Amputee Ricky Chilton wins world wheelchair darts title
Last updated on .From the section Darts
Ricky Chilton, who had his leg amputated because of bone cancer, has won the world wheelchair darts title.
The 41-year-old from St Ives in Cornwall took the title in Hull seven years after losing his left leg by beating Manchester's Phil Lees 3-2 at the Winmau World Masters.
"I almost gave up on playing darts because I thought I could never do it again," he told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"But then I thought 'why should I be beaten by something like that?'."
The feat was made all the more remarkable as Chilton had to re-train himself to throw darts from a wheelchair, as he usually plays standing up using his crutches.
Wheelchair players throw from a standard oche, but the bullseye is lower by around 15 inches.
"It took a bit of getting used to," Chilton said of playing sitting down.
"I had to learn where to throw and how to throw, I had to change everything, but I wasn't going to let it beat me.
"Sometimes when I play you think I'd have never thrown a dart before, but I have more good days than bad days and occasionally it goes back to the old standard I used to play at.
"It's unbelievable, it's only really just sinking in," added Chilton, who plays for Penzance's Buffalo Club.
