Not that there are people who are blind in it, rather, that they’ve worked out how to play darts while being blind. And no, not in any special place, nor with any aid other than a piece of string and the dart board in the local pub:
A group of visually-impaired friends have launched Britain’s first darts team for the blind – and admit they’re already causing damage.
Pals Richard Pryor, 68, Rachael Beresford, 39, Carol Pirret, 53, and Sharon Waters, 46, have taken to the oche under the name ‘The Optimists’.
They guide their darts with a piece of string attached to the bullseye which helps them feel where the board is.
When a player heads to the oche they grab the chord with their spare hand and throw with the other.
The team have been practising but admit some wayward darts have already caused damage to the inside of their local pub, The Dolphin Inn in Grampound, Cornwall.
They have their first match coming up and father-of-two Richard Pryor says after weeks of practice his team are hitting the board about two out of every three throws.
Mr Pryor, a former social worker, said: “The landlord mentioned that the Rotary Club had organised for pubs to take part in a fast darts competition.
“He asked if we wanted to put in a blind darts team. After three pints I am up for anything and we said ‘yes’.
“No one has been injured yet, although there has been quite a bit of damage to the door and around the board.
Yes, I know, there’s blind soccer, blind golfers and all the rest. But I’m sorry, for no particular reason at all I just like this story.
To repeat: ” “He asked if we wanted to put in a blind darts team. After three pints I am up for anything and we said ‘yes’. No one has been injured yet”
It what makes Britain Great.
Next: archery.
“RIchard Pryor”? Really? After the other Richard Pryor played the blind one in “See No Evil Hear No Evil” with Gene Wilder as the deaf one
BiF,
Hodr?
I look forward to the blind shooting and archery at the next Paralympics.
I want to know if they have heard of that other British national sport – ruining everyone’s fun through health and safety.
Want to bet that they won’t last long now they have gone public?
Isn’t there an old joke in which the punchline is:
“One nun dead and eighty!”
“his team are hitting the board about two out of every three throws.”
Ok. It really is time for me to admit defeat now.