First things first, I want to wish all those playing at Lakeside the very best of luck and a fantastic experience. I would obviously love to be up there with them, but instead shall content myself with cheering on some good friends, County colleagues and even one or two tough rivals.
Although the ladies event has a red hot favourite, in defending champion Beau Greaves, it is by no means a forgone conclusion. Many different players have managed to defeat Beau over the course of the last year or so and some, such as Aileen De Graff, have done so on stage in major matches.
Lisa Ashton has 4 World titles and knows how to win up on the venerable old stage. Laura Turner has come on strong in the PDC series can she translate it? But don’t count out an ‘outsider’ from causing a surprise or two.
Rhian O’Sullivan has a remarkable record at the Frimley Green venue and Almudena Fajardo and Veronika Ihász will surely keep improving on the big stage?
Last year’s runner-up Kirsty Hutchinson will look to go one better and you can never dismiss Lorraine Winstanley and Deta Hedman.
I am sure I have missed genuine contenders out and that should be impressive.. It’s such a full and talented field and a fine shop window for the women’s game.
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Over on the men’s side I must wish my old pairs partner and friend Antony Allen all the very best for his tough opener against Dutchman Dennie Olde Kalter. If ‘Shaggy’ can get settled he could do untold damage in the event.
You may have noticed that I have avoided commenting on my own recent fortunes. That might be as I seem to have suffered a minor case after the Lord Mayor’s Show!
Trips to Northern Cyprus and Malta were great, in and of themselves, and provided lovely family time. But, the darts were decidedly mixed. Some nice runs to semi-finals on the former trip but underperforming on the latter.
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The requests for interviews and other bits and pieces had certainly increased but I am happy to have got stuck back into practice and am looking forward to making more progress.
Published in DartsWorld Magazine and Darts World Extra
Natalie is sponsored by Red Dragon Darts
