Latest news with #Women'sSeries
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Fallon Sherrock to take a break from darts in 2026
Fallon Sherrock plans to take "a year out" in 2026 as she tries to rediscover her best form. The 30-year-old is the leading woman in the game, having made history in 2019 by winning two matches at the World Championship. She has suffered from health problems for many years and has admitted her game is currently being affected. Sherrock, who does not have Tour card and competes in the Women's Series, believes the "sky is the limit" after a rest. "I feel like it will be my B-game [at the moment] and I don't know if I am able to get my A-game out," Sherrock told YouTube channel Online Darts. "If I'm going to have a year out next year I want to make a bang this year. I want to try to get to everything even if I'm not playing 100%. "I need to sort myself out, get myself well and then the sky is the limit. "All I want to do is practise at home for a couple of hours a day and I can't do that at the moment, so it is difficult. "I've had to pull out of some exhibitions recently because I haven't had the stamina. "I have had to narrow down what I am playing in at the moment, and that hurts because I love darts. "Fingers crossed that in a couple of years' time I'll be alright and back to winning well." Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland team of William O'Connor and Keane Barry have been drawn alongside Gibraltar and China in next week's World Cup of Darts. Reigning champions England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have all beed seeded through to the second round at the 40-nation tournament in Frankfurt.
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fallon Sherrock shows true colours as she makes feelings known on Beau Greaves
Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves are two of the top female darts players in the world, but they evidently don't let their rivalry get in the way of mutual respect for one another In the electrifying world of darts, few rivalries capture the imagination quite like that of Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves. Sherrock, the trailblazing Queen of the Palace, made history as the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Darts Championship back in 2019. Greaves, the reigning women's world No. 1, has dominated the Women's Series with an unmatched consistency that has cemented her status as a darts prodigy. Together, their rivalry pushes the boundaries of the sport, showcasing the growing prominence of women in a traditionally male-dominated arena. Speaking to Online Darts on Tuesday, Sherrock opened up about the dynamic of their rivalry. "Yeah, it's a fierce rivalry," she said. "But it's because when we play, we bring out the best in each other. "There's never one of us really folding, it's always nip and tuck – and I think that's what makes it such a good watch because we both refuse to give up." Unlike past rivalries where opponents might have given her the cold shoulder, Sherrock showed her true colours as she actually appreciates the camaraderie she shares with Greaves. "I actually enjoy the friendly rivalry. We're sat upstairs, we're talking and stuff like that. In the past, if I've had a rivalry with someone, they would just ignore me. So it's kind of nice." Sherrock, 30, also voiced her support for Greaves, 21, potentially competing in the PDC World Darts Championship instead of focusing solely on the Women's World Championship – as she's done in the past two years. "I hope [she does] because of her run at the UK Open – how she's playing at the Challenge Tour and the Development Tour and stuff like that, her game is in a really good place," Sherrock said. "Why would you not just challenge it and compete at the Worlds? Because if you go on a run at the Worlds, or win the Worlds, your life changes completely." Reflecting on Greaves' talent back in October, Sherrock was full of praise. When asked by Wayne Mardle on Club 501 if she'd ever seen a female player as talented as Beau 'n' Arrow, she replied: "Not as consistent, no. "There are youth players and stuff that you see coming through the system who had talent. But they never had the consistency and never stuck to it. Whereas Beau's always been that good, and then now she's had the consistency doing it on a regular basis, you can see why she's number one." The Buckinghamshire-born star also noted the ripple effect Greaves has on the Women's Series, where opponents raise their game to challenge the top-ranked player, often hitting impressive 90-plus averages. Sherrock's rise to fame began in 2019 with her ground-breaking performances at Alexandra Palace and captured global attention. Greaves, meanwhile, has carved her own path with a relentless work ethic and a game that blends precision with power. At just 21, she has already secured multiple Women's World Matchplay titles and consistently delivers high averages that rival the best in the sport. She recently pushed former world champion Luke Humphries to the limit at the UK Open in February, narrowly losing 10-7 to the world No. 1. "We all know Beau's potential, we all just want her to go and succeed," Sherrock told ITV earlier in the day. "It's so good for the women's game, and I'm like, 'Come on Beau, keep going.'" Greaves has been equally positive about Sherrock in the past. Back in 2022, the Doncaster-born star hailed Sherrock's 2019 run in the World Darts Championship, suggesting it had inspired her own ascent in the sport. "What Fallon did was brilliant, you can't take it away from her," Greaves said. "She did brilliant darts and obviously the opportunities anyone would take... I don't want to be compared to Fallon in stuff like that, what she did was amazing, but I want to do my own thing and just sort of keep to myself and keep enjoying it."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UConn Freshman Hailed by Paige Bueckers Receives Major International Honor
