Darts - Inverness player is set to be honoured and remembered with tournament to take place in his memory
Darts always played an important part in the life of Calum MacAskill.
Now his contribution to darts in Inverness is set to be honoured and remembered with a tournament that will take place in his memory later this year.
The Calum MacAskill Memorial Darts Day will take place at the Innes Bar on Saturday, May 24 in tribute to one of the most respected darts figures in Inverness.
MacAskill passed away last month aged 66 after being diagnosed with cancer in the esophagus pipe last year.
Now in tribute to him and his love of the sport, a tournament which includes a singles tournament and a doubles competition will take place in May.
Originally from Stornoway, MacAskill moved to Inverness in 1980 and worked as a taxi driver for 25 years.
He first took up the game in the Western Isles during his youth and when he moved to Inverness, he played for a number of teams.
They included the Clachnaharry, Legion and Keppoch, before going on to incorporate the name Spikeys, where they would end up playing at the Innes Bar.
His son Liam said his dad loved nothing more than playing darts with his teammates.
He said it never mattered to him whether he won or lost, he always enjoyed the social aspect.
He said: “He loved Thursday nights and enjoy playing darts with his team.
“That is what Thursday nights were all about for him. Getting together with his friends and the IV3 crew.
“They were never bothered whether they won or not. They always had a saying, Once a spikey, always a spikey.”
MacAskill became captain of the Spikeys team after the passing of Jim MacNeil and also took over the running of the Innes Bar Darts Festival. He renamed the tournament the Jim MacNeil Festival of Darts in his memory.
Liam said: After Jim’s passing, Calum was named captain of the Innes Spikeys team which was a huge honour for him. One of the jobs he had to do was running the team and the darts weekend that Jim started. They changed the name of Innes Bar Darts Festival to the Jim McNeil Darts Festival. To do that for Jim was a massive honour for my dad. He also helped me organise darts competition at the Clachnaharry. “
MacAskill was married to his wife Roma within six months of meeting each other and spent 43 years together.
The couple had three children. Nicola (42) Niall (40) and Liam (35) and had five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
The tournament will be held in aid of Highland Hospice which they raised £2000 in donations for at his wake. They have already raised £500 in sponsorship for the tournament.
