Darts heroes humbled after meeting wounded soldiers
World champion Adrian Lewis, former world No.1 Colin Lloyd, Lakeside top women’s seed Deta Hedman and Keith Deller, the qualifier who toppled Eric Bristow with a 138 checkout at the Lakeside 28 years ago, were all there.
The bouncers could play a bit, too. Mark ‘Special Brew’ Walsh and Alan ‘Saint’ Tabern, both in the world’s top 20, are handy.
Booted and suited, the manager was another familiar face. Rod Harrington was a world championship runner-up in his heyday, and now the Sky Sports pundit was in charge of the players on a goodwill trip to Headley Court, the hospital for seriously-wounded troops.
The players gave their time for free and their darts manufacturer, Target, supplied the arrows.
Master-of-ceremonies John McDonald and referee George Noble gave the proceedings an authentic air, right down to sporadic blasts of darts anthem Chase The Sun.
And if there was a winner, on the Target Arms’ first excursion into the shires to take on all-comers, it was the Afghan Trust, the Parachute Regiment’s charitable arm.
Lewis, who decorated his world-title triumph at Alexandra Palace last January with a perfect nine-dart leg in the opening set against Gary Anderson, was visibly moved.
“I was going to say that being world champion has not changed me,” said ‘Jackpot’ Lewis.
“I was going to say that I don’t feel any extra pressure when I play, and that I don’t have any more airs and graces.
“And I was going to say that apart from settling my tax bill, the only difference I’ve noticed in 2011 is that I’m announced as Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis, PDC world champion, when I walk on stage.
“But anyone who has had a bad day at the office, or feels a bit down on their luck, should come here. If I’m ever feeling sorry for myself, I’ll just think of the lads here.
“When you make the kind of sacrifices they have had to make, playing darts for a living should never be a chore. Sometimes we complain about being on the road all the time, from tournaments to exhibitions and sponsors’ appearances, but really it’s a doddle.
“The long, hard road is what these lads have to follow – months of rehab from life-changing injuries.
“It’s very humbling, especially for someone like me who gave serious thought to a career in the military when I was 17 years old.
“So when people talk to me about pressure on the oche, it’s all relative, isn’t it?
“Sure, there’s pressure when you have one dart at double top when there’s a world championship to be won, but real pressure is what our troops are doing in Afghanistan.”
Lewis is now approaching his first £1million in career earnings since he joined the Professional Darts Corporation circus. Not bad for a lad of 26 whose promising football career as a goalkeeper was cut short by a serious hand injury.
He said: “People say I’ve not won anything since Ally Pally, but I’ve actually had my most consistent year.
“I reached the final of the Premier League and the Grand Slam semis, so my game must be in decent order and I can’t be doing too much wrong.
“At one point in Wolverhampton the other night, Phil [Taylor] was beating me 7-4 and I had an average of nearly 110. Sometimes you just have to take your hat off to the man, he’s a legend.
“But I’d like to win another major soon because you can’t beat the feeling of banking a winner’s cheque.”
As for the best pub team in the world... Target managing director Garry Plummer thinks he has already signed it, but in 2012 he plans to launch a nationwide hunt for licensed premises who think they can do better.
“Imagine us nipping down to the Rose and Crown or the Red Lion in the middle of nowhere on a Tuesday night,” said Lewis. “And seeing the look on the local darts team’s faces when we walk in.”
As published in The Mirror read it here
Join up with The Best Pub Team In The World Campaign on Facebook
