Newfoundland and Labrador Darts Association
20-year-old making name for herself ... By Paul Herridge - Southern Gazette
Legge wins Canadian Open darts title
At 20-years-old, Jenelle Legge was up against players who were more than
double her age, some who were triple.
Jenelle Legge of Marystown displays two plaques she picked up at the
National Darts Federation of Canada’s 2006 Adult Nationals and Canadian
Open in Halifax, Nova Scotia recently –– one the Canadian Open Ladies’
Singles Championship and the other Nationals Mixed Doubles runner-up with
partner Guy Bobbett of Port aux Basques.
At 20-years-old, Jenelle Legge was up against players who were more than
double her age, some who were triple.
It was the Marystown native’’s first visit to the National Darts Federation of
Canada’s Adults Nationals and Canadian Open, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia this
year June 13-18, and the other players let her know it.
She was tagged as ‘‘rookie’’ for the duration of the week.
Legge has plenty of experience at both the provincial and national youth darts
levels –– she won the Youth National Senior Girls’ Singles Championship two
years straight, before moving up to the adult level when she turned 20.
This girl knows how to toss darts, and she wasn’t about to let a lack of adult
experience, and some good-natured ribbing from the older competitors, throw
her off her game.
Legge knocked off some of the top ranked players across the country and
around the world, on her way to capturing the National Dart Federation of
Canada’’s 2006 Canadian Open Ladies’’ Singles title.
The win automatically guaranteed her a spot at a major World Darts Federation
tournament in England later this year, which she is planning to attend.
In Halifax, Legge advanced through her initial section of 12 players, leaving her
among the final 16. She then fought her way to the final, defeating British
Columbia’’s Mandy Flack four games to one for the championship.
Referring to the final series, and the increased attention, she said "the worst is
when you’’re up on stage and you got about 500 people behind you watching."
Legge, who has been playing darts for seven years, acknowledged she
practices at least an hour a day, everyday.
She credited her parents and provincial youth darts president Pauline Gray for
exposing her to the sport.
"If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be interested in it at all."
She realizes to do well in England she’’ll have to increase her practice time even
more. She expects the competition to be brutal.
If you miss, you’re out. That’’s what it is."
Legge admitted winning the Canadian Open bodes well for the future.
"When I went up there, first; nobody knew who I was; I was just ‘‘a little old
rookie’’."
By the time she left she had an address book’s worth of contacts.
She’s hopeful playing darts on a full-time basis may one day be a possibility.
"I’m working on it."
double her age, some who were triple.
Jenelle Legge of Marystown displays two plaques she picked up at the
National Darts Federation of Canada’s 2006 Adult Nationals and Canadian
Open in Halifax, Nova Scotia recently –– one the Canadian Open Ladies’
Singles Championship and the other Nationals Mixed Doubles runner-up with
partner Guy Bobbett of Port aux Basques.
At 20-years-old, Jenelle Legge was up against players who were more than
double her age, some who were triple.
It was the Marystown native’’s first visit to the National Darts Federation of
Canada’s Adults Nationals and Canadian Open, held in Halifax, Nova Scotia this
year June 13-18, and the other players let her know it.
She was tagged as ‘‘rookie’’ for the duration of the week.
Legge has plenty of experience at both the provincial and national youth darts
levels –– she won the Youth National Senior Girls’ Singles Championship two
years straight, before moving up to the adult level when she turned 20.
This girl knows how to toss darts, and she wasn’t about to let a lack of adult
experience, and some good-natured ribbing from the older competitors, throw
her off her game.
Legge knocked off some of the top ranked players across the country and
around the world, on her way to capturing the National Dart Federation of
Canada’’s 2006 Canadian Open Ladies’’ Singles title.
The win automatically guaranteed her a spot at a major World Darts Federation
tournament in England later this year, which she is planning to attend.
In Halifax, Legge advanced through her initial section of 12 players, leaving her
among the final 16. She then fought her way to the final, defeating British
Columbia’’s Mandy Flack four games to one for the championship.
Referring to the final series, and the increased attention, she said "the worst is
when you’’re up on stage and you got about 500 people behind you watching."
Legge, who has been playing darts for seven years, acknowledged she
practices at least an hour a day, everyday.
She credited her parents and provincial youth darts president Pauline Gray for
exposing her to the sport.
"If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be interested in it at all."
She realizes to do well in England she’’ll have to increase her practice time even
more. She expects the competition to be brutal.
If you miss, you’re out. That’’s what it is."
Legge admitted winning the Canadian Open bodes well for the future.
"When I went up there, first; nobody knew who I was; I was just ‘‘a little old
rookie’’."
By the time she left she had an address book’s worth of contacts.
She’s hopeful playing darts on a full-time basis may one day be a possibility.
"I’m working on it."
Paul Herridge Photo