Newfoundland and Labrador Darts Association
Farrell hits mark for 20th provincial darts title
Bull's-eye - Natalie Musseau - The Gulf News
Standing with toes to the line, her darts fly with purpose toward the
board, landing with a thud, usually just where she intended.
She says there’s no right way or wrong way to throw darts, but Patricia
Farrell has found what works for her.
She was only 17 when she started playing darts at the Chignic Lounge.
The Codroy Valley native was too young to be allowed in the licensed
establishment, but an exception was made as the area for playing darts
was separated from the bar.
Since then, dart competitions have taken Farrell all over the world and will see
her travel to a national darts tournament for the 20th time next month.
““I was going to quit after 20 years, but now that 20 years is here —— no way,””
she said. ““I enjoy it too much.””
Farrell won the provincial women’s singles tournament held in Gander on the
March 17 weekend. She’s won a provincial title every year since 1987, except for
1988. Seven of those wins were for British Columbia during the years she and
her husband lived there.
For this year’’s win, Farrell edged out Burin Peninsula resident and up-and-
coming young dart player Jenelle Legge.
““I wouldn’t have minded coming second to Janelle,”” said Farrell. ““She
reminded me of me —— her darts were straight and true and she didn’t seem
bothered by the crowd.””
The Sunday morning of the tournament found Farrell down five losses to Legge’s
two. She thought she would place second, but still played her best in every game.
A few losses for Legge and wins for Farrell put her back in first place.
““Luck still has a lot to do with it,”” she said.
Legge will join Farrell at the national competition, where the pair will play ladies
doubles. The tournament is scheduled for June 12 to 15 in Saskatoon.
Memories
Farrell’s competitive spirit may stem from her love of the game or from having six
brothers with which to play. But whatever the reason, it has served Farrell well.
She won 16 national titles —— five ladies singles titles, six ladies doubles titles
and five mixed doubles titles. She represented Canada at World Cup and Pacific
Cup (now called America’’s Cup) events every year from 1987 until 2000. She did
not try out for these events after 2000.
Farrell has played in tournaments in South Africa, Australia, Demark. Switzerland,
the United States and Singapore. She has also travelled to England to play in
World Masters tournaments three times.
A habit Farrell has while playing caused questions during one game in South
Africa. She holds a metal chalk holder in the hand opposite her throwing hand. In
some Canadian tournaments, players are required to use chalk to record their
own scores.
Farrell said she developed the habit of keeping it in her hand because it made it
easy to quickly mark her score. After awhile, she got so used to carrying it, she
held it even when she didn’t need to use the chalk.
After winning a game in South Africa, the losing player protested Farrell’s win
saying she was sniffing something during the game. What the player had seen,
but not recognized, was the chalk holder in Farrell’s hand, with which she had
wiped her face several times during the match.
Once the item was produced and explained, the protest was withdrawn, said
Farrell with a grin.
She has won many tournaments, met a lot of people and seen much of the
world; and has the souvenirs to prove it. But for now, all her memorabilia is in
cardboard boxes.
Farrell laughs as she says her goal is to have her basement rec room finished
before she turns 50.
““I’ve got a big rec room and I need it for all my memories,”” she said.
With no intention of giving up darts anytime soon, Farrell also said her
competitiveness is fading. She used to play in two or three tournaments each
month, but now is only doing one or two a year.
She said the biggest reason she’’s still participating in those is to keep in touch
with the many friends she’’s made over the years.
She still has some good competition close to home. Farrell said her brother
Danny (Cormier) is often still one step ahead of her when it comes to darts.
““He’s the last one (of my brothers) I have to conquer,”” she said.
nmusseau@gulfnews.ca
board, landing with a thud, usually just where she intended.
She says there’s no right way or wrong way to throw darts, but Patricia
Farrell has found what works for her.
She was only 17 when she started playing darts at the Chignic Lounge.
The Codroy Valley native was too young to be allowed in the licensed
establishment, but an exception was made as the area for playing darts
was separated from the bar.
Since then, dart competitions have taken Farrell all over the world and will see
her travel to a national darts tournament for the 20th time next month.
““I was going to quit after 20 years, but now that 20 years is here —— no way,””
she said. ““I enjoy it too much.””
Farrell won the provincial women’s singles tournament held in Gander on the
March 17 weekend. She’s won a provincial title every year since 1987, except for
1988. Seven of those wins were for British Columbia during the years she and
her husband lived there.
For this year’’s win, Farrell edged out Burin Peninsula resident and up-and-
coming young dart player Jenelle Legge.
““I wouldn’t have minded coming second to Janelle,”” said Farrell. ““She
reminded me of me —— her darts were straight and true and she didn’t seem
bothered by the crowd.””
The Sunday morning of the tournament found Farrell down five losses to Legge’s
two. She thought she would place second, but still played her best in every game.
A few losses for Legge and wins for Farrell put her back in first place.
““Luck still has a lot to do with it,”” she said.
Legge will join Farrell at the national competition, where the pair will play ladies
doubles. The tournament is scheduled for June 12 to 15 in Saskatoon.
Memories
Farrell’s competitive spirit may stem from her love of the game or from having six
brothers with which to play. But whatever the reason, it has served Farrell well.
She won 16 national titles —— five ladies singles titles, six ladies doubles titles
and five mixed doubles titles. She represented Canada at World Cup and Pacific
Cup (now called America’’s Cup) events every year from 1987 until 2000. She did
not try out for these events after 2000.
Farrell has played in tournaments in South Africa, Australia, Demark. Switzerland,
the United States and Singapore. She has also travelled to England to play in
World Masters tournaments three times.
A habit Farrell has while playing caused questions during one game in South
Africa. She holds a metal chalk holder in the hand opposite her throwing hand. In
some Canadian tournaments, players are required to use chalk to record their
own scores.
Farrell said she developed the habit of keeping it in her hand because it made it
easy to quickly mark her score. After awhile, she got so used to carrying it, she
held it even when she didn’t need to use the chalk.
After winning a game in South Africa, the losing player protested Farrell’s win
saying she was sniffing something during the game. What the player had seen,
but not recognized, was the chalk holder in Farrell’s hand, with which she had
wiped her face several times during the match.
Once the item was produced and explained, the protest was withdrawn, said
Farrell with a grin.
She has won many tournaments, met a lot of people and seen much of the
world; and has the souvenirs to prove it. But for now, all her memorabilia is in
cardboard boxes.
Farrell laughs as she says her goal is to have her basement rec room finished
before she turns 50.
““I’ve got a big rec room and I need it for all my memories,”” she said.
With no intention of giving up darts anytime soon, Farrell also said her
competitiveness is fading. She used to play in two or three tournaments each
month, but now is only doing one or two a year.
She said the biggest reason she’’s still participating in those is to keep in touch
with the many friends she’’s made over the years.
She still has some good competition close to home. Farrell said her brother
Danny (Cormier) is often still one step ahead of her when it comes to darts.
““He’s the last one (of my brothers) I have to conquer,”” she said.
nmusseau@gulfnews.ca
