Northland's darting community in mourning after death of UK legend Eric Bristow

Eric Mustchin at the Whangarei RSA pays tribute to UK darts legend Eric Bristow who died last week. Bristow played at the RSA in 1997 and his name is on the honours board above the dartboard.

Northland's darting community has joined counterparts around the world in mourning the death of UK darting legend Eric Bristow.

Bristow, a five-times world darts champion and the biggest name in the sport in the 1980s and 1990s, until his feats were overtaken by his protege Phil Taylor, played in Whangarei in 1997. He died on Friday, NZ time.

Eric Mustchin helped organise for Bristow - known as the Crafty Cockney - to play 16 of Northland's best darts players at the Whangarei RSA in 1997 and vividly remembers the man he describes as the first international superstar of darts. And Bristow's name is on the darts honours board at the Whangarei RSA for the 180s (three triple 20s) he scored during his visit.

Darts legend Eric Bristow, who died aged 60 on Friday, played in Whangarei in 1997, above, with those who played against him them remembering him well. Photo / Michael Cunningham

''He was going to play at the Kamo Club, but I think they did not want him at the time. He was playing some games at Wilkinson Sports in Rathbone St so I walked round from the RSA and invited him to come play them at the RSA instead,'' Mr Mustchin said.

''So he walked back with me. He walked in, took his darts out and straight away threw a 140 (two triple 20s and a double 20) and asked 'who set (the dartboard) up'. I said 'we did' and he said 'great, that's the correct measurements'.''

Mr Mustchin said Bristow, who died aged 60 of a heart attack, was a delight to be with and of the 16 players who took him on that July night only one managed to take a single leg off him in the best of three leg games.

''Like all cockneys he was very down to earth and called a spade a spade. I got to spend quite a bit of time with him then and got on really well with him. After he played (at the RSA) we went down to the old Portobello (Motor Inn) and we didn't leave until after 3am the next morning . . . he could certainly drink well too.''

He said he learned of Bristow's death about 6am Friday morning while he was watching a darts competition live on TV from overseas and the news came on.

Mr Mustchin said Northland's darting community would be in mourning over Bristow's death as the man was credited with making the game the international phenomenon it is today.

''It will be a massive funeral for him. Eric still went to most darts tournaments and was still throwing darts at a charity tournament last month. I was lucky to get a card signed by Eric too.''

When Bristow visited in 1997 the Northern Advocate interviewed him and commented that the rising popularity of the game then saw an international championship prize that year rise to $67,000. This year's world champion won the equivalent of around $800,000.

One of the sports first great players, Bristow was world champion five times between 1980-1986 and won five masters titles during a stellar career and received an MBE in 1989.