The final block of events at WADC Winmau Championship South got underway in Aylesbury, and familiar foes Gemma Hayter and Fallon Sherrock shared the two titles on offer on day one at Bradmoor Farm with a win each against each other in the finals.
Hayter took Event Nine with a string of solid displays, starting with an 87 average in a 4-1 win against Rebecca Rose, who is in contention for a top eight finish that would qualify her for the Grand Finals next month.
Hayter repeated that score against Cerys Skyrme-Davies to make the quarter finals, where she was too hot for Event Four winner Lou Pearson, averaging over 83 in a 5-1 rout. She would then sail into the final by clocking nearly 80 to whitewash Lauryn Salter, who had taken Deta Hedman out in round one.
Sherrock would oppose Hayter in the final, and ‘The Queen of the Palace’ got past Rebecca Hoyland 4-2 in her opener, before whitewashing Caprice Hingston. Sherrock then impressed in making the last four, averaging nearly 87 in a 5-0 win against recent Red Dragon National Singles champion Jo Locke, and she made the final by seeing off Eve Watson 5-2.
Hayter opened with a 125 finish in the opening leg of the trophy match, only for Sherrock to win the next two legs for an early advantage. Hayter hit back immediately though, a 14-darter restoring parity, and she took the next two legs for a 4-2 lead. Sherrock would pounce on two missed match darts to close the gap, but Hayter wasn’t for catching, and found double five to take her fourth title of the season, and the £500 first prize.
Sherrock wouldn’t have to wait long for revenge, as she avenged that defeat with victory at Event Ten in a deciding-leg win against Hayter in the final.
Hayter had made it to the final in dominant fashion, starting with two whitewash wins, and a 90.48 average saw her past close standings rival and WDF World Champion Deta Hedman in a 5-1 quarter final win. A 92.52 average was more than enough for Hayter to make a second straight final as Jo Locke was defeated 5-2.
Sherrock dropped just one leg on her way to the final, in wins against Sue King, Sue Lowther, Gracie Ferridge and Rebecca Rose.
Sherrock again went 2-1 ahead in the final thanks to finishes of 80 and 118, but back-to-back 14-darters put Hayter in the driving seat at 3-2 up.
Hayter though would miss match darts for a 5-3 win, and after Sherrock forced a final leg, both missed championship darts before Sherrock got the job done for her first title on this circuit in 2026.
That win moved Sherrock into sixth place in the standings, and in line to play at the Grand Finals. Jo Locke and Rebecca Rose still look well-placed to qualify in ninth and tenth respectively, thanks to Vicky Pruim and Steph Clarke having already qualified through the Northern section.
The final two events take place on Sunday.
