By Denise Balkissoon
According to legend, the game of darts was created by medieval soldiers. Bored between battles, lonely for their distant families, these men of the Middle Ages entertained themselves by aiming throwing spears at the bottoms of barrels. By 1530, the game had become so popular that King Henry VIII was presented with a jewel-encrusted set by his wife Anne Boleyn.
The Duke of Somerset pub may not be the court of England, but every Tuesday night it is a haven for dart lovers. The pub has summer and fall leagues, for both novice and expert dart players. The season starts on Sept. 29, but dart aficionados have been honing their skills in anticipation.
“You can play darts every night of the week in Ottawa,” says Otim Harris, a Carleton University student, who plays at least three times a week. He took up the sport about two years ago, after his arrival from his native Uganda. He says it has been a great way to make friends and meet different people.
Peter Baskeyfield agrees. “You can walk into a new bar where you’ve never been before, play a friendly game of darts and meet loads of nice people,” he says.
Baskeyfield is the one behind the league at the Duke. A player for 22 years, he started the league 15 years ago, shortly after his own emigration to Canada from England.
“Anybody can play darts,” Baskeyfield says.
“You can be the prime minister of Canada, or a person on welfare, a millionaire, a lawyer or a labourer. It’s a good night’s fun and a cheap form of entertainment.”
The league at the Duke costs $3 per player a week. The season runs until early spring and consists of 12 teams of three players each.
Baskeyfield is a genuine dart fan — the immaculate flights of his darts have his name printed in gold. Tuesday is his fun night. Thursdays are a greater challenge.
That’s when players in the National Capital Superdart League convene at St. Anthony’s Italia Soccer Club on Preston Street. Teams in the superdart league have two players maximum, as opposed to the usual three or four.
The league looks to attract Ottawa’s best players, to improve participants’ skills by pitting them against worthy opponents. The highest-scoring team can win $1,000 at season’s end.
Harris is here tonight, and has brought as his partner Zdravko Zutkovic, an emigrant from Serbia.
He says the skill level of the superdart league’s players doesn’t intimidate him.
“We can make it,” he says, “maybe not right away, but eventually.”
Though winning is on everyone’s mind, the basic reason why players come out every week is clear.
“It’s meeting different people all the time. I’ve met people from all across Canada playing darts,” says Baskeyfield.
“It’s the people.”