Latest news with #LisaAshton
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Darts power couple SPLIT after four years together - after Queen of Ally Pally Farron Sherrock's boyfriend missed her World Matchplay final
Darts power couple Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies have split after four years. They first met while playing in an online darts league and competed in a doubles team, and Menzies revealed he then wooed Sherrock over a KFC. Their shock break-up was first revealed by Vincent van der Voort, the winner of four ranking PDC titles, on a podcast. Speaking on Darts Draait Door, he admitted Sherrock had confided in him but was left in the dark over the reason for the decision. Presenter Damian Vlottes said: 'They broke up - you told me.' Van der Voort then replied: 'True, yes. But what else do you want me to say about it? I don't work for a gossip magazine. I don't know the exact reason either. 'She told me and I didn't ask why.' Neither Sherrock nor Menzies have publicly confirmed the break-up. The bombshell news came after Sherrock returned to TV screens on Sunday after reaching the Women's World Matchplay final at Winter Gardens. However, Menzies, who would normally be in the crowd to cheer on his girlfriend, was nowhere to be seen, suggesting all was not well away from the oche. This was despite him also being in Blackpool himself for the Men's World Matchplay earlier in the week. Sherrock lost the final to Lisa Ashton while Menzies suffered a 10-2 defeat at the hands of Danny Noppert in the first round of his tournament. Menzies also crashed out with an average of 81.35, and after busting a 180. Lifting the lid on the earliest days of his relationship with Sherrock, Menzies admitted 'it started off with a KFC'. He said: 'I had known Fallon for years in darts and played doubles with her years ago. We met in an online league in Southampton. 'The rest is history as they say. It started off with a KFC.' They used to practice together at home, with Sherrock often getting the better of him. He previously told Sky Sports: 'We enjoy our practice together and she is a very class player. She has done well for darts in general and is banging in 90 averages and 100 averages, I'm quite lucky I've got a very good partner who can play darts. 'It's good in the house unless she beats me and I've got to make the food. I don't like it when she beats me. I will support her left, right and centre. I am her biggest fan. 'I might be a bit strict, but I know how good she is. I've known her for a very long time and I know she is very, very good. She's taken me places I would never have experienced because of darts, so I'm a very lucky person.' Menzies acted as a father figure to Sherrock's son Rory, from another relationship.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Darts power couple Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies SPLIT after four years together
DARTS' golden couple Fallon Sherrock and Cameron Menzies have split up after four years. The shock break-up was revealed by former tour player Vincent van der Voort on his podcast. 3 3 3 The tungsten-throwing lovebirds met in an online darts league and fell in love over their love for KFC, but now they have brought their time together to an end. During the latest episode of the podcast Darts Draait Door, presenter Damian Vlottes let slip that Van de Voort knew their relationship had come to a close. Vlottes said: "They broke up — you told me.' To which Van de Voort replied: "True, yes. But what else do you want me to say about it? "I don't work for a gossip magazine. I don't know the exact reason either. She told me and I didn't ask why.' SunSport has approached both Sherrock and Menzies' camps for comment. The news comes after Sherrock made her return to television on Sunday at the Women's World Matchplay. Menzies was nowhere to be seen in the crowd as 'The Queen of the Palace' took to the stage at Winter Gardens. The Scot is normally watching on for all of Sherrock's matches but wasn't present for her return despite being in Blackpool himself for the Men's World Matchplay earlier in week. Sherrock reached the final, ultimately losing to Lisa Ashton, 54, after a string of eight missed darts at double. Darts star Cameron Menzies has nightmare as he busts with incredible 180 and is left with head in hands Meanwhile Menzies lost 10-2 to Danny Noppert in round one of the men's matchplay, exiting with the worst average (81.35) of the competition after busting with a 180. Menzies and Sherrock used to practice together at home, with Menzies admitting Sherrock would often get the better of him. He previously told Sky Sports: "We enjoy our practice together and she is a very class player. "She has done well for darts in general and is banging in 90 averages and 100 averages, the same as a lot of women. "I'm quite lucky I've got a very good partner who can play darts. "It's good in the house unless she beats me and I've got to make the food. I don't like it when she beats me. "I will support her left, right and centre. I am her biggest fan. "I might be a bit strict, but I know how good she is. I've known her for a very long time and I know she is very, very good. "She's taken me places I would never have experienced because of darts, so I'm a very lucky person." The pair had met while playing in an online darts league, competing in a doubles team. Following