User:JJTon80/The Cleveland Darter Club

The Cleveland Darter Club

The Cleveland Darter Club (CDC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to “promoting the ancient and honorable sport of darts.” Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the CDC was founded in 1969 and is a charter member of the American Darts Organization (ADO).

The CDC was inducted into the National Darts Hall of Fame in 2009.

History

The CDC was established in 1969 by founders Steve Farkas, Ernie Peto, Tom Yurcich and Jim Wolan.

The CDC can trace its origins to December 28, 1969, when Tom Yurcich, who learned to shoot darts while in service during the Vietnam War, brought a dart board (a Christmas present) into his Park Building art studio and began playing games with fellow artist Steve Farkas. During this time, The Harbor Inn, a local establishment located on the west bank of The Flats., became a popular gathering place for local dart enthusiasts. Harbor Inn owner Wally Pisorn, an avid darter himself, was a big promoter of darts during the CDC’s early years and remains so today.

The Dart Shop and Legal Establishment of the CDC

In early 1971, the CDC established a dart store, The Cleveland Darter Shop (“The Dart Shop”), which began purchasing dart equipment and supplies from national suppliers and selling them to local darts players. The Dart Shop was originally located in the Park Building (and later relocated to the Harbor Inn). The establishment of the Dart Shop led to the need for the legal formation of The Cleveland Darter Club. The first officers were Steve Farkas (President), Ernie Peto (Vice President), Tom Yurcich (Secretary), and Jim Wolan (Treasurer).

The Early Tournaments

The Club’s first official dart tournament occurred on April 6-7, 1971 at The Dart Shop. It was a handicap bull’s-eye tournament played on an “American style” paper conical dart board. Legend has it that the local mailman won this first CDC dart tournament.

On June 25, 1971, the CDC hosted its first English Dart Tournament at The Harbor Inn. It was a Cricket tournament. The subsequent article published in The Plain Dealer on August 4, 1971 is credited as the major impetus for the subsequent rapid growth in popularity that darts enjoyed in Cleveland during this time.

The first doubles dart tournament in Cleveland was held on August 24, 1971, also at The Harbor Inn.

The First Cleveland Dart League

The CDC established its first dart league in the Fall of 1971, consisting of 16 teams (two 8-team divisions). The bars that were involved were: The Parkway Lounge; McHugh’s Tavern; Cosmos Lounge; Lion’s Den; Carney’s Place; Harbor Inn Cafe; and Bar 71. Charlie “Chief” Andracchio was named the Club’s first League President.

The First Cleveland Dart Extravaganza

The first Cleveland Dart Extravaganza (see below) was held on February 26-27, 1972 at the Sheraton Hotel (now the Renaissance Hotel) in Downtown Cleveland. According to Farkas, “The first person we contacted at the hotel was Bob Feller (who worked in public relations with the hotel). He helped us with the arrangements. The winner of singles 301 was Robin Varian from New Canaan, Connecticut. Doubles was won by Dick Yost and Danny Valletto from Philadelphia. And the women’s singles was won by Sandy Tinnerman from Washington, D.C. (She later moved to Dayton, Ohio.) Four-man was won by Joe Pacchanelli, Ray Fischer, Norm Finely, all from Philly, and Tom Fleetwood, Culver City, California. Fleetwood represented Unicorn Dartsand the Southern California Darts Association.”

Some other interesting facts from the First Extravaganza:

• Total tournament payout was $2,507, plus trophies
• Total number of shooters was 64
• Danny Valletto shot the only Ton 80 (three triple twenties on one turn) during the entire tournament.
• Out-of-Towners outnumbered Clevelanders by approximately 5-to-1.

The International Spider.

In 1975, Tom Yurcich teamed up with Steve Farkas and others to establish the International Spider, the first nationally distributed darts publication in United States. The International Spider was later sold to Jay Tomlinson, who founded Bull's-Eye News.

Current State

Today, the CDC remains actively involved with the promotion and management of dart leagues, tournaments and other darts-related activities. Currently the CDC has approximately 750 active members playing on approximately 100 teams at roughly 65 bar affiliates in and around the Greater Cleveland area.

