London

Like most of the women who graduate to the Super League from local pub competitions, Tammy has grown up with the game and spends many hours a week practising. She throws with accuracy and venom, her non-darts hand clasping and unclasping with each arrow. She says she once had a 13-dart leg (a nine-dart leg is the sport’s holy grail), and ‘got pissed’ to celebrate. As she recounts the story, Sandra turns round to take the acclaim for the evening’s first 180. ‘Great darts, baby’ is the shout of encouragement from Sue at the back of the room.

Jackie, a diminutive, 47-year-old child carer who plays competitively three nights a week, explains that the league is in dire need of more players. Feature continues

‘There’s a big misconception about Super League but the fact of the matter is anyone can enter a team. Obviously, selection for the county side is based on your averages throughout the season but the best way to improve is to play against better players.’ She goes on to explain that many pub sides now discriminate against county players by refusing to let them into their teams. She and Dee have bigger fish to fry, having won through the qualifying rounds of a prestigious doubles tournament to book their place at the darts Mecca, Lakeside, in July.

The first half of the double-header sees Woodford and Waltham Forest fight out a 4-4 draw, leaving the home side with the task of scoring a 5-3 victory in the ‘return leg’ to win the title. Things don’t start well; the language gets more industrial and the grimaces more pronounced as they lose the opening two doubles rubbers. Jackie then goes down heavily in the opening singles and faces drop. But then a second salver of white-bread sandwiches and three-inch thick oven chips is delivered and, as the cigarette smoking is stepped up a gear, so too are Woodford’s darts.

Dee, a driving instructor with similar highlights to those once favoured by Eric Bristow, steadies the ship before Tammy continues the fightback with an easy 3-0 win. By the time we head into the final two doubles matches of the night, you can cut the atmosphere with a spoon. Dee and Tammy keep the dream alive by finishing off Sue and partner before Carole, who has not exactly been a model of self-confidence throughout, teams up with Jackie for the match that will decide the title. And after a nerve-shredding series of missed doubles and nervy throws, Jackie finally lands the double eight and the crown. An impromptu four-woman jig of joy breaks out as a small slice of darts history is made.

For more information on competitive darts in London contact Marie O’Brien, General Secretary of the Greater London Darts Organisation at marieobriendarts@aol.com

Oche oche oche! The best darts pubs in London

The Royal Oak
95 High St, Harlesden, NW10 (0208 965 0228).

Nolan's Freehouse
Wilcox Rd, Vauxhall, SW8 (0207 622 3106).

Queens Arms
Burrage Rd, Plumstead, SE18 (0208 854 0540).

The County Arms
420 Hale End Rd, Highams Park, E4 (0208 527 2103).

Park Hotel
220 Park Lane, Tottenham, N17 (0208 808 3391).

The Queen Adelaide
412 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherds Bush, W12 (020 8746 4931).