their initial online encounter, Menzies revealed that "It started off with a KFC''. He said: 'I had known Fallon for years in darts and played doubles with her years ago. ''We met in an online league in Southampton. ''The rest is history as they say. It started off with a KFC.'' Former plumber Menzies, who fixed a sink on the day of his world championship appearance, was also a brilliant father figure to Fallon's son Rory from another relationship. Sherrock was dubbed the 'Queen of the Palace' after becoming first woman to win at the World Championship back in 2019, ultimately reaching the third round. The 31-year-old announced last month that she is taking a year-long break from darts after battling with health issues. She said: "I just need to sort myself out. "I need to get myself well again and then once I do, the sky is the limit because I know I can do it and I know how many hours I've got to put in, what standard I've got to play. So I can do it, I just need the energy for it first." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Darts fans are kicked out of Matchplay event in Blackpool after protesting against transgender player Noa-Lynn van Leuven during women's tournament
Darts fans have claimed they were kicked out of the Winter Gardens at Blackpool after protesting against the inclusion of Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the Women's World Matchplay tournament. Eight of the top women's players in the world took part in the one-day tournament on Sunday, playing quarter-finals, semi-finals and an eventual final. Beau Greaves was the heavy favourite to win the competition, while Fallon Sherrock also took part, but it was Lisa Ashton who took home the trophy. One incident away from the oche, though, attracted attention, with three women claiming they were escorted out the building for attempting to protest as van Leuven made her entrance. Van Leuven, 28, who began her gender transition as a teenager, has stormed up the women's rankings in recent months by winning multiple titles, and completed her hormone therapy in 2022. She has been taking part in the women's series recently, though three women protested on Sunday - with one holding a banner reading: 'He's a man' an the other wearing a shirt which said: 'Save women's sport.' WARNING : Strong language This is the footage of the moment we were removed. For standing up at Women's World Matchplay Darts who let Noa-Lynn Van Loeven play against women. We hadn't said anything when they attacked us with force. @OfficialPDC these are your security. — Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) July 27, 2025 Darts fans have claimed they were kicked out of the Women's World Matchplay for protesting against Noa-Lynn van Leuven The incident took place when van Leuven was set to make her entrance to take on Lorraine Winstanley - a game she won 4-0. The two protestors appeared to stand, with security leaping to them right away and appeared to take them out the premises. The two demonstrators struggled as they were moved away, with writer Jean Hatchet claiming she was one of the women and sharing her version of events on social media on Sunday evening. She shared a video of the incident, captioned: 'This is the footage of the moment we were removed. For standing up at Women's World Matchplay Darts who let Noa-Lynn van Loeven play against women.' She also explained how her partner had a banner that read: 'Noa-Lynn a man.' Hatchet also claimed that she, alongside her girlfriend, who was also removed, was at no point asked to leave and would have done so had she been asked. When approached by Mail Sport for comment, Hatchet said: 'We saw that PDC the organisers intended to allow Noa-Lynn Van Leuven to compete again in the UK despite the recent Supreme Court ruling clarifying the meaning of the word woman to mean, as it has always meant, "biological female". 'We wanted to make a simple statement that Van Leuven is a man, he should compete as he used to in the men's competition. We sat quietly enjoying the darts. People held up many signs with different messages encouraged by the event. I don't know how or why but when I held up one saying "he's a man" within seconds I was grabbed hard by security and the sign ripped from my hands. 'My girlfriend didn't get a chance to hold hers up at all before we were attacked by more security. They grabbed us hard and pushed us and then more arrived. I shouted that I just wanted to get my bag and I'd leave. They refused and really grabbed me hard. I tried to struggle because they were really hurting me. I said "let me walk out, just give me my bag" but they all grabbed me harder. I have really serious bruises. At one point the man said "Why are you doing this homophobic s***?" 'It was painful and humiliating and they pushed and shoved me when they finally dropped me. It was disgusting. They handed me over to Winter Gardens Staff who looked a bit shocked but didn't intervene.' Van Leuven revealed before the World Championship last year that she had faced adversity in the build-up, receiving death threats, while team-mates Aileen de Graaf and Anca Zijlstra refused to play with her and English player Deta Hedman against her. She became the first transgender player to compete at the Grand Slam of Darts in November last year, and she has qualified to play at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace for the first time last Christmas. PDC chief executive Matt Porter insisted last year that the current policy on transgender players is 'fair', giving Van Leuven the green light to compete on the biggest stage. Still, both men and women compete equally in the tournament. Focus has generally been on the star competing in women's events, with Hedman arguing: 'People can be whoever they want in life, but I don't think biologically born men should compete in women's sports.' Van Leuven again opened up on the discrimination she has faced, suggesting she does not have an advantage over other women at the oche. 