Football winners announced

The first winners in the 2019 Riders football pool are the following: Judy Gowen (Maple Creek), Dale Gowen (Maple Creek), Jaret Gray (Rosetown), Rick Farrell (Rosetown), Glenn Gunderson (Kyle), Jay Lyons (Flin Flon) Griffin Lyons (Flin Flon), Darryl Komar (Flin Flon).

Pool organizer Bonnie Lapierre is asking all player-sellers and zone reps to return sold and unsold tickets to her at this address: P.O. Box 236, Vibank SK S0G 4Y0. Thanks for your support! And Go Riders!

Veep for victory at North Battleford

At an SDA board meeting in the men's final at the Northern Harvest shoot November 2, vice-president Wayne Hudson of Saskatoon (far left) defeated president Jason Skinner of Battleford.

In women's, local star Angela Aucoin (far right) met Stacey Stephanson of Martensville in the final, and took the title for the first time.

Angela went on to win doubles with her partner Tia Crowe of Prince Albert. Men's doubles goes to Karsten Larsen (Saskatoon) and Chester Sakebow (Chitek), pictured centre. See full results here.  

Family affair at Fall Fling

Singles titles went to two members of the same dart-throwing family at Rosetown October 26, while a dad-daughter combo cleaned up in mixed doubles.

Stacey Stephanson (Martensville) and Marcus Stephanson (Regina) are your singles winners. Steve Kristjansson and Taryn Kristjansson (Saskatoon) took the mixed. See the full results.

Northern Classic returns to Prince Albert

Results are in from Prince Albert's new venue the Rock and Iron sports bar, where 32 men and 11 women played four events on September 28. 

SDA President Jason Skinner (North Battleford) made a ruling - on the board - to take the men's title with a win over Steve Kristjansson (Saskatoon). Women's champ is youth star Rianna December (Warman) who defeated Georgina Ratt (Stanley Mission) in the final. That's back-to-back titles in September for Rianna as she gears up for her trip to the World Masters.

In doubles, Steve teamed up with Danny Mckenzie (Stanley Mission) to win the men's event. Melanie Thomas of Chitek Lake and Laurie Kitzul of Saskatoon are your women's winners.

It's a welcome return to the SDA calendar for the Prince Albert zone. Thanks to organizers Cindy and Rod Swenson for taking over.  You can see full results here.

Wins for SK youth at Klondike

Matthew Shephard and Rianna December came back from Edmonton with first place finishes. For a report and photos please see our Youth page.

North Battleford: new home of the Saskatchewan Open

A mainstay of the NDFC darts tour since the 1980s, the Saskatchewan Open was played in North Battleford for the first time in its history on the weekend of September 20-22, and it was a great success. The spacious Tropical Inn venue was a big hit.

Organizer Noel Aucoin and his team of volunteers welcomed players from across the province and several top shots from Alberta and Manitoba for six events with a payout totalling $5,600.

Men's singles winner was Rob Mills (AB) who defeated SK's top-ranked man Steve Kristjansson in the final.

Mills, pictured right, went on to win men's doubles with his partner Mike Dwyer. Mixed doubles winners are Steve Russell and his partner Nikki Henderson (all AB).

Another milestone for Rianna

Rianna December of Warman takes the women's title with a win over Stacey Stephanson of Martensville in the final. That's seventeen-year-old Rianna's first win in an NDFC-ranked adult event. Congratulations to her! Rianna and Stacey are pictured left.

Women's doubles champs are Kelly Stewart and Amanda Pilkington (AB). In Friday evening's blind draw event, Steve Russell teamed up with local player Eric Sese to take first place. You can see full results here.

North Battleford is rapidly becoming a major darts venue. They'll now host the Saskatchewan Open each year as well as two SDA-ranked tournaments.

Jason Skinner elected president of SDA

At the 2019 AGM in Saskatoon September 7, Jason Skinner of Battleford was elected SDA president. He takes over from Elaine Walker, who served as president for the last three years, and previously from 2003 to 2008. Elaine was elected to the newly-created position of Membership Director.

