IT'S OFFICIAL - at least if we take the definition of the Co. Carlow Sports (the word Stars doesn't always apply any more) committee - darts is a SPORT.

A game generally, if not inevitably, staged on licensed premises has, in the view of the local adjudicators, assumed a new dignity – arguably a first time to be listed in the history of sports awards in this land.

Irrespective of the claims of the young winner - and his achievements are doubtlessly to be recognised within the halls of that world - darts never has, and will hardly ever be regarded as a sport, but rather grouped with codes more fitting the description of recreational pursuits with absolutely no athletic demands, as seen from some of the heroes of the oche like Jockey Wilson and Eric Bristow who could almost win a world championship with the feathered arrows in one hand and a pint in the other.

I can't say that current master of the board Phil Taylor – he without peer from 8 feet – or the 'other' world champion (bit like boxing, eh?) Martin Adams (strangely a qualified doctor) would be in the athletic category either, but then we couldn't exactly see these lads on the road early mornings or doing too many press-ups.

Even snooker players (at least a number of them) adhere to a fitness programme. I had reason to meet Stephen Hendry some years back and he was late for the appointment; he apologising, in a lather of sweat, that he had been in the gym. Any wonder he won seven world championships.

The Oxford defines sport as a game or competitive activity "esp. an outdoor one involving physical exertion." The dictionary has a third definition as, "amusement, diversion, fun" and those terms hardly project darts into the world of sport as red-blooded Irish would accept.

The very fact that the game has been played in drinking emporia, and sponsored by that trade, or those with a strong attachment, has restricted any chance darts has had of winning recognition in line with another 'recreation' activity, snooker.

Darts, and indeed another, if less favoured game, rings, would hardly be an activity to find space in our schools sporting curricula, and it does not have a club structure beyond pubs, so there is little opportunity for young people to follow, given they are, or should be, prohibited from the normal playing premises. If those who administer darts, and are responsible for its promotion, have any notion of popularising the game among the younger generation, why then do they not form clubs a la other sports and take the game away from our drink culture

It may seem churlish to demean the deeds of the 2010 Carlow winner of the youth award, but by opting for a teenage darts thrower for that classification is not only recognising the game as suitable for that age-group, but exposes a strange sense of what should be athletic values by those who prompted the decision.

The only conclusion can be drawn is that the adjudicators were knee-jerk reacting purely to the achievements of a local lad and not bringing the game into the inner circle of what they should be regarding as accepted 'athletic' sports.

The recognition of darts should make us grateful that draughts, rings, bowls, croquet and other non-active codes are not the rage around these parts, and for that matter if it comes to global popularity then Texas-poker might even get a nose in as one of the biggest fads for a generation. And yes, I'm reliably informed that considerable 'training' is required to survive at one of those tables.

Many will be at least mildly surprised at the omission of camogie and ladies football, given their numerical involvement. The latter game has not exactly moved on from the heady days of a decade ago, but there is a case to be stated for one of the Myshall camogie team - which won ten senior titles in a row - for some form of recognition.

Nor did squash, which was shuffled into quarterly awards, (because of the lack of candidates?) is also skipped over.

- Paul Donaghy