'Sometimes I'm accused of having an advantage over others because of my height,' she said. 'But look at Beau [Greaves]. We're the same height. Or look at Phil Taylor. He's beaten everyone and he's a small guy.' 'Others see an alleged advantage in the movements of my hips. I would stand differently than CIS women. Then there are people who come up with a study from handball, according to which there are differences between men and women in the throw, specifically in the backswing, and also in the lunge movement. 'So, the last time I played darts, I didn't do a backswing or a lunge. It's f***ing darts. What are we talking about?'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ashton beats Sherrock to win Women's World Matchplay
Lisa Ashton has won the Women's World Matchplay in remarkable fashion after Fallon Sherrock missed 11 darts for the title in a pulsating world champion Ashton, 54, came through a final-leg decider to win 6-5 at Blackpool's Winter 'The Lancashire Rose' must have thought her chance had gone when Sherrock, leading 5-4, left herself 40 with Ashton not even on a Sherrock missed eight darts at double before Ashton found double 10 to force a one-leg shootout.A stunning last leg saw Ashton hit a 180 to briefly take charge before Sherrock responded with a brilliant 165 to leave again the 31-year-old, who made history as the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship in 2019, could not finish it three match darts went begging and Ashton made her pay by hitting double top to clinch the title - and with it the £10,000 prize money, as well as places in both the Grand Slam of Darts and PDC World Championship."I'm so, so happy. I finally got there," Ashton told Sky Sports."My heart was going ten to the dozen but I just zoned out because I thought I had to take my chances because Fallon was missing - and I did."Ashton also beat fellow Englishwoman Sherrock in the 2015 BDO world final at Lakeside."We push each other and it's good for women's darts," Ashton added. After seeing off Ireland's Robyn Byrne in the quarter-finals, Ashton had shocked top seed and defending champion Beau Greaves 5-3 in the fourth leg proved crucial with Greaves getting down to 36 in nine darts, only to miss eight darts at double before Ashton came from nowhere to take out 140 for a 3-1 proved to be the difference with Ashton at 50% on the outer ring, while Greaves - who had been bidding for a third straight Matchplay title - made just three out of 19 Sherrock had survived match darts in both her quarter and semi-finals before her luck ran out in the edged past Gemma Hayter 4-3 in the last eight before seeing off second seed Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-4 following a wild final missed five match darts, Van Leuven missed four and both players ended up on double one, with the former eventually finding it to advance to the dramatic wins in a row proved just beyond the 'Queen of the Palace', though, as Ashton pipped her to the trophy. Women's World Matchplay results Quarter-finalsBeau Greaves 4-1 Kirsi ViinikainenLisa Ashton 4-2 Robyn ByrneNoa-Lynn van Leuven 4-0 Lorraine WinstanleyFallon Sherrock 4-3 Gemma HayterSemi-finalsBeau Greaves 3-5 Lisa AshtonNoa-Lynn van Leuven 4-5 Fallon SherrockFinalLisa Ashton 6-5 Fallon Sherrock
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
At least four women in bigger World Darts Championship
A minimum of four women will compete at the 2025-26 World Darts Championship after the Professional Darts Corporation announced a new qualifying year's event will have an expanded field of 128 players, up from 96 in 2024-25, with the winner taking home £1m of a £5m prize pot.A further change will mean seeded players - such as defending champion Luke Littler and Premier League winner Luke Humphries - enter the tournament in the first round, rather than the 32 seeds will be joined by players ranked 33-64, and drawn at random into the left side of the draw against the remaining 64 qualifiers."The expansion of the tournament will provide players from the PDC's global affiliate tours and secondary tours with further opportunities to compete on the sport's biggest stage," the PDC said."This will include a minimum of four women in the 128-player field."They will be the winner of the PDC Women's World Matchplay, plus the PDC Women's Series winner, runner-up and third-place the most women to compete in a single year at darts' most prestigious event was three when Lisa Ashton, Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves all played in King was the first woman to play at the World Championship in 2000-01, while Sherrock made history as the first female to win a match at the tournament in 2025-26 Championship will take place at Alexandra Palace in London, beginning in December and finishing in early January.