Geno Auriemma's lengthy tenure as the Connecticut Huskies' women's basketball coach has seen era-defining talents make their mark in Storrs before they found greater glories in the WNBA or on the Olympic stage. Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and most recently Paige Bueckers all won championships at UConn, establishing legacies of greatness before heading to pastures new. Advertisement On her way out the door to the WNBA, Bueckers hailed forward Sarah Strong as the next great Huskies star -- and on Wednesday, Strong received the news that she will be representing Team USA at the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series, which tips off in Marseille, France on Friday. Strong, the top recruit in her class, committed to UConn on April 6, 2024; exactly one year later, Strong posted a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double in the national championship against South Carolina, helping UConn end a nine-year title drought. Strong's 657 total points across 40 games were the second-most by a freshman in school history; her 356 rebounds became a new freshman record at UConn. Advertisement 'I think by the time Sarah is done here at UConn, she could definitely be on the Mount Rushmore and be one of the top-5 players to ever wear a UConn uniform,' Bueckers said in February. 'She's already doing an amazing job now.' Bueckers, the eventual #1 overall pick of the Dallas Wings in the WNBA draft, compared Strong to Stewart -- the New York Liberty's star player and a two-time WNBA MVP. Bueckers sees a complete offensive skill set in Strong, which will be on display at the FIBA Women's Series later this week. The FIBA tournament rules differ significantly from NCAA basketball regulations. Each game features a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock; the first team to 21 points, or whichever team leads at the final buzzer, is declared the winner. Strong and Team USA, playing in Pool C at the Women's Series, will face the Czech Republic at 10:15 a.m. Eastern on Friday before taking on France at 2:05 p.m. ET. Strong's teammates include former Tennessee star Cierra Burdick, LSU guard Mikaylah Williams and Oklahoma guard Sahara Williams. Related: Caitlin Clark Addresses Possible Music Collab with LSU's Flau'jae Johnson
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Pool bans transgender women from female category after UK Supreme Court ruling
The ongoing debate about transgender women in sport has moved into pool - with competitors now banned in the female category. Ultimate Pool Group (UPG), the professional body for eight-ball pool, have enforced the law change after two transgender women contested the final of the Women's Pro Series Event earlier this month. The encounter by Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith sparked furious protests amid what had also seen legal proceedings brought by female-born players over UPG's transgender policy. Haynes defeated Smith 8-6 in the final of the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, but that will now no longer happen in future. In cohesion with a Supreme Court judgment's recent ruling, UPG had been undertaking their own review into whether biological males had a natural advantage over females in the sport as defined by the Equality Act. Their findings found that to be true and have therefore banned trans athletes from competing in female categories. Haynes beat Lucy Smith - another trans athlete - but that won't happen any more due to rule changes enforced by Ultimate Pool Group banning non-biological females from competing UPG said in a statement: 'UPG today have amended our eligibility rules for the Women's Series (and all women's competitions held under UPG). With effect from 23rd April 2025, entry and participation in Ultimate Pool women's events are open only to biologically born women. 'We respect that some people within the pool community may find the changes challenging. As an organisation, we are committed to being empathetic to all members of our community and we expect all members of our community to reflect this.' UPG explained further with a change to its terms and conditions on its website that they had been 'caught in a vacuum of uncertainty surrounding the issue of eligibility to participate in its women's series' before receiving clarity about the situation. 'Since its inception UPG has been caught in a vacuum of uncertainty surrounding the issue of eligibility to participate in its women's series. Two recent developments have now made the position clear,' their updated terms read. 'UPG obtained an expert's report upon the question: 'Was eight-ball pool a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act 2010?' 'Crucially this report was commissioned to reach a conclusion not only on the question of whether there were biological differences between women born as women and transgender women recognised as women by way of a Gender Recognition Certificate, but also whether any biological differences meant that transgender women had an advantage in the specific sport of eight-ball pool. 'The clear conclusion of the biological and cue-sports expert who jointly authored the report was that eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages. 'Separately, the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers was handed down on 16 April 2025. In this judgment the Supreme Court ruled that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has confirmed that the ruling has brought clarity and that trans women cannot take part in women's sport and that the EHRC would pursue organisations which do not update their policies. UPG welcomes the clarity which this judgment brings.' The change should see an end to female-born players' previous furore - which has also seen Piers Morgan and Sharron Davies wade in to support their annoyance. In November 2023, Haynes was handed a walkover victory in the Women's Champion of Champions final in Prestatyn after opponent Lynne Pinches refused to play, citing fairness concerns. Pinches later told TalkTV: 'Whenever you play a transgender player, even if you win, it doesn't make any difference because in your heart, you know it's unfair. 