Leighton Rees

[Justin Credible]

[Justin Credible]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Sheep Shagger]

Had the pleasure of playing county with Leighton, gentleman is an understatement.

[Justin Credible]

[youtube][/youtube]

[skweezit]

saw him beating frans devooght from belgium who had just beaten umberger, watched a little of that,
then came back to catch bob sinnaeve from canada beating him.

[Justin Credible]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Fldonahue]

Just decided to look around the internet for names and events from the past. I had the pleasure of playing Leighton Rees on board the Queen Mary, as well as in Las Vegas and San Diego. Dates escape me, although somewhere I still have a few programs and the engraved plates from trophies. Who keeps three-foot high trophies for 40 years? Sorry to see it appears Leighton has passed, certainly too young. On board the Queen Mary, 1976?, my partner Harry Bailey and I had one dart to defeat John Lowe and Tony Brown in the top 4 doubles. We ended up in 3rd, and John and Tony faced Leighton and I'm pretty sure, Eric Bristow, with John and Tony taking the trophy. Leighton's stance at the line was solid, smooth stroke and a slightly arcing flight. None of these guys gave you more than one dart at a win, if you were hitting your mark. I think it was the following year, '77, but maybe still '76, Rees and Bristol, Lowe and Brown teamed up to win the 4 man in Vegas. It was considered a "World Championship" at the time, (I think I'm correct?) darts was growing but not exactly on national tv. My greatest fun was at the Tri Counties tournament in San Diego the following week, where Harry and I, and two others (?), combined to beat out Rees, Bristol, Lowe and Brown for the 4-man win. Harry and I also took the 2-man, but I'll be honest, I may have the years and tournaments mixed up? I know we took the Tri County 2-man, but it might have been the Queen Mary 4-man the next year? All I'm sure of is, the year those 4 won the "worlds," Harry and I, and 2 others, took them down in the 4s. When Lowe and Brown took the North American (Queen Mary), I had a 180 in one leg, Harry had 171 in the 3rd leg, and Harry had one dart at 32 to beat them. That was it. Lowe and Brown went on to,win the finals. It was 3 games of 301 at that time. So many of those names I saw looking back at the 70s were the guys we were playing then. Nicky Virackul (spelling?), several of the British guys and one or two Easterners who had good darts. That year '76 a large group of Australians showed up too. With oil cans of Fosters in their luggage? One of them actually heaved me a can from above me and down, both of us leaning out the tiny portholes. I caught it! Leighton was definitely the gentleman I see him remembered here as. John and Tony were casual and friendly, too. Eric was a great guy, but I remember him being pretty exicitable. And tall, I think? Only Leighton wasn't tall, if memory serves. I played local and tournaments for a few years, but work and life got in the way of league nights and travel. I don't even know where my old titaniums are? Those guys may recall the Mucky Duck in Santa Monica, totally packed with people from England, lots worked on ships, and they had crazy rugby teams. There were two other local pubs that were like dropping into England, but I forget their names. It's where I learned to like my beer warm, brown, and full. Anyway, it was fun thinking about those days. Frank Donahue.

[D'Artagnan]

That's nice.

[Randall]

Darts on boats isn't new then.

[D'Artagnan]

#randompost

[Sin]

He's Welsh though, therefore a cunt and a racist

[Justin Credible]

#randompost

looks like a double post

[Wolflanternbumbag]

Welsh legend

[D & B]

That's nice.