There乌鸦传媒檚 winning, and then there乌鸦传媒檚 whatever Barry Dillon and Richard Falle are doing at the card table.

The Langford pair added another feather to their caps 乌鸦传媒� and another plaque to the wall 乌鸦传媒� by winning the national cribbage championship in Whitby, Ontario, from April 25-28.

Representing the Langford Legion, the longtime friends outplayed teams from across Canada in what乌鸦传媒檚 become a bit of an annual tradition.

This latest victory marks Barry乌鸦传媒檚 tenth national title and Richard乌鸦传媒檚 ninth.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e still on a tear,乌鸦传媒� said Dillon with a laugh, sitting beside Falle inside the Goldstream Tim Hortons where they often practice together. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e only missed winning one year since we started playing together in 2013.乌鸦传媒�

Aside from that, it乌鸦传媒檚 been a decade-long domination.

They have won tournaments in more than half of the provinces across the country: British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, and Manitoba. 

Their road to Whitby ran through the south Island and B.C. qualifiers, with B.C. 乌鸦传媒� by their own admission 乌鸦传媒� being the toughest part of the journey. But once they reached nationals, it was game on.

Every province, two games, round-robin style. And if you make a mistake?

乌鸦传媒淵ou give up so many points,乌鸦传媒� Falle said. 乌鸦传媒淪o we watch everything 乌鸦传媒� the board, the pegging, the cards. Every move matters.乌鸦传媒�

The two speak in shorthand, often finishing each other乌鸦传媒檚 thoughts. You乌鸦传媒檇 think they乌鸦传媒檇 been playing together forever 乌鸦传媒� and in a way, they have.

Falle started at just six years old in Newfoundland, drawn in by a neighbour who taught him through full-day games and stern corrections. Dillon, also a proud Newfoundlander, learned the game like most do out east 乌鸦传媒� around the kitchen table, surrounded by friends, laughter, and maybe the occasional beer.

They eventually crossed paths at the Legion in Langford, started playing against each other, and then decided to partner up. The chemistry was instant.

乌鸦传媒淗e plays the same style I play,乌鸦传媒� Dillon said. 乌鸦传媒淗e watches the cards. We just kind of clicked.乌鸦传媒�

Their post-game reviews can sound more like film sessions. 乌鸦传媒�

We don乌鸦传媒檛 fight,乌鸦传媒� Dillon added. 乌鸦传媒淏ut we乌鸦传媒檒l still talk about a hand we played five hours ago.乌鸦传媒�

Away from the table, they乌鸦传媒檙e just as close. They often practice at each other乌鸦传媒檚 houses, travel with their partners (who are still learning the ropes), and share cod tongues, moose, and other East Coast delicacies brought back from annual Newfoundland visits.

And while they乌鸦传媒檝e played all across Canada 乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒淟iverpool was a beautiful little town,乌鸦传媒� Dillon noted, "But it always comes back to the Langford Legion. We love playing there, and we have made a great community." 

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 the people,乌鸦传媒� Falle said. 乌鸦传媒淵ou walk in, you always see someone you know. Pool, darts, cards 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 a community.乌鸦传媒�

A winning one, at that. With seven different national titleholders calling the Langford Legion home, it乌鸦传媒檚 quietly become the most decorated cribbage base in the country.

So what乌鸦传媒檚 next?

乌鸦传媒淎nother title,乌鸦传媒� Dillon said with a grin. 乌鸦传媒淟et the fun begin.乌鸦传媒