'This is a category advantage, being biologically male and playing against females, gives you a clear category advantage. 'Every time I play a transgender player, I think about it before, during and after the match, about how unfair it is and how this is a level I can't reach. 'I watch some of the shots they play, and I think females don't play these shots down the rails like this and they don't clear up like this. They have a longer reach, a lot of them are taller than us. 'Women have been silenced because of fear of being transphobic, that is why people don't speak out about this subject. It's not a gender issue, this is a fairness issue.' The incident at Prestatyn, which saw Pinches forfeit the match after the opening lag shot, drew international headlines and provoked fierce debate. Haynes later revealed she was inundated with abuse online, describing it as a 'cess-pool of awfulness' and saying: 'It was unreal… horrific. A lot of vile abuse.' Haynes, who transitioned over a decade ago, has repeatedly defended her right to compete in the women's category. 'Trans women are not a threat to pool,' she told the BBC. 'We're not coming over in droves… there's nothing to fear.' Governing bodies had struggled to settle on a consistent policy. In August 2023, the World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) and Ultimate Pool Group issued a statement saying 'only naturally born women would be eligible' to compete in the women's series, but that ruling was later reversed. The WEPF later clarified: 'Providing regulatory conditions are met… transgender and non-binary players will be able to participate in the women's series.' That U-turn disappointed players like Pinches, but Haynes defended the change, insisting she would step away from women's pool if there was clear evidence of an unfair advantage: 'If the rules were changing and there was categoric evidence that I had a massive advantage over someone else, I would stop. But there isn't.'
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Transgender women now banned from pool's female category
Transgender women have been banned from the Ultimate Pool Group's female category following the Supreme Court's ruling on single-sex spaces. The move comes a week after the UK's highest court determined that sex was binary and just over a fortnight after the final of the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan was contested by two biological males. That match between Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith witnessed furious protests amid what had also been legal proceedings brought by female-born players over UPG's transgender policy. The latter prompted UPG to commission a report into whether eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act, the outcome of which has also played a part in it becoming the second professional UK pool organisation to ban trans women from its female category. The English Blackball Pool Federation became the first in 2023, only for Haynes to take it to court earlier this month. A judgment on Haynes's lawsuit is pending but is also expected to be affected by the Supreme Court ruling. UPG said in a statement: 'UPG today have amended our eligibility rules for the Women's Series (and all women's competitions held under UPG). With effect from 23rd April 2025, entry and participation in Ultimate Pool women's events are open only to biologically born women. 'We respect that some people within the pool community may find the changes challenging. As an organisation, we are committed to being empathetic to all members of our community and we expect all members of our community to reflect this.' Is eight-ball pool a gender-affected sport? The rationale behind the change was explained in an update to its terms and conditions on its website. It read: 'Since its inception UPG has been caught in a vacuum of uncertainty surrounding the issue of eligibility to participate in its women's series. Two recent developments have now made the position clear. 'UPG obtained an expert's report upon the question: 'Was eight-ball pool a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act 2010?' 'Crucially this report was commissioned to reach a conclusion not only on the question of whether there were biological differences between women born as women and transgender women recognised as women by way of a Gender Recognition Certificate, but also whether any biological differences meant that transgender women had an advantage in the specific sport of eight-ball pool. 'The clear conclusion of the biological and cue-sports expert who jointly authored the report was that eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages. 'Separately, the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers was handed down on 16 April 2025. In this judgment the Supreme Court ruled that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has confirmed that the ruling has brought clarity and that trans women cannot take part in women's sport and that the EHRC would pursue organisations which do not update their policies. UPG welcomes the clarity which this judgment brings.' 'Brave few stood up to protect women in sport' The World Eightball Pool Federation has also been facing legal proceedings over its refusal to ban trans women from female competitions. Fiona McAnena, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, said: 'Yet again it was a few brave women who were forced to step up and take legal action to protect the female category for all women in sport. This should never have had to happen. 'So many governing bodies have acted inexcusably, failing to provide sport that is truly inclusive of women and girls. The only way to give women the same fair competition as men get is to exclude all males from women's competitions, however those men identify. 'This is a tipping point. If cue sports like pool must exclude everyone male from women's tournaments – and legally that is what they have to do – then every other sport that has a female category must do this too. Football, cricket, lacrosse and all the other holdouts must now take action. Sportswomen have been shamefully cheated for too long.'
