Fallon Sherrock beats Ted Evetts- darts and women strike another blow for equality.

Fallon Sherrock beats Ted Evettts at darts and women strike another blow for equality.

Shortly before Christmas a hairdresser by the name of Fallon Sherrock struck a vitally important blow for women in their constant search for equality. She beat a man called Ted Evetts at darts and for those us not easily surprised this may not have come as quite the shock as even the most hardened cynics would have you believe. It was almost inevitable and besides it has happened before, albeit in another sport and nobody was either unduly stunned or lost for words.

During the 1970s Billie Jean King, one of the most revered tennis players of all time, was a renowned feminist and active campaigner on behalf of her own sport. King beat Bobby Riggs in one of those well mannered and polite one off tennis events where everybody thinks the impossible should remain as such. But King swept her male opponent off the court with the most disdainful air as if she could do so over and over again with her eyes shut.

But let us return to Alexander Palace, one of the most famous hotbeds of the darts world. For years now the masses have flocked to Ally Pally at this time of the year. They have packed the main hall at Alexandra Palace because they are just besotted with darts for no particular reason. They're hooked on the spectacle to the point of infatuation, crazy about it and loving every single moment of every dart that has ever flown from the tips of their heroes fingers.

Now for those of us who have never wanted anything to do with darts the problem we have with it is that it simply doesn't constitute sport in the way that others may perceive it. Of course judgements are subjective and we all have our opinions on darts but for some of us it should never fall into the category of sport because essentially darts is a pub game and always will be. If it is considered for inclusion at any future Olympic Games then you feel sure that dominoes and bar billiards should also be added to the itinerary.

During the 1970s darts enjoyed an impressive popularity and high profile image because the London Weekend ITV Saturday lunchtime programme World of Sport gave darts credibility, a kind of social status, a remarkable recognition and masses of publicity. Suddenly, we were taken to those giant darts arenas such as Lakeside, Thurrock in Essex, Alexandra Palace and every leisure centre which would willingly accommodate darts. Wow, what extensive TV coverage darts seemed to get. We scratched our heads in complete disbelief, promptly dismissed it as just a passing fad but then realised that we were wasting our time.

The nation would be transfixed by those happy and wildly enthusiastic fans cheering, roaring, drinking copious amounts of lager, smoking like chimneys and then punching their fists with delight as the men and women in silk shirts flexed their shoulders and arms. They then focus on a darts board with the most intense concentration, hoping that their entire family will be watching them on TV as well. For those who maybe watching them live it is the fulfilment of every dream they've ever had.

And yet for those who remain utterly sceptical about its merits as a sporting event then perhaps we may have missed something. We then convince ourselves that darts is still that wonderful pub game where, having swallowed 15 pints of lager and several packets of crisps the only way to finish the evening off with a flourish is to stand on the oche, that white line on the floor from which said tungsten arrows are thrown at a board and are then flung accurately at the said board.

Up and down Britain in every darts community around the world, friends, family and colleagues will casually drop into their local for a sociable laugh and chat. Then around the corner from one end of the pub, somebody will turn on the electricity. The black board will turn into a colourful explosion of chalk , numbers and crossed out numbers. They will place their pint in a strategic corner of the bar, walk over to the oche before leaning forward, taking careful aim and then just attempting to elicit that celebrated cry of 180 from who ever cares to mention it.

Over the years the professionals themselves have kept us fully entertained. Who will ever forget the likes of Eric Bristow, that down to earth and unassuming man who loved playing darts with an almost permanent smile on his face? He was cheeky, a man of the people, oozing banter and bonhomie, never short of a word to say on his chosen lifestyle. Bristow was always confident, composed under pressure and some might have said fanatically driven. But he did win tournaments and even bigger financial prizes although, to all outward appearances, there were never any airs or graces or crass, big headed affectations that could have lost all of his fans.

Then there was Jocky Wilson, a larger than life Scotsman who, rather like Bristow, was never averse to a number of those alcoholic pints of the amber nectar. Both Bristow and Wilson did share a lifelong addiction to cigarettes and even now in the mind's eye you can still see the whole of Ally Pally being engulfed in a huge white fog of thick cigarette smoke. But the truth is that darts will always be associated with pubs or working men's clubs or those venues that can readily identify with its enduring charms.

And so we return to the battle of the sexes where Fallon Sherrock beat, fair and square, a gentleman named Ted Evetts, an estimable and agreeable man quite clearly but when they come to write the definitive history of darts they will remember Fallon Sherrock. Dressed in pink silk shirt emblazoned with betting companies along the sleeve, Sherrock showed us quite conclusively that anything the blokes can do the women can do a hundred times better.

But before we forget we should now rightly hail the achievements of another one of our up and coming ladies darts players. Beau Graves is 16 and probably about to take her GCSE end of term examinations which will obviously determine her future while all the time harbouring a heartfelt ambition to become the greatest female darts player of all time. And who could blame her? We know little about Greaves since few of us have heard of her and only those in the know can guess what exactly darts has in store for her.

So there you are folks the World Darts Championships has finally pushed back all of its boundaries, broken through the gender barrier and simply delivered its most telling results. Above all darts has proven once and for all that women can also step up to the mark, thrash a man at his own sport and then perhaps one day hint at world domination. Watch your step Phil 'The Power' Taylor. The women are after your crown. Be warned, darts.