Darts: Veteran zeroes in on champs

A seven-year break from competitive darts has come to an end for veteran player Herbert Nathan, who will line up alongside the best players in the country in Rotorua.

The national championships get underway in Rotorua tomorrow with players from across the country taking part at the Sportsdrome.

Former New Zealand representative Nathan will play for the Bay of Plenty at the week-long tournament alongside fellow Rotorua players Tania Morris and Richie Shedlock.

Nathan, who plays at the Rotorua RSA and Geyserland Darts Association, retired from competitive darts seven years ago but put his hand up to compete this year.

He trialled for the Bay of Plenty team a few months ago and was picked as the top men's player in the region.

He said he went along to the Bay trial "for a bit of fun" and simply "got lucky" this year.

"I represented New Zealand over a 10-year span," he said. "But I retired, I lost the hunger for it."

During his return to the nationals, he said he wanted to play well and aim for selection in the New Zealand team, which is announced after the tournament.

"It is a goal. Your goal is to do well and play well and try and make the New Zealand team. But you just have to take one step at a time."

The first step will be the teams event starting tomorrow and ending on Monday.

Nathan and Shedlock will play in the eight-strong Bay of Plenty men's team while Morris will represent the Bay of Plenty women's team.

The two Bay of Plenty teams will compete against other regions in pool play before the knockout rounds on Monday.

A range of other events will be held during the week before the nationals climax with the singles competition. Shedlock said it was his first time at the nationals and he was looking forward to the experience.

He said the Bay of Plenty had good teams in both the men's and women's competition. "The people that made the Bay team deserved to be there ... and on paper it looks like we have a strong team, so there is no reason we can't win."

Shedlock said a lot of people view darts as a big party and just a pub sport, but there was a lot more to it.

He said the stiff competition and meeting new people were the main things for him. However, he said he did enjoy having a few beers before a match to settle the nerves.

Morris agreed and said performing well was what she liked about the sport.

"I just like jumping up and down inside myself [when I do well]," she said. "You can just be happy within yourself and you don't need to broadcast it."

The Rotorua RSA is hosting a warm-up event today.