The format mixes better players with those who have never played before so it gives everyone a chance to win when they stepped up to the oche.

Mount Isa Darts Club president Dan Flanigan said the event was the curtain raiser to their 2017 season.

“It was a fantastic day for Mount Isa Darts Club with over 40 people playing – there were many locals and people making the effort to travel, coming from Cloncurry, Tennant Creek and even as far as Brisbane and Alice Springs,” Mr Flanigan said.

“With the teams competition starting back up in a few weeks time, we look forward to it being even bigger and better than ever but today was much more around the social side of it.”

Mr Flanigan the number of people playing on the day led to a prize pool of over a thousand dollars.

The format of the day allowed for three competitions in knock-out fashion.

First there was a pro am matching an experienced player with a novice in a team format, a novelty “blind man’s bull” where players were blindfolded and nearest the bull won and then the open championship.

Chippy Miller combined with Linda Robinson to take out the pro am prize.

Then Peter Burlingham was best with the blindfolds to win the blind man’s bull.

Chippy Miller then backed up from his pro am victory to take out the open.

He defeated Trent Read 7-3 in the final.

Once the season starts, darts will be a regular fixture at the Services Club every Wednesday night.

Mr Flanigan said they had done work to bring the venue up to scratch with eight boards to play with.

“We hope to see some new faces there,” he said.

“We try and stay away from membership fees, just come along, the more people we have the better.”