In Search of the 180

There are few sports in New Zealand that have gained in popularity more quickly than darts. Not that many years ago a darts board in a home, or a hotel bar, were rarities. Today we would venture the guess that there's not one hotel that doesn't feature a darts board in its bar and there are many homes with a darts board-adorned wall. Here in Nelson the Nelson Darts Association caters for about 200 players in regular competitions and there are probably three times this number who like to play the game. About 21 teams, 14 of them men's teams and seven women's compete in championships - and the competition is really keen. The association has grown in strength and has its own rooms in Hardy Street. It was in these that we took these pix. (The 180 referred to in our heading is top score on a board, the treble 20).