Darts: Youngsters make their mark on board

The darts were flying at the South Dunedin community hall in the past three days and it was in the good name of sport.

The hall played host to the New Zealand junior and youth darts championships and about 150 competitors from all over the country lined up.

The junior grade was for players under 13, while youth players were those aged from 13-17.

The accuracy was of a high standard and eight maximums were scored throughout the championships.

Larsen Temarama (17) of Porirua scored three of those maximum 180s and said he had just found his aim at the championships at times.

He won the consolation final in his grade.

Games controller Gordon McFarlane said darts was a strong sport among young people and many families were involved.

He said the days of it being a sport for the pubs were long gone.

People played just for the sport and the bar takings at the club were going down every year.

The championships were last in Dunedin two years ago.

In the competition, Ripeka Te Moananui (17) from Dunedin put in a stand-out effort.

She won the youth girl pairs with her younger sister S'vania, and then won the youth girls singles. She teamed up with Matt Bryan-Hunter to win the youth mixed pairs yesterday.

Both players displayed accurate darts.

Other winners were. -Junior boys pairs, Josh Penney, James Kelly (Auckland); junior girls pairs, Alannah Dunn, Tamika Bevan (Wairarapa); junior boy singles, Kelly (Auckland); junior girl singles, Dunn (Wairarapa); youth boy singles, Daniel Smith (Dunedin); youth boys pairs, Haley Smith, Korban Wardsworth (Wairarapa); junior mixed pairs, Jesse Warana, Mere Maraki (Hawkes Bay).