Hartlepool darts player Claire Stamper to rub shoulders with world's best at new ladies event this weekend

Claire is set to enter the PDC Women's Series in Barnsley which runs from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, October 18, when prize money and coveted places at bigger competitions are up for grabs.

The three days of action will begin with a Grand Slam of Darts Qualifier on Friday, October 16, with one place in November's tournament featuring men and women players on offer.

Then on Saturday and Sunday, Claire, 42, will compete in Women's Series events each offering £5,000 in prize money and the top two players securing places in the William Hill World Darts Championship in January.

Top female players from all over the world are due to compete in the weekend including professional Fallon Sherrock who became the first woman to beat men players at last year’s PDC World Championships.

Claire, from the Jesmond area of Hartlepool and who works as a sales administrator, said: “It’s the first time they have held this event.

"With Fallon Sherrock doing what she did when she qualified for the World Championships last year beating some of the men I think it has opened up the avenue to get more ladies there.

"All the top ladies players in the world are going to be there.”

Also due to compete at the event will be four-time British Darts Organisation (BDO) women's world champion Lisa Ashton.

Despite playing competitively for almost 25 years, Claire admitted to being a bit unsure how she may fare as the coronavirus pandemic has put paid to competitions and leagues.

She said: “I’m a little bit nervous. Preparations haven’t been great because no pubs and pubs allow you to practice and no competitions allowed in lockdown.

"So I’m not as sharp as I want to be, but a lot are going to be in the same situation.”

Claire, has played the game since she was 18 after being encouraged by her dad and has represented Cleveland, Cheshire and Northumberland at county level.

She is also a commercial director for the UK Darts Association which runs 53 national league teams in England and Wales.

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