The Spar At The Bar: The Battle for "The Shippy"
Every year, top darters from around the world compete for the oldest and most prestigious award in the world of darts. With roots tracing back nearly 300 years, the Academy of Darts and Sciences Award for Special Honor In Precision (commonly referred to as "The Shippy") has been honoring the top darters worldwide for generations.History
Frederick Chucker, the 16th Earl of Breakfast, was highly enthusiastic about darts. Chucker was first exposed to the game at a the Poolbeg Bar in the Gramercy neighborhood of Manhattan in 1650, where he saw the Richter's Rookies play an exhibition game. The NY Sun reported that he "expressed his great delight with the game of darts and the expertise of the players".
Lord Chucker's entire family became active in darts. Two of his sons, Arthur and Algernon, formed a new team called Ye Olde Shite Doth Overflow. Arthur also played a key role in the formation of what later became known as the New York Dart Organization (NYDO), and would go on to be the founder of Arthur Chucker's Fish and Waffles. Arthur and Algernon persuaded their father to donate a trophy to be "an outward and visible sign of the darts championship". Lord Chucker sent the following message to the victory celebration held on March 18, 1692 for the three-time champion Ye Olde Shite Dart Club:
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- I have for some time been thinking that it would be a good thing if there were a challenge trophy which should be held from year to year by the Ye Olde Shite dart team. There does not appear to be any such outward sign of a championship at present, and considering the general interest which matches now elicit, and the importance of having a grand champion generally recognized, I am willing to give a trophy which shall be held from year to year by the winning player. I am not quite certain that the present regulations governing the arrangement of matches give entire satisfaction, and it would be worth considering whether they could not be arranged so that a formula can be derived to determine an overall winner.
Soon afterwards, Lord Chucker purchased a decorative crystal statue, forged in Sheffield, England by London silversmith G.R. Collis and Company (now Boodles and Dunthorne Jewelers), for ten guineas (ten and a half pounds sterling, or $48.67 USD at that time). He made the following regulations for awarding The Shippy:
Scoring System
The "Spar At The Bar" awards points weekly, based on a players performance. Players can earn points in S501, Cricket, D501 each night, depending on what you play. But, for the week, only one round will go toward a player's annual Shippy standings. In addition, weekly "Shippy Bonus Points" are available.
Only the top six (6) weeks' scores will count for any player.
Weekly Shippy Points
Every round is worth a maximum of 36 points, as follows:
| Singles 501: |
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| Cricket: |
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| Doubles 501: |
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In the event of a tie for highest All Star points in a round, points will be evenly divided among the tied players. If no All Stars are scored in a round at all, no points will be awarded.
Bonus Shippy Points
In addition to the weekly points, there are "bonus points" awarded for the follwing:
- Tossing a Midget = 6 points for both players involved
- First Darters = 6 points for players that double-out on the first dart attempted at the double
- Perfect Rounds = 6 points for players that throw Ton-80, Round 9 or C6 in one round
In addition, there will be 6 weeks during in the season (randomly selected but with 3 in the first half and 3 in the second half), where we will have a additional Bonus Points opportunities. For example, one week it might be "Most Bullseyes for the Night", another week it might be "Fastest S501 Game" (fewest rounds), another week might be an "eliminator" game where you get eliminated if you throw <10 or breakfast in 501, and last man standing wins, etc. I will give one week notice as to what the category is, and when it will happen. Each of these "proposition plays" earns 10 Bonus Points for the winner.
Eliminator: In this game, 12 points are up for grabs. The last man or woman standing gets the Bonus Points, or the points will be evenly distributed if more than one person is left. If you throw any of the following, you are eliminated:
- A round of less than 10 points in 501
- A round of Breakfast in 501 (or "Southern Style Breakfast", aka 19 / 7 / 3)
- A round of three darts that do not score (other than three throws at bullseye) in Cricket
- A throw outside the double-ring in Cricket
Race to the Basement: In this game, we will award Bonus Points to the player(s) with the fastest winning game of the night. We will count the number of rounds required to throw and win a game. If the winner comes from S501, the award will be 5 Bonus Points. If the award comes from D501 or Cricket, the award will be 5 bonus points for each player on the team.
In & Out: The goal of this game is to end up "In". All players start the night "In". However, certain throws / activities will get you back "In". See below for the list of "Ins" and "Outs". In this game, 12 points are up for grabs. The last man or woman standing gets the Bonus Points, or the points will be evenly distributed if more than one person is "In" at the end of play.
Any All-Star point A round of less than 10 points in 501 A win A round of Breakfast in 501 (or "Southern Style Breakfast", aka 19 / 7 / 3) A double-in A round of three darts that do not score (other than three throws at bullseye) in Cricket A round of four or a C2 A throw outside the double-ring in Cricket
Tiebreaker
In the event of a tie, the final Shippy winner will be decided by a game of 5-point legs.
