MONTREAL - Rita Champagne will soon be headed to Thunder Bay, Ontario to compete in Canada's dart championships. A member of the Quebec Youth Dart Team, Champagne has moved ahead quickly in her sport.
Starting in competitive darts only seven months ago, Champagne has a smooth throw, steady hand and is all about the competition.
"I don't talk to anyone; I stay quiet and focused," she says, while practicing at the Legion hall in Lachine. "I saw my dad play at a few tournaments and thought it was cool. I wanted to try it out."
Placed second in her first provincial championship, Donald Smith, the youth director of the Quebec Darts Association, immediately saw a lot of promise in Champagne.
"It seemed to me that she had a really nice throw, pretty much a natural, so I spoke to her afterwards and asked if she wanted to play in our youth league," said Smith, who has helped with coaching Champagne.
Crediting her team at the Legion, Champagne is surrounded by other motivated young talent.
"It's fun because we are friends, we joke around and have a good game," said Jennifer Delisle, who was the Canadian youth dart champion in 2009.
"She gets good points and she finishes very well. She's a hard person to play against," added Samantha Gibbons, who plays as Champagne's doubles partner.
Without the help of her friends, Champagne said she could never have learned so quickly.
"It's a really good experience, because they are a lot better and when you play against better people you get a lot better."
