Thanks to research from Nev Jack we are putting the spotlight this week on the John Peel Darts League.
With the help of contacts Will Strong (Caldbeck), Paul Hellon (Caldbeck), Dickie Smithson (Caldbeck) and Kenny Edgar (Little Bampton) Nev has been able to piece together the history of this particular League.
Like so many other pub pastimes the league has dwindled over the years from 48 teams at its peak to just 23 now but committee members are hoping to have a recruitment drive through the summer and get the League back up to three Divisions.
You have to go back almost 65 years for when the seeds of the League were first planted.
On the 16th September, 1959 a meeting in the Men’s club room in Caldbeck was called by Joe Strong with a view to the formation of a local darts league.
The idea of forming a local darts league to play on Friday nights was discussed at some length and then put to the vote when it was agreed with Joe Strong acting as secretary. He was instructed to notify all pubs within a radius of six miles of Hesket-Newmarket cross (as the crow flies) asking them for their support.
Two weeks later a general meeting in the Oddfellows Arms, Caldbeck was attended by: J Broach, T Thurlow, A Hebson, R Hellon, C Noble, W Ruddick, L Reay, R Hill, A Forster, A Wilson, E Smithson, A Mann, S Bell, J Savage, T Savage, K Hadwin, J Lancaster, C Graham, J Wasserman, H Hellon, R Scott and J Strong.
The first elected officers were: Chairman, R Hellon; vice chairman, C Noble; president, R Scott; vice president, EJ Wilson; hon secretary J Strong; hon treasurer J Strong.
Committee: A Wilson, H Hebson, C Graham, E Smithson, J Savage.
The league started with nine teams: The Ortler, Oddfellows Arms, The Old Crown, Snooty Fox, Black Lion, String of Horses, Sour Nook, Sun Inn (Ireby) and the Rosley Pub.
Joe Strong carried on as league secretary for 20 plus years with R Hellon as chairman before Jim Plowman took over as league secretary for 32 years with Dickie Smithson as chairman and Dan Tiffin as treasurer.
When Jim died, Dan Tiffin became the league secretary and treasurer but due to family reasons couldn’t carry on. Nev Jack took the league on for five or six years, but because his Sunday mixed darts league was suffering (mainly due to Covid) he resigned so he could give it his full attention.
The John Peel League was taken on by Mel and Janine Scott from the Sun Inn, Aspatria.
Pubs no longer existing as dart teams but were part of the league, plus pubs that no longer exist!
Ortler (Haltcliffe) Rosley pub, String of Horses (Goose Green), Mill inn (Mungrisdale), Royal Oak (Welton), Ship inn (Thursby), Royal oak (Curthwaite), Royal Vic (Wigton), Lion and Lamb (Wigton), Royal Legion (Wigton), Crown (Bolton Gate), Snooty Fox (Ireby), Black Swan (Uldale), Black Lion (Ireby), Horseshoe (Hutton Roof), Smiths Arms (Marketgate), Sowerby Row, Travellers Rest (Cowrigg) Sour Nook, Dog and Gun (Skelton), Gatesgill, Killdare, Old Stocksman (Wigton).
The game format then was: Six singles 301 double start 1 point per win. Three doubles 501 double start 2 points per win and a team game, 1001 double start for 2 points.
Nev says: “Over the years there have been some fantastic players – Stan Holliday, Kenny Edgar, Sam McAllister, Billy Allinson, Richard Smith, Keith Frazer, Ian Mounsey, Paul Hellon, Steve Jackson, Ron Douglas are names that spring to mind, Graham Metcalf (still playing), Eaneas Robson (still playing), Keith Clark (still playing) plus many, many more.
The current league officials are: Mel Scott (secretary and joint treasurer), Mark Sloan (treasurer), Janine Scott and Shirley Lapping (chair). Committee: Dave Lapping, Duggie James, Nev Jack, Fiona Jack, with honorary chairman Dickie Smithson.
The game format has changed from 301 to 501- 1 point per singles, the doubles remain the same, 2 points per double- 501, but the team game has been replaced by two trebles games 701, for 1 point each.
There are various knockouts at the end of the league fixtures:
Division One play for the Rachel Frazer trophy (Team knockout, first to six points) only one point per game. (same rules for all team knockout games)
Division Two play (Bottom half of Div 1 top half of Div 2) for the Terry and Rory Trophy.
Division Three teams play for the Barry Bragg trophy.
All teams play for the Dickie Smithson trophy.
There are also Singles 501 best of three, Doubles 501 best of three and trebles 701 best of three, Ladies singles 301 best of three double start and mixed doubles competitions 501 best of three double start.
The last trophy to be played for is the Jim Plowman Trophy, a singles knockout competition 501 double start, best of three.
The presentation night is to be staged on Friday May 17 at Wigton Bowling club with a 7pm start.
