts need to be thrown to complete a perfect 501?

What number is shown at 9 o’clock on a dart board

What would you win if you won the “diddle”

What is a hatrick?

What is the average speed of a dart hitting a board?

In which year was Darts first televised? a) 1962 b) 1970 c) 1972

What did Thomas William Buckle do for darts?

Why is the Adelphi Inn, Leeds a famous darts pub?

Old Stoneface is the nickname for which former world champion?

Why is Trina Gulliver a big name in darts?

How high is the bullseye above the ground? a) 5ft 7in b) 5ft 8 in c) 5ft 9in

How many have you got? Check your answers!

Darts players target British pubs as sport wanes

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Darts enthusiasts are waging a campaign to revive the flagging English pastime in local pubs throughout the country.

Once a traditional feature in pubs across the land, darts are losing out to so-called gastro-pubs serving posh food in a more gentrified pub environment.

The Save Our Darts campaign aims to put 10,000 more darts boards into English pubs by 2017.

It was launched after a survey of 1,000 regular pub-goers showed only 10 percent had played darts in the last year, compared with 41 percent five years ago.

"Although darts is increasing massively as a spectator sport, it has been steadily declining as a participation sport," Richard Bloch, of the online book maker Blue Square which is spearheading the campaign, said in an interview.

"Lots of people have already shown their support on our Web site, and Britain's Prince Charles voiced his backing for the campaign," he added.

Patrick Chaplin, a social historian and an expert in darts history in England, said a shift toward more family orientated pubs was responsible at least in part for the decline in darts.

"Any campaign that encourages more participation in darts in pubs can only be a good thing," he said.

Chaplin, from Maldon in eastern England, said the decline of pub darts must be considered together with the significant rise in the popularity of darts as a spectator sport over the same period.

"I think we'll also see darts moving out of pubs into leisure facilities and sports centers," he added.

In spite of the decline, Chaplin said most brewers still organize some kind of darts leagues in their pubs. But he pointed out that darts sports leagues organized across counties were taking over, with youth divisions appealing to a new wave of younger players.

Chaplin cited an episode in darts history, which took place in Leeds during the Victorian era. All 'games of chance' including darts, were illegal in pubs in those times. Around 1910, Jim Garside, who ran a beer house called The Adelphi in Leeds, was taken to court for allowing darts to be played on his premises.

He brought along the best darts player from the Adelphi, a man called Anakin, to prove that darts was a game of skill and a darts board was set up in the courtroom.

Chaplin tracked down Anakin's grandson, who related how Anakin was able to throw straight into any number on the board selected by the court.

Legend has it that the magistrates were then challenged to follow his example. When they failed, the court accepted that darts was a game of skill, not chance. By Rebecca Schischa - (story source...)

Darts: Rugby powerhouses taking aim with Taylor

A DOZEN Welsh rugby stars were brought down to earth with a bump as they came face to face with 13 times’ world darts champ Phil Taylor.

It was a case of The Powerhouses v The Power as four players from each of Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons took on the legendary sharpshooter at a specially arranged shoot-out organised by Worthington’s (http://www.worthingtonsmasters.com/).
(full article...)

Geromino gastropub darts challenge - Morning Advertiser

A leading gastropub operator has hit back at claims that gastropubs are responsible for the demise of darts playing.

Geronimo Inns boss Rupert Clevely has challenged Phil 'The Power' Taylor - the face of the 'Save Our Darts' campaign - to a darts competition.

Clevely, who runs the 17 strong food-led pubco, said: “We’ve nothing against the principles behind the Save Our Darts campaign but we are a little put out at the suggestion that the sole reason for the decline of this pastime is because of establishments like ours. Just because a pub has great food and smart design doesn’t mean that it can’t have a personality. We’ve chosen the Black Swan as the location for the match to re-enforce our point as it’s one of a number of our pubs that already houses a dartboard.

Geromino gastropub darts challenge - Morning Advertiser

Pub-goer Prince Charles is new darts champion

By Caroline Davies

Last Updated: 1:55am GMT 10/03/2007

Have your say Read comments

The Prince of Wales yesterday threw his support behind the Save Our Darts campaign highlighted by The Daily Telegraph to prevent the demise of the game.

	The Prince of Wales doing his best to keep the darts tradition going

Waving a set of darts, he told publicans at a reception at Clarence House: "I'm doing my best to keep the darts tradition going."

Pub-goer Prince Charles is new darts champion | Uk News | News | Telegraph

Planet Darts - News:Blue Square Launch 'Save Our Darts' Campaign

BLUE SQUARE have launched a campaign to see dartboards returned to traditional British public houses.

Blue Square, the title sponsors of the Blue Square UK Open, have followed up their backing of the Punch Taverns Qualifiers by launching a bid to see 10,000 dartboards installed in pubs by 2017.
Planet Darts - News:Blue Square Launch 'Save Our Darts' Campaign