Tributes to ‘Mrs

Arrows fan Ina,77, will be hard act to follow

A PENSIONER who had been heralded as “Mrs Dundee Darts” will be a hard act to follow at the oche.

Ina Barr lost her battle with COPD last Tuesday at the age of 77.

The Douglas mother-of-five had helped to shape local darts for more than 25 years.

During her time she played a major role as minutes secretary for the Dundee Licensed Darts League (DLDL).

Ina played arrows for a number of clubs i n Dundee, i ncluding the Railway Club in Guthrie Street, Douglas Club and Blackwatch 42.

Originally from Arbroath, she married her husband Jim Barr, 80, before moving to Dundee in the 1980s.

Jim said that Ina, as well as throwing thousands of arrows through the years, had been the “go-to lady” for darts queries for players competing in pubs and clubs around the city.

Ina had to stop playing owing to poor health around 2012.

Jim, who currently plays for Blackwatch 42, said Ina had finally stepped down as a non-playing captain last season.

Jim said: “Ina had been playing darts in Arbroath before I met her.

“She took on a lot more responsibilty when she moved up to Dundee.

“I used to drop her off for the women’s darts, and then I got into it after that.

“The more responsibility she had, the more passionate she got about the job.

“She had been the go-to lady for competitors playing around the city.

“We had players phoning the house and Ina would have to look through the filing system to tell them what was what. Even as a non-playing captain she would be shouting words of encouragement — I maybe got slightly stronger words if I threw bad arrows.”

Dave Williamson, 58, treasurer of the DLDL, said darts in the city was “struggling” when Ina took on a more prominent role in the 1990s. He said: “When she came in I wouldn’t say darts was on its knees, but it was struggling. There used to be three or four leagues across Dundee and Angus, but in the 1990s it had faded out a bit to other games like pool.

“We didn’t have people who were necessarily willing and able to do the ground work.

“Ina was one of the driving forces in steering local darts into the 21st Century.

“Her role was minutes’ secretary — but she was more than that.

“Anytime there was a problem Ina was the go-to woman.

“She use to bring a handbag that looked like a suitcase, which carried all the darts information.

“Ina and Jim would go around pubs dropping off all the information for the upcoming fixtures.

“They both did a tremendous amount of work for darts in Dundee.”

Dave, who plays for Harlequins Bs, said there have been discussions about setting something up in Ina’s memory.

He added: “Ina had helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity during her time through darts

Ina and husband Jim (front row, third and fourth from right) with members of the Railway Club.