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| |  Saturday, 20 July, 2002, 22:13 GMT 23:13 UK Happy memories for Welsh wizard Rees (centre) was the first ever Embassy winner Welsh darts legend Leighton Rees still dreams of a return to the world's most famous oche - 25 years after lifting the first Embassy crown. Life for the former Pontypridd factory worker changed when he nailed the double that gave him an 11-8 leg victory over England's John Lowe to launch the biggest darts show on earth back in 1978. Rees had already been trying to scrape a living from the sport for a couple of years by taking on exhibition work with fellow Welshman Alan Evans. The introduction of darts on TV certainly made earning a crust easier. Sixteen top players took part in the 1978 BBC televised finals in Nottingham.
But the format soon changed when British Darts Organisation staff and television bosses realised what a huge hit the game was becoming with the public. "My second match was against my mate Alan Evans and I remember hitting a ten-darter," said the 61-year-old Rees who still plays local and super league darts. "That is really when things warmed up. There have only been a couple of live nine-darters since so checking out with ten 25 years ago was really something." For the record, Eric Bristow did take part in the first Embassy - but not for long. He went out to American Conrad Daniels at the first hurdle. John Lowe got his revenge over Rees in the 1979 final and, although the Welshman never reached that stage of the tournament again, he was a regular in the Embassy up until 1990. Rees packed in his exhibition work after having a heart pacemaker fitted but that did not stop him trying to get back to the Lakeside Country Club. All former champions have an automatic right to play in the qualifying tournament at the end of November where around 300 talented players battle for the last five places. "It would be like climbing Everest for a second time if I got through," said Rees. "Before when you were drawn against a foreigner you thought you had an easy match but it is not like that now." How right he was.
The likeable Welshman came up against Denmark's Frede Johansen in his first match a few weeks ago and within minutes was left dreaming of that famous victory a quarter of a decade ago. "The main thing is I have memories of a great era playing alongside the likes of Evans, Bristow, George, Lazarenko and Wilson. Good times and great memories. "It was nice to be the first winner but I think if I had won it in the '80s, I would have benefited more," he said. Rees met his wife Debbie while playing in the North American Open and he is still recognised on the streets of America today. "My son was recently married in Los Angeles and even there, people came up to me and say: 'You're Leighton Rees the darts player, aren't you?' "It's not so bad is it?" | |
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