The well-established darting hub of Bradmoor Farm played host this weekend to the second gathering of the ADC Winmau Championship South – and the maiden event of the season on the WADC circuit (South).
Two days, two events apiece for both the Men and Ladies, with plenty of prize money on offer alongside crucial ranking points and pathways towards even bigger opportunities.
Chivalrously, let’s start with the ladies.Claiming the honours in the opening WADC event of 2026 was the legendary Trina Gulliver, who overcame two-time PDC Women’s Series winner Gemma Hayter to take the title.
The ten-time BDO Women’s World Champion began strongly, storming through the quarter-finals while conceding just a single leg. Then came a clash between two of the greatest women ever to grace the oche, but Gulliver managed to get the better of Deta Hedman and remove a hugely dangerous obstacle from her path.
Rebecca Rose was next to fall, losing 5-2 in the semi-finals before Gulliver repeated the scoreline against Hampshire thrower Hayter, pinning a majestic 113 checkout to seal victory.
Then, just a few hours later, reigning Lakeside World Champion Hedman once again found herself in the winner’s circle, nicking the deciding leg against Steph Clarke to add yet another notch to an already overflowing belt of achievements.
Deta made light work of the early rounds, dismissing Keri Stinton and Olivia Goddard without dropping a leg. Eleanor Cairns did manage to take one from Hedman and, in the quarter-finals, Jo Locke pinched a few more.
It was then back to the whitewash theme as the decorated 66-year-old powered past Louise Pearson before edging a dramatic finale to clinch the title.With so much talk in darts recently centred around the young guns, these two trailblazers of the women’s game offered a sharp reminder that experience still counts for plenty.
Onto the men’s events and, with league leader Graham Usher absent after winning at the opening meeting, others sensed an opportunity to capitalise. The man who seized it most effectively was Dan Nicholls, who edged Lewis Cook in a dramatic final.
After easing into the quarter-finals, the Tipton thrower whitewashed Harry Lane, cruised past Harrison Leigh and then found himself trailing 4-2 against Cook in the final. However, Nicholls – a serial Vault winner – recovered brilliantly to snatch the title.
Then, just to keep things nicely varied, Archie Self became the sixth different winner across the opening six events, defeating Shaun Fox to ensure he enjoyed his Saturday night.
At just 16 years of age, it was quite the achievement. In a large field, it was also quite the route to navigate. Following a string of impressive early triumphs, The Archer edged past Gary Blades to reach the last 16, where he overcame one of the winners from the opening weekend, Alan Slater.
Another Gary – this time Hayes – was next to fall to the teenager before Self crushed Roger Crook in the semi-finals without concession.
In the showdown against Shaun Fox, the pair could not be separated after four legs. Self then planted his foot on the accelerator to open up a 4-2 lead and, after his opponent halved the deficit, the youngster held his nerve to get the job done and avoid a last-leg decider.
That wraps up day one. Same again on Sunday.
WADC WINMAU CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH – EVENT 1
Bradmoor Farm, Aylesbury, England (Sat 9 May)
Quarter-Finals
Rebecca Rose 5-4 Eve Watson
Trina Gulliver 5-3 Deta Hedman
Gemma Hayter 5-4 Vicky Pruim
Lisa Brosnan 5-4 Eleanor Cairns
Semi-Finals Trina Gulliver 5-2 Rebecca Rose Gemma Hayter 5-2 Lisa Brosnan
Final
Trina Gulliver 5-2 Gemma Hayter
WADC WINMAU CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH – EVENT 2
Bradmoor Farm, Aylesbury, England (Sat 9 May)
Steph Clarke 5-0 Kate Drake
Eve Watson 5-2 Tracey Dean
Louise Pearson 5-4 Vicky Pruim
Deta Hedman 5-3 Jo Locke
Semi-Finals
Steph Clarke 5-4 Eve Watson
Deta Hedman 5-0 Louise Pearson
Final
Deta Hedman 5-4 Steph Clarke
ADC WINMAU CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH – EVENT 5
Bradmoor Farm, Aylesbury, England (Sat 9 May)
Quarter-Finals
Harrison Leigh 5-3 Michael Wiles
Dan Nicholls 5-0 Harry Lane
Ais Ling CN (apparently) 5-4 Adam Mould
Lewis Cook 5-2 Matt Gallett
Semi-Finals
Dan Nicholls 5-2 Harrison Leigh
Lewis Cook 5-2 Ais Ling CN
Final
Dan Nicholls 5-4 Lewis Cook
ADC WINMAU CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH – EVENT 6
Bradmoor Farm, Aylesbury, England (Sat 9 May)
Quarter-Finals
Shaun Fox 5-3 Mark Cox
Callum Francis 5-4 Lloyd Pennell
Archie Self 5-3 Gary Hayes
Roger Crook 5-1 Chas Barstow
Semi-Finals
Shaun Fox 5-2 Callum Francis
Archie Self 5-0 Roger Crook
Final
Archie Self 5-3 Shaun Fox
—–Ends—–
Images: WDF
Graphic: DartsWorld Ltd
