When Baby Showers Turn Into Family Warfare: The Jocky Wilson Clan's Epic Meltdown

By Lewis Barnett 4 July, 2025 6 mins read 40 Views

Jesus Christ. I've covered some wild stories in my time, but this one takes the cake.

Picture this: you're at what should be a sweet little baby shower in Fife, playing innocent games about bottles and bibs, when suddenly someone's gran-to-be is getting her hair ripped out by darts royalty. I'm talking about the Wilson family here - as in Jocky Wilson, the legendary dart-slinger who owned the oche back in the 80s and 90s. His niece Sarah Wilson, 45, decided a baby celebration was the perfect time to go full WWE on another family member.

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The Setup That Nobody Saw Coming

So here's how it went down at Lochore Miners' Welfare Social Club on May 18 last year. Chantelle Wilson was having her baby shower with partner Ben Ritchie, and both families showed up ready to celebrate. Everything seemed fine at first - you know how these things go, awkward small talk over pink cupcakes and those ridiculous party games.

Then came "Would Mummy Rather."

Now, I've been to my share of baby showers (my sister made me attend three of hers - don't ask), and these games are usually harmless torture. But someone asked whether Chantelle would rather "put a bottle on for the baby or open a bottle of wine." Innocent enough, right?

When Games Get Personal

Wrong. Someone from Ben's family shouted out that she'd definitely open the wine bottle, which apparently hit Chantelle right in the feelings. The pregnant woman got upset, and that's when things started spiraling faster than a Jocky Wilson dart.

Chardonnay Wilson - yes, that's actually her name, and she's Sarah's 20-year-old daughter - later told the court that her mum and Ben's mum Pamela were "arguing back and forward." Sarah apparently tried to be the voice of reason, saying they could hash it out any other day but not ruin the baby shower.

But then came Baby Bingo. And apparently some sexual comments that nobody wants to repeat in polite company.

Hair-Pulling and Feeding Tubes: When It All Goes Wrong

The real chaos erupted outside the venue after someone allegedly made an abusive remark aimed at the Wilsons. That's when Sarah Wilson decided diplomacy was overrated and went straight for Pamela Ritchie's hair.

Sheriff Susan Duff later described it in court: "Mrs Ritchie's evidence was that she was left with a bald section on her head as a chunk of hair had been pulled out." I mean, damn. That's some serious hair-pulling right there.

Meanwhile, Chardonnay apparently went after Ben's grandmother, who later claimed her feeding tube got removed during the scuffle. Chardonnay still denies this, by the way, along with the punching and kicking allegations.

The Aftermath (Or: How to Avoid Jail When You're Darts Royalty)

Here's where it gets interesting from a legal standpoint. Sarah Wilson pleaded guilty to assault but managed to avoid jail time. Instead, she got slapped with a £500 compensation order to pay the victim. Not exactly breaking the bank, but still.

Her daughter Chardonnay got an absolute discharge - which in Scottish law basically means "we're convicting you but pretending we didn't" because it won't go on her record. Her solicitor argued that a conviction would end her career as a carer, which... fair point, I guess?

Sarah's lawyer, Stephen Morrison, gave what might be the understatement of the year: "This was a baby shower celebration that turned sour for one reason or another." He also mentioned that Sarah hadn't been drinking that day, which honestly makes the whole thing even more bizarre.

The Jocky Wilson Legacy Lives On

For those who don't know their darts history, Jocky Wilson was a absolute legend. World champion in 1982 and 1989, the guy was one of the biggest stars the sport ever produced. He retired in 1995 and died in 2012 at age 62.

I wonder what old Jocky would think about his family making headlines for baby shower brawls instead of bullseyes.

The whole situation is just... messy. Sarah apparently still has a relationship with her daughter's partner but not with the rest of his family. Which, honestly, makes sense after you've ripped chunks of hair out of someone's head at their grandchild's baby shower.

Morrison said there's "no reason to believe there will be a repetition of this behaviour as she's not likely to put herself into another family situation like this." Translation: Sarah Wilson is probably going to be skipping future family gatherings.

Can't say I blame her.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I practice darts effectively if I'm playing alone?

Solo practice doesn't have to be boring—in fact, it's often more productive than casual games with friends. The key is having structured practice routines that target specific skills rather than just throwing randomly at the board.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

Can you recommend some fun dart games for parties?

Absolutely! Darts doesn't have to be all about 501 and cricket. For parties, you want games that keep everyone involved, accommodate different skill levels, and create some friendly competition.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

Statistics

The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.

External Links

How To

Mastering Your Grip & Stance

There's no single "correct" way to hold a dart, but there are definitely wrong ways. Most players use 3 fingers (thumb, index, middle) with the dart resting primarily on the middle finger. Some pros use 4 or even 5 fingers, but I'd suggest starting with 3.