Legends take on locals
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A DUO of darting legends and a rising star on the circuit took to the oche on Friday night at Wick Assembly Rooms to face local players.
Firm fan favourite and five-times world champion Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld and the second most successful player in the Professional Darts Corporation’s history England’s James Wade took on a mix of 16 men and women in legs of 501.
Organisers, the Queen’s Hotel, Wick, hit the right spot with the night as roars of 180 echoed around the room from the sell-out crowd amid the official professional Darts Corporation’s theme tune of Planet Funk’s "Chase the Sun".
Adding a further degree of realism to the exhibition was Sky Sports’s colourful commentator John Gwynne who welcomed the players to the stage and kept the professionals on their toes with his somewhat dubious maths skills.
Van Barneveld told the Caithness Courier during the half-time interval that he had been on holiday for the past five weeks in Alicante and this was the first night he had picked up his darts since the World Matchplay in Blackpool in July.
But he added that seeing the venue sold out and packed to the rafters was a great confidence boost for him and for the sport in general.
"What we do is bring the darts to the public," he explained.
"Everyone can get the chance to watch us on TV but this gives them a real chance to have a game of darts against the likes of James Wade and myself."
"When you see so many tickets sold for one night, it gives you a lot of confidence."
James "The Machine" Wade was also returning from a summer break with the exhibition match.
He said he was impressed with the local darts following.
There’s a good atmosphere, people are very friendly and seem to be having a good time, and that’s what it’s all about."
He told the Courier that he is now preparing for the European Tour which starts in Stuttgart this weekend.
"Now I’m back into the darts season and looking forward to the big tournaments coming up.
"You’ve got to get up and go to work in the morning.
"But it’s all about going up there and enjoying yourself."
Both pros praised the local competitors who were picked by way of a tournament and also to represent local teams from the Wick and District Darts League.
During the interval, fans of the sport were also treated to some fancy flight work by rising star 22-year-old Aaron "Mad" Monk.
The young player took to the stage to play members of the audience, who were drawn by a raffle.
All the players throughout the competition gave a good account of themselves, with Gwynne commenting that the first four local players all hit treble 20 at least once with one of their first three darts.
A few players even managed to better the pros and to round off the night, the appreciative crowd were given a treat as van Barneveld took on Wade.
Wade fought through to win against the Dutchman and gave a short vote of thanks to the crowd, players and organisers.
