Darts players reflect on nationals
ST. HYACINTHE, QUEBEC - Three darts players from Fort Simpson were pleased with their performances while challenging the best Canada has to offer.
Brenda Moreau, Louisa Moreau and Steve Gooderham were all part of Team NWT that competed at the Canadian National Darts Championship in St. Hyacinthe, Que. from June 12 to 22.
"We did very, very well," Brenda said of her team.
With 131 points, Team NWT placed 10th in the Canada Cup. Team members won the points while in competition at the nationals.
It^s the highest number of points the team has ever received and the closest they^ve been to overtaking the ninth-place team, Saskatchewan, who earned 134 points.
In another competition, the Nodor Cup, the NWT men placed joint third, a position they held two years ago. The women were knocked out in the second round of the national team tournament.
The Fort Simpson players had strong placing in the individual events.
Brenda placed joint 17th in the ladies singles at the nationals. In the ladies doubles, Brenda and Samantha Antoine from Hay River placed joint ninth. Brenda took joint ninth again while playing mixed doubles with Jason Elgie.
To fit in all the darts, the competitors started at 8 a.m. and played until suppertime.
"It^s mind-exhausting," said Brenda.
"You^re burnt out at the end of the day. You^re constantly playing numbers and strategies."
In addition to your own game, you^re also playing your opponent^s game because you have to track their numbers to see if they^ve missed any, she said.
Brenda also threw darts in the Canadian Open the weekend after nationals.
Brenda placed joint ninth in both the ladies singles and the mixed doubles with Elgie. In the ladies doubles she and Jessica Parker took joint fifth.
"It^s awesome. We had a great time," she said.
Although she didn^t make the Canadian team attending the World Cup this year, Brenda said she was pleased with her performance.
"I had some phenomenal finishes," she said.
Based on the points she won while attending tournaments over the past year, Brenda ranked joint eighth of female darts players in Canada. It^s her highest finish to date.
"I thought it was awesome," she said.
Brenda said it was difficult getting to tournaments so she could chase points but the end result was worth it. Her mother Louisa Moreau also competed in the Nationals in both the women^s singles and doubles.
"I did fairly well," Louisa said.
Louisa said her placement during the tournament was affected by her trouble doubling out. There were also a lot of spectators watching every game.
"I find that really nerve-wracking," she said. This is the second time Louisa has competed at the Nationals. She said her performance has improved.
"It was good. I enjoyed it," she said.
Steve Gooderham attended as an alternate for the team. He competed in the tournament before the Nationals and the Canadian Open, which followed.
"I was very happy with the way I threw," he said.
Gooderham assisted the director of NWT Darts at the nationals and helped out where needed. He also took a course allowing him to run a National Darts Federation of Canada ranked tournament.
"I really enjoyed it," Gooderham said.