After sifting through family documents, a Spalding man was left shocked after realising his uncle was one of the finalists at a first national championships of darts.
Jez Porter (58), of Park Close, recently discovered the programme for the News of the World Individual Darts Championship of England and Wales that took place at Empire Pool, Wembley on Wednesday June 9, 1948.
Of the eight people who qualified, one was Wallace Quinton, listed as the house champion of the Vine Inn, Spalding and Lincoln divisional champion of the east counties.
The hand-written scorecard suggests Wallace lost in the quarter-final to Jimmy Sands of the “west counties” in, what the programme says was the first ever running of a, national darts tournament.
Wallace is described as being 37 at the time and he took up darts while serving in the RAF. He was described in the programme as a “tall, top of the board player,” who was “a strong challenger.”
Jez said of the relative who went on to also play darts for the The Ship Albion: “I was aware he played, but I never realised how good he actually was.
“I think my mum said that he did well in the competition the year after, but I’ve no record of that.
“It’s amazing to think its 70 years ago this month.
“She also told me he was so good and well known that when the family and the carnival came to town, the stall holders used to tell him that he would only have one go to hit targets.
“He was too good for them so my mum wouldn’t get any prizes.”
