The skies rumbled in Thunder Bay, Ontario, as Canada's best youth darters made their way through the Lakehead University halls to the opening ceremonies march. As each province made their grand entrance, the excitement was building, as the air was filled with cheers, flashing cameras, smiles ear to ear & the proud faces of the competitors, families and friends, all waiting for the moment and the call to 'let's play darts!'
The Junior and Senior Doubles events kicked off day one with plenty of drama and the competition. Wow! The adult darters had better pay attention...as these kids will soon be coming to a venue near you! This event was followed up by NDFC the Bursary shoot.
In the Junior Female Doubles event the Newfoundland & Labradors duo of Robin & Kaylee Barnes took the gold title over Ontario's own Emma Spence-Branagh & Kaitlyn Saunders 3-0 in the best of 5 finals. To make the finals stage the Barnes Girls had a close match in the semi finals going the distance for a 3-2 win over Quebec's Samantha Gibbons & Rita Champagne. Ontario had to also make their way past Brittany Lyons & Clover Arndt from Saskatchewan in another close score line of 3-2.
Jr. Girls Doubles Knock-Out Bracket
Our Junior Boys Doubles were up next with an exciting play down as Albertans Dawson Murschell & Logan Crooks made a clean sweep not dropping a single match throughout the day to capture their national title. What a feat gents! On their way to the gold the Albertans ousted Saskatchewan’s Austin Morrison & Saul Arndt 3-0 in the semis to meet Dylan Lance & Dillon Wall from Ontario in the finals. The Dylan-Dillon's had a 3-1 victory in their semis over Brayden Legge & Cameron Curnew from Newfoundland & Labrador to advance to the staged finals.
Jr. Boys Doubles Knock-Out Bracket
Senior Girls Doubles was a showdown as heavy hitters Carrie Hayhurst & Oceanna Watson brought home the gold to Ontario with a 3-1 match score over Saskatchewan's Megan Lyons & Miranda Cleaveley. Getting to the finals was no easy feat for each team as Ontario met Alberta`s Matyna Gutfreund & Abbigale Hatter in the semis for a 3-0 score to move to the finals and Saskatchewan had a close match with a 3-2 score line against Jennifer Delisle & Melisa Harding from Quebec.
Sr. Girls Doubles Knock-Out Bracket
A great windup to Day One as Ontario captured the Sr Boys Doubles title event to help chalk up two gold for the province today. It seems to be all about the Dylans in Ontario this year (3 on the team!) Nicolas Findlay & Dylan Scafe crowned the Sr. Boys Doubles Champions as they ousted James Walter & Ashtin Bear from Saskatchewan 3-0 in the finals. Making their way to the stage Ontario dashed the hopes of Trevor Hovey & Nikolas McNair from Alberta 3-0 while the Saskatchewan Team won their semis defeating Mitchell Cormier & Nathan Squires of Newfoundland and Labrador 3-0.
Sr. Boys Doubles Knock-Out Bracket
NDFC Bursary Shoot results
Check back tomorrow for another full day of excitement & action!
Article by Catherine Haycock, contributor Bill Hatter