Blind darts team set to compete at pub
Spectators at a darts competition in a Cornwall pub this week might want to exercise a little extra caution. "We're doing less damage to the pub and getting more darts into the dartboard at the moment," says Richard Pryor, who is part of "The Optimists" blind darts team. ...
Spectators at a darts competition in a Cornwall pub this week might want to exercise a little extra caution. "We're doing less damage to the pub and getting more darts into the dartboard at the moment," says Richard Pryor, who is part of "The Optimists" blind darts team.
Pryor and his team members have been training religiously at their local pub, The Dolphin Inn. The players use a piece of string attached to the dartboard to help orient themselves before throwing the dart.
"We did have a little bit of damage to the ceiling," Pryor concedes. "But we didn't actually hit anybody else, so it was good."
Pryor also says the landlord was forced to close-off the bathroom to protect patrons from stray darts. "The landlord is quite happy with the damage to the walls and things. He's a really great bloke."
Pryor says they decided to form the blind darts team for a bit of a laugh. But he also says that he wants to help build confidence among the visually impaired. "Everybody when they lose their sight, they think it's the end of the world."
"I've been blind for 40-years and I'm having a whale of a time."
The competition starts on Thursday evening and Pryor thinks "The Optimists" will walk away with a victory. He jokes, "we've got a plan to arrange a black-out at all of the pubs at the point when this competition starts."