Timaru darts fans are in for a treat with Rob Szabo the feature attraction at this weekend's national qualifying tournament.

 

The 48-year-old Upper Hutt builder is the star attraction at the Timaru South Cosmopolitan Club hosted Dart Players New Zealand event.

 

The Kiwi shot to prominence when he gave the sport's legend Phil ''the Power'' Taylor a big fright at the World Darts Championships in England, late last year at its mecca ''Ally Pally''.

 

For a while Szabo had the world's greatest darts thrower on the run before eventually losing 3-1.

 

It was the first world champs for Szabo, who is ranked 189th by the World Darts Federation, but he hopes it won't be his last.

 

In fact Szabo hopes to have a crack at the professional tour in Europe next year if he can get enough sponsorship. To do that he has to go through qualifying school, much like the aspiring golf pros, in January.

 

''I'd love to have a go but it will depend on my finances.''

 

His next big tournaments are the Sydney Open, then June's World Cup of Darts pairs in Germany.

 

''I am doing the pairs with Craig (Caldwell) and we are both keen on q-school. If we do well we might be able to attract some European sponsorship which would be great.''

 

While most of the sports top guns have nicknames, Szabo said he hadn't got one yet.

 

''Maybe with some more success or perhaps no-ones telling me.''

 

More seriously Szabo said one of the lessons he had learned was a meaner attitude towards his game and to stamp his authority early.

 

With darts getting more media attention Szabo said while he wasn't recognised, many people had heard of him and what he had done in England.

 

''They say you are that guy who played in England and that has got to be good for the sport.''

 

He grew up around darts and started throwing seriously as a 22-year-old, when he began playing for the Wellington Working Men's Club.

 

Szabo then took a 12-year break before making a return.

 

His success is no fluke as Szabo can practice up to six hours a night.

 

Szabo hopes the sport will grow past just being a pub sport in New Zealand. He has noticed an upswing in the game with younger players coming on board.

 

The competition and others involved kept him passionate about the game.

 

''The thing I really enjoy about darts without a doubt is the people, there are some fantastic ones out there.''

 

Other players ranked in New Zealand's top 16 attending the Timaru tournament are Craig Caldwell (Wellington), Keith Shephard, Warren French (Canterbury), Tony Carmichael (Otago) and Warren Parry (Southland).

 

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DARTS star Andy Hamilton took on pub customers to raise hundreds of pounds for the Douglas Macmillan Hospice.

 

Punters paid £5 to take on The Hammer and fellow pro Andy Pearce at the Rose and Crown pub in Stanley.

 

The charity night was organised by former police officer Mick Mottram in memory of his wife Lynne, who died of ovarian cancer aged 51 in 2012.

 

Mick, who lives in the village, said he wanted to repay the Blurton hospice for the dedicated care staff showed while his wife was a patient there. He hopes to match the £2,300 from a fund-raiser last year.

 

"I heard it costs £22,000 to run the hospice for a day," said the 55-year-old. "If we could raise enough to help run it for just an hour then that would be tremendous.

 

"My wife went into the hospice in pain and in need of treatment and within 24 hours the pain was gone. The care, the comfort and the treatment she received was unbelievable.

 

"And it was because of that she was able to pass away painlessly with the dignity both she and I wanted."

 

Friends and colleagues flocked to the pub for the event, which also featured an auction of signed darts shirts and photos.

 

Mick added: "The turnout was fantastic. I am delighted with everybody's support and it shows just what the Dougie Mac means to everyone."

 

Stoke-on-Trent-born Hamilton – the PDC world number eight – aged 47, said he was thrilled to help the hospice.

 

He said: "It was a pleasure to give a bit of my time to help support a local cause and also support the friend I have made in the process.

 

"I saw the work the Dougie Mac does when my dad had cancer, so I know how much the people of North Staffordshire feel about it. The more help we can give, the more care they can give and the better chance there is of finding a cure one day."

 

Andy Pearce, a friend of Mick's who worked with him at Audi before joining the professional darts tour, said: "I was pleased to be here to support Mick.

 

"I've known him quite a while. When his wife passed away it was a huge shock."

 

The pub's landlord Mick Moston, aged 47, said: "We are committed this year to helping the Dougie Mac and we were overwhelmed when they kindly offered to take part in the fund-raising event.

 

"It is such a small area, but the support we have had from local business, such as the Vapour Shack, Greenway Hall Golf Club and the Endon Store, has been fantastic.

 

"They generously donated prizes, which has added value to what Mick has been trying to do."

 

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