Think you're pretty good at playing darts? Two girls in Ponoka are probably better.
Morgan Boyce, 17, and Shelby Cire, 15, are members of the Central Alberta Youth Dart League and members of Team Alberta who recently got the chance to travel to Saint Hyacinthe, Que. for the Youth National Championships.
The 2009 provincial league championships were held at the Ponoka Legion in March. From this competition the top two, plus one alternate in each of the four categories (senior male, junior male, senior female, junior female and three alternates) formed Team Alberta to represent the province at nationals accompanied by the Darts Alberta (DA) youth director Dianne Greening.
Going into nationals, Boyce was an alternate meaning she would cheer her teammates on and chalk scores but being part of this prestigious tournament certainly wasn’t her only accomplishment that weekend.
Everyone who attends the tournament can play for a chance to attend the world championships. Boyce got her chance and came in second place.
“There was only one other person in front of me,” she said. She was proud of her second place finish though and glad she got the opportunity to experience life in another province for a few days.
“It was a great experience and a lot of fun. We got to meet and hang out with people from all across Canada and see the differences and similarities we have with them.”
Cire, who went into nationals as junior female runner-up and whose points helped Team Alberta capture silver in the Canada Cup, agreed.
“It was awesome. It was a really fun time and meeting new people and new friends made the experience even better,” she said.
From their team, Calgary’s Trevor Hovey was named the 2009 Canadian national junior male champion and also won the 2009 youth world masters qualifier earning him the right to compete in Bridlington, UK this fall – the first time a Canadian youth will be represented at the World Masters since 1999.
For more information on Darts Alberta and for a complete list of tournament results, visit www.dartsalberta.com