How Luke Littler revived Welshpool darts
After the league started up again there was a keen interest, with up to 15 teams competing regularly, but after a few years this started to wane.
Matthew Evans took over the Hon Secretary of the league, but, as public houses started to decline, so did the teams in the league. There was always a core of around 10 teams with established players but there were very few youngsters joining the teams.
Darts seem to take a back seat to other pub sports like dominoes and pool.
The league tried different ideas, especially with the individuals, doubles and trebles competitions. One year the players played everybody from their own public house for the first round and sent a representative to the finals’ night.
The next year, the players were drawn out to go around public houses to play towards the last eight for the final night. The same with the doubles and trebles. One year, the doubles were drawn blind to play. All to no avail as the public were not drawn back to the oche.
Ladies have always been welcomed in the Welshpool and District Darts League and this proved be a catalyst in the league continuing, as some ladies entered teams from pubs in the town.
Some of the ladies from the 1980’s to date were players of note including Prim Whitehouse, Christine Evans, Phylis Ashley, Romaine Bayliss and Louise George, amongst others playing in the league.
Later in 2017, one of our ladies, Katie Bellerby went on to represent Wales in the home internationals and took the scalp of five-time World Champion, Dieta Hedman, on her way to winning the Home Championship. You may recognise the name as her father was one of the youngest players ever to win the individuals in the Welshpool league.
Jan Ashton was a stalwart in the league, captain of the Talbot A which included Rob Shingler, Mitch Butler, Craig Davies and myself amongst others.
Tina Day, Sally Ann Rogers, Claire Boyle, Marian Hughes and Jan Ashton won the Langford Cup one year. The last year to see an all-female team in the league was unfortunately 2022/23.
Two players were given special awards during the 2000’s. Firstly, Ben Gittins was awarded the longevity medal as he was the father of the league. He started playing darts at 17 years of age and continued until his eyesight deteriorated in his 70’s. He still supported his local but could not play.
The second was Brian Pickstock for his contribution to the league by way of playing, Chairman and committee member for almost two decades, including the start-up of the league the second time around.
The league is looking at reviving the Hall of Fame this year to honour people who have contributed to the league, and without these people the league would be no more.
The dominating players in this period were Robin Shingler (Talbot), Andy McDonald (Grapes and Pheasant), Mitch Butler (Working Men’s Club, Talbot A), Keith Gamble (Grapes and Westwood) who all played for Welshpool in the Montgomery and Radnor Super League team with the likes of John Roberts, Welsh captain and others.
The team regularly won the Super League and went on to represent Montgomery and Radnor in the Welsh finals.
Since 2015, the league suffered and then the dreaded Covid in 2020 hit the league hard.
The team numbers dropped to 12, which meant the teams played each other once and then split into two leagues for the final games. Not an ideal situation but necessary to complete the season. The league always seems to adapt to these unfortunate scenarios.
Then came the Luke Littler effect.
This started for us a year earlier in 2024 when Steve Price and Jack Bellerby (nine years old) won the darts league doubles competition. His cousin, Rhys Butler (13 years old) played in the darts league and won his call-up to the super league team and then the county team.
Were we starting to attract the younger players again or was it because their fathers and mothers were playing?
2024 saw an increase in teams to 20 from 12 and more youngsters were playing. So much that the league put on an under 25’s tournament at Christmas and it attracted 25 players. It was won by Cameron Williams from the Compass Inn. Runner-up was Bobby Gough from Welshpool. Thank-you Mr Littler!
Gareth Ashley won the individuals again this year and achieved a nine-dart 501 last year in the Super League while representing Welshpool. He was, this year, elected onto the league committee alongside Bobby Gough, Harry Jones, Jordan Pruden, Colin Quinn, joining Dianne Parr (Sec and Treasurer), Shaun Humphries (Chairman), John Gibb, Steve Lloyd and Jordan Harding.
This season has so far 30 teams entered and this has meant that three leagues will be fought over. It is just incredible that the last time there was this many teams in the league was in the 1970’s when the Grapes C won the third division (my first team).
Sponsorship plays a large part in the league buying trophies for the winners and runners up and allowing the fees to enter the league being kept down to a reasonable rate.
The New Saints sponsored the whole league alongside the companies who placed an advert on the fixture sheet. Phil’s Tool Hire, Rikki Lloyd Butchers, Jacks Tyres, Wrights Taxis, Silver Fish, Cambrian Training, SWG, Canalside Carpets, Links Electrical, Blakemore Autos, Will Nunns Vehicle Hire, Parry & Evans Recycling and Langfords Sausage Factory were all contributors to help us to run the league. Many thanks to all.
Sadly, I have to inform you of the passing of one of the leagues’ longest serving members, Keith Gamble, who bridged the gap from Ken Parkes’ tenure to the current committee having served the league since the 1980’s.
Keith started at the Naval Club and then played for Waterloo darts team, The Grapes, The Crown, The Working Men’s Club, The Westwood. There will be a charity match to remember Keith on Friday, October 10, at the Grapes with all money raised going to the Charity of the family’s choice. Everybody is welcome.
I hope this has been informative and you have enjoyed reading it. I have certainly enjoyed researching the articles and I will be reporting the games in MyWelshpool.
Also, the Welshpool and District Darts League web page to which we are grateful to Jordan Harding for taking control of, and Facebook page that Dianne Parr posts the reports on.
Thanks also go to MyWelshpool for printing the memories and ramblings of an enthusiastic old Welshpool darts player!
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