Dart Leagues

The CDC offers dart leagues on 3 different nights (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays), and holds 3 sessions throughout the year (Fall, Winter and Summer). Each league consists of teams that are scheduled into separate divisions based on geographical proximity and skill level. Teams are classified as Bronze, Silver or Gold, depending on the team’s skill level, with Gold being the highest skill level and Bronze being primarily for beginning level darters.

The Cleveland Darter Club’s leagues are money leagues, meaning each team is responsible for making upfront league fee payments (generally sponsored by the team’s bar, although not a requirement). At the conclusion of the session, each team is given a cash award based on their final divisional placement. For the Summer session, non-cash awards (e.g., jackets, polo shirts, or tee shirts) are awarded in lieu of cash.

Tournament Trails

Tournament Trails, established by a group of CDC members back in 1979, is a program which allows its members the opportunity to participate in regularly scheduled tournaments at various locations throughout the week. Members compete not only for money but for “trails points” which can be redeemed at certain “cut-off dates” throughout the year for a trip to one of a number of national dart tournaments. Winners receive airfare, hotel accommodations, entry fees and expense money.

Currently, the CDC offers 6 trails events: Wednesday nights at Grillers Pub (Parma, OH), Thursday nights at Rookies Sports Bar (Parma Heights, OH), Friday nights at The Orioles Club (Cleveland, OH), Saturday afternoons at Whiskers' Pub (Brook Park, OH), Sunday afternoons at The Orioles Club, and Sunday nights at West Park Slovenian Home (Cleveland, OH).

The Cleveland Dart Extravaganza

The CDC plays host to the annual Cleveland Dart Extravaganza, an international darts tournament which began in 1972. This popular tournament was held annually through the year 2002, when Extravaganza 31 was held. The Extravaganza was then suspended, primarily due to financial concerns. After a 6-year hiatus, the 32nd Extravaganza was held on May 1 – 3, 2009 with over $10,000 paid out in prize money. The 33rd Extravagnza followed in 2010 with a payout of $13,000. The payout was then increased to $15,000 for Extravaganzas 34 through 36. Plans our now underway for the 37th Extravaganza which is expected to be held on May 2-4, 2014.

All-Star Team

The CDC All-Star Team competes annually at the Quad City Challenge on the Sunday following the Buckeye Open dart tournament (usually on the third weekend of November) in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to Cleveland, all-star teams from Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton compete in this event. Following the 2013 Quad City, in which they finished 4th, The CDC All-Stars have won 16 of the last 23 Quad City Challenges.

The CDC All-Star Team is comprised of members who must qualify through a 2-Phase qualifying process. The top 28 men and 14 women make up the team.

The Cleveland Darter Hall of Fame

The Cleveland Darter Hall of Fame was established on August 29, 2009 at The Harbor Inn as part of the Club’s 40th Anniversary celebration. The CDC inducted Tom Yurcich, Steve Farkas, Ernie Peto, Jim Wolan, and Charlie “Chief” Andracchio as its inaugural 2009 class. On October 2, 2010, the CDC inducted 9 individuals (Jane Boyd, Nate "Nub" Bruening, Joe Gannon, Gary Hull, Dave Kapustik, Wally Pisorn, Frank Pratt, Denny Reim, and Pete Smolleck) into the Hall of fame in conjunction with Club's 2nd Annual Hall of Fame Tournament, held at The Harbor Inn. On August 27, 2011, Bob Dickson, Dorothy Dickson, Ted Joyce, Bill O'Neil and Marianne Reim were inducted.

Organization and Management

The management of The Cleveland Darter Club is a primary responsibility of its Board of Directors, who are elected by vote of the General Membership. The Board consists of nine Board members, including four officers: President, Vice President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer. The President is responsible for appointing, with Board approval, Committee Chairpersons to oversee the various committees, including the Trails Committee, the All-Star Committee, the Extravaganza Committee, and the Hall of Fame Committee, as well as the League Manager, ADO Representative, and Web Page Administrator. All board members and committee chairpersons are volunteers, with the exception of the League Manager and Web Page Administrator, who are engaged as independent contractors.

External links

• The Cleveland Darter Club Website