Bill Hammond Jr. could never have envisioned his entire family embracing competitive darts, let alone having a teenager clinch a world cup victory. His foray into the game began in the 1990s when a friend introduced him to it. Initially skeptical, he soon discovered his knack for the sport. Meeting his now-wife, Sandy Hope, further fueled their competitive dart pursuits, intensifying their dedication to both each other and the game.
Reflecting on the past, Bill notes the significant evolution in opportunities for dart players, emphasizing the current abundance of prospects. His 17-year-old son, Peyton Hammond, is aspiring to capitalize on these opportunities. Peyton recently secured the World Darts Federation World Cup Youth Singles 2025 championship in Seoul, South Korea, and is eyeing a potential move to England for its more frequent and lucrative darts tournaments.
While the Hammonds are preparing for Peyton’s potential relocation, they are actively engaged in promoting the growth of darts throughout Canada. Contrary to the casual pub perception, 16-year-old national champion Jayda Hammond asserts that darts is more than just a social activity but a unifying force within families.
The Hammond-Hope family exemplifies this unity, spanning from coast to coast. Bill and Sandy reside in Langford, B.C., with three of their children, while Alycia Hope and Quentin Hope are based in St. John’s, N.L. Amid the challenges posed by the pandemic, the family bonded over virtual darts sessions, nurturing Peyton’s skills from a young age.
Bill emphasizes the developmental benefits of darts, citing its enhancement of hand-eye coordination, mental acuity, physical strength, and mathematical skills. Despite its competitive nature, Jayda emphasizes the fun aspect of darts, underscoring the supportive community spirit prevalent in Canadian dart circles.
However, the family acknowledges the difficulty in attracting newcomers to the sport, attributing this challenge to the lack of parental involvement in many cases. Their efforts to introduce darts in schools faced obstacles due to safety concerns, leading them to rely on social media platforms like Facebook to disseminate information about dart leagues and tournaments.
For those intrigued by darts, the family recommends reaching out to local dart groups on Facebook for further guidance and involvement opportunities.
