The Barbican Centre in York will host the 2024
World Seniors Matchplay on October 4th and 5th. Among the players in action is 10-time women's world champion,
Trina Gulliver.
The now 54-year-old Gulliver has already had a stellar career. In 2001 she won the first ever Women's World Championship and in 2016 she won her tenth and, for now, last world title. The Englishwoman is therefore well placed to give her opinion on women's darts.
"It's changed massively over the years," she says in conversation with
YO1 Radio. "Women's sport in general is getting a lot more focus now than what it used to do, and darts is no different. We are getting more media attention and the likes of
Fallon Sherrock,
Lisa Ashton and
Beau Greaves have played a big part in that. We're finally starting to be appreciated."
As for Gulliver herself, she admits her best days are probably behind her. "I'm starting to feel my age now, which is why I'm in the Seniors," she laughs. "But it's nice to have been a trailblazer. Now there's others who have come alongside and taken overall the role."
Trina Gulliver in action
'The Golden Girl, as mentioned earlier, won 10 world titles during her pomp, ruling women's darts with a Taylor-esque dominance. "The first and the last were the most special," she says. "The first, because it was the first Ladies World Championship and the last one because I wasn't expected to win it. It was a bolt out of the blue."
Gulliver will take on Richie Howson. who won the Champion of Champions earlier this year, in the first round of the World Seniors Matchplay early next month. "I'm really looking forward to it," she previews. "I was also in York last year and it's a great venue. Richie is the player in form, but hopefully I can provide a surprise."
