All re packed and ready to go, it was time for Wales 2023. Again there were 2 x Silver WDF darts competitions and ladies pairs with fellow Lancashire lovely - Ally Smith up for grabs.
Friday's first silver event was over pretty quickly for me as I faltered in the starting blocks. I started 2.0 up again the lovely Julie Thompson but everything seemed to go wrong, and against a player of Julie's calibre and experience you can't do this. The harder I seemed to try, the worse it got.
With the game taken to the deciding leg. I seemed to lose the ability to hit the treble 20. My scoring was just not good enough and Julie dumped me out in the last 64, before I even got started.
Later that evening was the Ladies Pairs with my Lancashire captain, team mate and friend Ally Smith. Pairs was a little up and down throughout but we played well as a pairing, when one dropped off the other stepped up. Ally and I were knocked out in the Quarter Finals, losing out to eventual Welsh Open Pairs Champions Deta Hedman and Beau Greaves.
Saturday was a chill day as there was nothing on until Mixed Pairs in the evening. I chose, on this occasion, not to take part. I wanted purely to focus on the singles.
Sunday singles was the last Silver ranked ladies event of the weekend. Having done nothing in Fridays comp I really had to re jig my preparation and practise to make sure things didn't go the same way.
First games can sometimes be the hardest and my first game was far from easy as I was trying too hard, I made it hard for myself with my determination not to repeat the previous singles result. Once through my first game I made sure I had regular short practise sessions between and before my games.
I knew my second game would be a battle as I faced former Welsh International and an extremely well supported player in Rhian Griffiths. This game was tit for tat all the way with us both having ups and downs. We both hit 2 x 140's and I had a nice bull out shot to put myself in the lead. It went down to the very last double which I hit. I'd gone further than my previous singles attempt!
After my third victory against another Welsh lady - Chris Sheen it was time to face a very in form Dutch player - Aletta Wajer. I know Aletta and her game and also how well she has been playing of late so again, there was no margin for error. Head to head our games are always closely fought and over the years are pretty much even when it comes to whom is victorious so I knew this would again be a one heck of battle. This time it was myself who had come out the victor.
Talk about "out of the frying pan and into the fire" almost straightaway I was due to face a great darting friend and Isle of Man pairs partner Vicky Pruim. This would be yet another battle but I dug in. Unfortunately, despite having the lead in most of the legs, the doubles eluded me and the darting legend that Vicky is - did not miss. My run in the second silver event finished 3-4 in the last 8 ladies.
Apart from my doubles and the roller-coaster of my consistency I was happy with my results in the latter stages of the competitions. I came away with knowing I have the determination to keep going until the end and the fact that I was far from my best, in this game there are ups and downs and despite the averages, it is the WIN that matters.
So Wales is over for another year. I am happy to say there will be no more early morning squawks and fights from Prestatyn's number one inhabitants.
I just want to thank my chalet mates for letting me share with them (Natalie, Kirsty and Julie) and also a MASSIVE thanks to Kirsty for giving me a lift as I wouldn't have been able to get there without them.
After another 21 world ranking points which moved me up into 24th spot in the Womens World Rankings it is time to rest a little from WDF, wash and re pack ready to head to Milton Keynes for PDC Womens Series again in another 4 days. The life of a darter is :
LIVING OUT OF A SUITCASE
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