A trip down darts memory lane
In the first part of his historical series, Steve travels as far back as the 1940s when to find out when the seeds were first planted for what has become a thriving scene.
I have been asked to put a few words on paper about the Welshpool and District Darts League history
Having been secretary and a committee member on numerous occasions and still involved in the running of the league, I think some of this information needs to be put in the public domain.
Forgive me if anything is not quite correct but the information is taken from the trophies, the league meeting books, contributors and my memory.
I first started playing in the Welshpool Darts League in 1971/72 for the Grapes C. Our captain was Graham Pritchard with his able deputy, David Gamble.
We were playing in the third division and travelled out of town to the Horseshoes Berriew, Forden, and Guilsfield but mainly Welshpool as there was a large number of establishments in the town with darts teams.
There were three major team competitions being played for.
The Bagshaw Cup, first played in 1945. The Bagshaw trophy was given to the Welshpool and District Darts League by Mr Bagshaw, proprietor of the Pola Cinema where darts competitions were played (funny how events have placed competitions back there after a break of 60-odd years).
There were a number of competitions held there and one was sponsored by Players Cigarettes. Upon entry, each team of four was handed a 20-pack of Players cigarettes each and the winners also got cigarettes, my, how things have changed.
However, by 1950 the Bagshaw Cup final was being played around the pubs and in 1950 it was held at the clubroom in The Boot, Welshpool. Latterly run by Prim Whitehouse, a well-known darts player.
This was the original League Cup and from information gained, the league started around the same time after the war years. The first winners of the Bagshaw Cup in 1945 were The Dragon Inn, followed in 1946 by the Raven Inn.
The Richard Cup followed soon after as the Town Council wanted a competition to be held in the Town Hall, so Mr Richard, a town councillor, gave a trophy to be played for as a knockout cup alongside the Bagshaw Cup.
This trophy was presented in 1950/51 and the first winners were Aber Carriers, a local company who employed a large workforce until its closure and the darts and domino teams mainly played from the Boars Head (latterly the Pinewood Tavern). Second winners were the Vaults, (now Dillons store). Third winners in 1952/3 were the Independents, a team that played from different public houses throughout the town. By 1950, Higleys and Denbighs, local businesses, Manweb Sports and Social Club and the local Table Tennis Club had entered the league.
The Photo above shows the darts team from the White Lion A, who won the league division 1, the Bagshaw Cup and the Richard Cup in 1956 and 1959. The Richard Cup was won on three consecutive occasions for the first time by the Wellington A in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
The League Championship was started also in 1946 after the war and one of the first winners in 1947 was the Vaults.
The league games were played with eight players for a league match. One leg 501, double start and finish. Games could end in a 4-4 draw and you had two points for a win, one point for a draw and no points if you lost. Cup games were played on Thursday nights and an extra player was needed so there was no chance of a draw.
In the 1949, Welshpool and District Darts League ran the Montgomeryshire and Border Counties competition in the Town Hall to play for the Morrison Cup. There were teams of four and it was limited to 128 teams. All played for on one day in the Town Hall, such was the enthusiasm for darts competitions after the war.
The Welshpool and District Darts League ran on and continued for a number of years ably run by different committees until one man seemed to get to grips with it, Ken Parkes. Keith Gamble stepped in too, as Ken unfortunately became ill.
There were a number of local characters from different teams over the years and these are just a few:
Jack Porter - Winner of the individual’s competition in 1950 who played from the Wellington. A well-known player of his time.
Dennis Shingler - Guilsfield. Dennis regularly won the News of the World competitions in the late 60’s and 70’s and played on the stage with the best at the time. The News of the World was the best competition in the country. Dennis and both his sons, Rupert and Robin, have won the Welshpool Individuals Championship.
Peter Buckley - Welshpool. Peter was the captain of the Grapes A and The Independents just before they ceased and he had the ability to put a team together to win things.
Tom Rogers - Individual Gold Medal winner in 1947. Now called the Welshpool Individual Champion.
Basil Evans (Llanfair) - 1958 Individual Winner, beating 18-year-old Barry Pryce in the final.
Bill Gamble - Welshpool. Bill was captain of the players at the Raven that lifted the Richard Cup in the 1950’s. A well-known darts player in his day. His sons David, Keith and Brian, also being excellent players. (His grandson Jon Gamble has just won the League and League Cup with the Kings Head A). A darts family if ever there was one.
Ken Parkes - Welshpool. Ken played for years and also was known as Mr Welshpool darts. He ran the league until he became too unwell to do so.
Cecil Hinton (Chummer to his mates) - Played regularly and finished at Welshpool Football Club alongside Hugh Trefor.
Ben Gittins - played for a selection of teams in the early years of the league.
Terrence Waldron (Terry) - reached the finals of the individuals three years running winning on two occasions. Also, a member of the league winning team at the Grapes A.
T.H. Pulston Jones - One of the first league secretaries in the late 1940’s
Jack Trow - League Secretary in the 1950’s.
The next segment will concentrate on the 1980’s to 1995
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|