The new Second Vice-president is Noel Aucoin of North Battleford, who was also elected by ballot of the members present. Your new Secretary is Jessica Lobb of North Battleford, who was acclaimed. The third addition to the executive is Stacey Stephanson, who takes over as interim Member-at-Large for one year.

The new-look executive takes effect immediately. Stepping down from their positions are Brian Humphreys and Judy Cleaveley, whom we thank for their years of service.

Rianna taking off to the World Masters

Rianna December of Warman is heading to London, England to play in the youth event at the World Masters in October. Seventeen-year-old Rianna is pictured as Elaine Walker presents her with a cheque for $500 from the SDA and a further $200 from Saskatoon zone to help pay for the trip. Rianna qualified by coming second in the Americas region. Congratulations!!

*An update to this story - Rianna played to a last 16 finish at the World Masters! Congratulations!

Provincials downsizing

It was announced that the SDA Provincial Championships will now take place over a two-day weekend in March or early April. The 2020 event is on March 28-29.

The number of entries to Provincials has been declining for years and doesn't really justify a full three-day event any longer. This will also reduce costs to the host zone and to players travelling for the event.

Steve, Georgina take honours at AGM tournament

Steve Kristjansson defeated Karsten Larsen (pictured left, both Saskatoon), to take the AGM men's singles title for the third time in four years.

In women's action, provincial champion Georgina Ratt (right, Stanley Mission) overcame Angela Aucoin (North Battleford) in the final of the singles.

SDA legend Danny Mckenzie (Stanley Mission) teamed up with Rod Swenson (Prince Albert) to win the men's doubles, while Stacey Stephanson (Saskatoon) partnered Angela Aucoin for the win in women's. They're pictured left.
Full results can be seen here. The SDA thanks all the volunteers from Saskatoon zone who helped set up and tear down the boards for the event.

NDFC Nationals held in Saskatoon

The SDA in conjunction with SUDO hosted the NDFC Nationals at the Saskatoon Inn in June.

Saskatchewan played to a ninth place finish in the Canada Cup standings. First were Ontario, second Nova Scotia and third Alberta. You can see full results at the NDFC web site.

In the official team picture taken June 11, 2019, this year's Saskatchewan representatives: Back row, L-R, Chief Tammy Cook-Searson, Elaine Walker (SDA president), Noel Aucoin, Myles Charles, Angela Aucoin, John Brann, Karsten Larsen, Jason Skinner, Austin Morrison, Ashtin Bear, Bobby Magalong, Brian Humphreys (coach). Front row: Sharon Acker, Bev Roth (SDA exec), Georgina Ratt, Judy Cleaveley, Aspen Hall, Stacey Stephanson, Melanie Thomas, Bonnie Warn.

At the awards ceremony, SDA legend and former National champ Bonnie Lapierre received a Distinguished Service Award.

SDA President Elaine Walker was presented with a Lifetime Membership. Congratulations to them both!

The SDA thanks all the volunteers and everyone who helped make the Nationals a success!

Youth Nationals 2019 held in Saskatoon

In the official team photograph taken May 17, 2019, the Saskatchewan representatives for the 2019 Youth Nationals.
Back row, L-R: Khonsiss Wuttunee (jingle dancer), Jamie Sheppard (coach), Tara Kristjansson (coach), Mel December (SDA Youth Director), Shaukeena McKay, Jaden English, Matthew Sheppard, Garth Camber, Grace Adrian (chaperone), Brad December (chaperone). Front row, L-R: Keturah Adrian, Rianna December, Kya Scott, Taryn Kristjansson, Cameron Wheeler, Joshua Adrian.

The 2019 NDFC Youth Nationals got under way in Saskatoon Friday May 17 and it was a good day for our juniors in doubles action.

In junior girls' play, Taryn Kristjansson (Saskatoon) and Kya Scott (Maple Creek) won the silver medal. Also reaching the final were junior boys Jaden English (Saskatoon) and Josh Adrian (Nipawin).

Saturday May 19, Saskatoon: Rianna December of Warman wins the bronze medal in Senior Girls' singles.

On Sunday May 19, Josh Adrian made it to the final of the boys' World Masters qualifier, while Rianna December was third in the girls' event.

Saskatchewan finished 7th in the overall Canada Cup standings. You can see the full official NDFC results here.