Peter Anderson 🏅The highlight of last weekend's sport for me was, without doubt, in the darts. 

You know it is Christmas in my house by the sounds of hundreds of drunk Englishmen singing Planet Funk's Chase the Sun coming from my TV. I love the World Championship from Ally Pally. I used to watch the old BDO one from the Lakeside but the PDC put an end to that with their turbocharged championship. It is not to everyone's taste but I love it. The standard of darts has risen with the prize money and it is great entertainment at this time of year.

The most eagerly awaited match in this year's early rounds was the first round matchup of The Bronzed Adonis, Steve Beaton, and the Queen of Ally Pally, Fallon Sherrock which took place on Sunday night. Beaton is the fifty something ex-world champion, described as "the nicest man in darts". Fallon Sherrock is the new female sensation, the first female to give the men a real scare. She has beaten many high-ranking professional male darts players this year, starting at last year's World Championship, and she is really blazing a trail for women in this traditionally male dominated sport. It is really great to see her doing well. Let's face it, darts is the sort of game where women should be equal to the men. There is no advantage to being male in this sport! She is a humble, well spoken, articulate young woman who is an excellent player. Dogged and determined, she has performed consistently at a high level in this year's ranking tournaments. My only beef with her is that she has not been outspoken enough to her fans who boo and harangue her opponents, cheering every missed double and booing every dart. This gives her an advantage and such unsportsmanship shouldn't happen. She has in the past said in interviews that she doesn't like it, but does nothing before or during her matches to stop it.

On Sunday she faced Beaton who won the World Championship back in '96, beating the reigning champion Welshman Ritchie Burnett. It was a fantastic final and I have followed him ever since. He comes across in his interviews as a very gracious man. The TV pundits love him and he has the respect of the darts world. So, would Sherrock's supporters boo him? Would Sherrock appeal for sportsmanship if they did? I tuned in eagerly to find out, and right from the off he was roundly booed. Like a true champion he silenced them with his darts though, taking the first set 3-2. It was a scintillating start, with both protagonists averaging more than 100 points per visit to the oche. Sherrock took the second set and then everything died down, the fans behaved themselves and the averages fell away. Sherrock was struggling but hung on to force the tie to a decider which Beaton took. And just like that the bubble burst. All the talk of Sherrock being a contender was for nought. It was a fascinating game and Beaton deserved his 3-2 win.

I hope that 2022 brings more success for young Sherrock. I hope she wins a ranking tournament and qualifies for the Premier League, guaranteeing a good income and regular appearances on TV and playing in front of the big crowds. Maybe then she won't be such a novelty and the boo boys will start to shut up.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Bullseye

Peter Anderson 🏅The highlight of last weekend's sport for me was, without doubt, in the darts. 

You know it is Christmas in my house by the sounds of hundreds of drunk Englishmen singing Planet Funk's Chase the Sun coming from my TV. I love the World Championship from Ally Pally. I used to watch the old BDO one from the Lakeside but the PDC put an end to that with their turbocharged championship. It is not to everyone's taste but I love it. The standard of darts has risen with the prize money and it is great entertainment at this time of year.

The most eagerly awaited match in this year's early rounds was the first round matchup of The Bronzed Adonis, Steve Beaton, and the Queen of Ally Pally, Fallon Sherrock which took place on Sunday night. Beaton is the fifty something ex-world champion, described as "the nicest man in darts". Fallon Sherrock is the new female sensation, the first female to give the men a real scare. She has beaten many high-ranking professional male darts players this year, starting at last year's World Championship, and she is really blazing a trail for women in this traditionally male dominated sport. It is really great to see her doing well. Let's face it, darts is the sort of game where women should be equal to the men. There is no advantage to being male in this sport! She is a humble, well spoken, articulate young woman who is an excellent player. Dogged and determined, she has performed consistently at a high level in this year's ranking tournaments. My only beef with her is that she has not been outspoken enough to her fans who boo and harangue her opponents, cheering every missed double and booing every dart. This gives her an advantage and such unsportsmanship shouldn't happen. She has in the past said in interviews that she doesn't like it, but does nothing before or during her matches to stop it.

On Sunday she faced Beaton who won the World Championship back in '96, beating the reigning champion Welshman Ritchie Burnett. It was a fantastic final and I have followed him ever since. He comes across in his interviews as a very gracious man. The TV pundits love him and he has the respect of the darts world. So, would Sherrock's supporters boo him? Would Sherrock appeal for sportsmanship if they did? I tuned in eagerly to find out, and right from the off he was roundly booed. Like a true champion he silenced them with his darts though, taking the first set 3-2. It was a scintillating start, with both protagonists averaging more than 100 points per visit to the oche. Sherrock took the second set and then everything died down, the fans behaved themselves and the averages fell away. Sherrock was struggling but hung on to force the tie to a decider which Beaton took. And just like that the bubble burst. All the talk of Sherrock being a contender was for nought. It was a fascinating game and Beaton deserved his 3-2 win.

I hope that 2022 brings more success for young Sherrock. I hope she wins a ranking tournament and qualifies for the Premier League, guaranteeing a good income and regular appearances on TV and playing in front of the big crowds. Maybe then she won't be such a novelty and the boo boys will start to shut up.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

4 comments:

  1. As you say Peter, "not everyones taste" but darts is a great hame without all balling and shouting and singing, reminiscent of 70s football terraces but different environment. I am still in the days of John Lowe, Leighton Rees, Eric Bristow and Maureen Flowers. Played myself, not at that level, many years ago but got dartitus, could not let go of the arrows. Last time I tried to play could barely hit the board 🥶.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete
  2. Caoimhin

    I started watching it back then too. I hated Bristow, cockney wanker! I followed Mike Gregory back then and then in the 90s Steve Beaton.
    I played too, every lunchtime during my time in Harland and Wolff. One year I got to the final of the H&W tournament. I arrived at the oche and there was about 100 roughnecks waiting to watch the final. I shat myself, went to pieces. My throwing arm didn't feel like my own. My highest score was 26 and I was hammered 3-0. That's why I have so much respect for those that can hold their nerve in such a noisy, hostile environment!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Darts still is forever associated with that Smith and Jones sketch in my mind!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Keith Deller 1983 - will it ever be equaled?

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