This past weekend at Bradmoor Farm, the Women’s Amateur Darts Circuit (WADC) witnessed a spectacular display of talent as two of darts’ biggest stars, Gemma Hayter and Deta Hedman, each clinched two titles in the Winmau Championship (South) Events 5 to 8. Facing the toughest competition yet, their victories firmly place them at the top of the rankings, setting the stage for an electrifying conclusion to the season and crucial qualifications for major upcoming tournaments.
A Weekend of Darts Domination
The Women’s Amateur Darts Circuit (WADC) recently held Events 5 through 8 of its prestigious Winmau Championship (South) season. This competition is a significant platform for female darts players, allowing them to earn ranking points and qualify for higher-level events. The latest leg, hosted at Bradmoor Farm, brought together what organisers described as the strongest field of players seen at the venue to date.
Amidst fierce competition, two names consistently rose to the top: Gemma Hayter and Deta Hedman. Each securing two titles, they not only reaffirmed their status as leading figures in women’s darts but also cemented their positions at the very top of the ranking table – a crucial factor for securing spots in future championship opportunities.
Gemma Hayter’s Saturday Triumph
Saturday was undeniably Gemma Hayter’s day. The reigning World Masters champion and Darts World Ambassador added her second and third titles of the campaign, significantly strengthening her hold on the top spot in the Southern standings.
- Event Five Victory: Hayter kicked off her winning streak with a dominant performance, including a clean sweep (whitewash) win against Rose Mort, averaging an impressive 95.43 points per visit to the board. The final proved a nail-biter, with Hayter clinching a tight 5-4 victory over the in-form Vicky Pruim.
- Event Six Success: The highlight of Saturday was Hayter’s intense last-64 clash against fellow darting legend Deta Hedman, which Hayter narrowly won 4-3. She then demonstrated consistent form with an 81.41 average in the semi-finals against Mort.
In the Event Six final, Hayter was simply unstoppable, delivering an 83.50 average to secure a resounding 5-0 win against Eve Watson. Watson herself had an incredible run to the final, including a standout individual performance with a 97.70 average in a 5-1 quarter-final win over Pruim, and a 5-2 semi-final victory against darts icon Trina Gulliver.
Deta Hedman’s Sunday Sweep
While Saturday belonged to Hayter, Sunday saw the unstoppable rise of Deta Hedman. The reigning WDF World Champion, after a relatively quieter first day, unleashed her full potential to claim both remaining titles with powerful performances.
- Event Seven Victory: Hedman began her Sunday dominance with a commanding 5-3 win over Fallon Sherrock in the Event Seven final. Her path to the final was marked by exceptional precision, dropping only a single leg on her way to the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, she averaged an outstanding 89.46 to whitewash Watson. The final saw Hedman quickly establish a 4-1 lead, showcasing her finishing prowess with crucial checkouts of 80 and 58 points.
Sherrock, making her 2026 Championship debut this weekend and having averaged over 93 earlier in the day, fought back with impressive finishes of 104 and 88 to narrow the gap to 4-3. However, Hedman held her nerve, hitting double five to secure the £500 winner’s prize.
- Event Eight Victory: Hedman wasn’t finished. A tough 5-3 semi-final win against Gemma Hayter set up the Event Eight final. She then delivered a flawless performance, winning 5-0 against Steph Clarke, starting with a 90 checkout and maintaining an average above 80 to seal her second title of the day.
The Road to the Grand Finals: Current Standings
With these events concluded, the race for qualification to the Grand Finals intensifies. The ranking table is crucial as it determines which players will advance to the next stage of the competition.
- Top Spots: Gemma Hayter currently leads the table, holding a 41-point advantage over Deta Hedman.
- Close Contenders: Eve Watson and Trina Gulliver are locked together in third and fourth place with 126 points each.
- The “Queen of the Palace” Threat: A significant player to watch is Fallon Sherrock. Despite participating in only one weekend of action, her single appearance was enough to propel her to ninth place with 60 points. Even more remarkably, her running average of 77.49 is the highest among all competitors. With one more weekend of ranking events remaining, Sherrock is a strong contender to break into the top eight automatic qualification spots.
What’s Next for the WADC Winmau Championship South?
The final four events of the WADC Winmau Championship South season are scheduled to take place at Bradmoor Farm on October 24-25. These events will be pivotal in determining the final rankings.
The top eight players from the Southern standings will earn their places in the prestigious Grand Finals, which will be held in Portsmouth on November 21-22. Furthermore, the overall table winner of the Winmau Championship South will also secure a coveted spot at the ADC Global Championship, representing a fantastic opportunity on an international stage. This structure ensures that every dart thrown counts towards a player’s ultimate goal.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
