"Competing in the World Darts Championship: Why I Deserve More Recognition for Paving the Way for Beau Greaves and Others"

LISA ASHTON reckons she does not get the credit she deserves for being a tungsten trailblazer.

The Lancashire Rose, 55, was the best female thrower in the world between 2014-2018 as she collected four Lakeside world pots.

Lisa Ashton is the reigning women’s World Matchplay championCredit: Getty Beau Greaves of England celebrates during matchCredit: Getty

In January 2020, she created history by becoming the first woman to earn a PDC Tour Card via the gruelling Qualifying School system.

Though opportunities to play that season were limited by the scourge of the global Covid pandemic, she did gain notable wins over ex-world champions , Adrian Lewis and Michael Smith.

Yet her exploits came a few months after Fallon Sherrock had made headline news around the world by beating two men on the stage.

While she has no problem or quarrels with the Queen of the Palace, and they are very close friends, Ashton just wishes more people inside and outside of darts would talk about what she did on the oche more than five years ago.

Ashton, the reigning women’s World Matchplay champion, said: “I don’t think I did get enough credit when I got my Tour Card and all that.

“I know Covid was in it as well, but I don’t think I did.

“To me it was a massive achievement because I was the first woman to get a Tour Card.

“You went in with 500-dd players, straight in the deep end. Played all day.

“Nothing against Fallon – what Fallon did, it opened everything up – but I just didn’t get recognition for what I did as well.

“It was just like seeing mine pushed to the back.

“Q School was really tough. After the Sunday when I’d finished, I couldn’t move my arm for three days. My arm was stiff as a board. It was killing me.

“I’d never played as many games in my life.

“Barry Hearn always said, if a woman wants a Tour Card, she has to go through Q School. If she gets it, she deserves it.

“What Fallon did was live on TV, on Sky Sports. Q School is just on Darts Connect. There’s no video of it.

“What Fallon did went worldwide. She did deserve it. She got all the praise.”

Ashton would certainly get enormous respect and recognition if she were to win tonight (Thursday) against Bully Boy Smith in round one of the

Fallon Sherrock in actionCredit: Getty

No woman since Sherrock, 31, in December 2019 has managed to savour a victory on the biggest stage of them all.

There are five women in the draw this time – the sensational Beau Greaves (who plays Daryl Gurney), Gemma Hayter (versus Josh Rock), Noa-lynn van Leuven (versus Peter Wright) and Sherrock (versus Dave Chisnall).

Grandmother-of-one Ashton, making her fifth visit to Ally Pally, said: “As I’m getting older – I’ve qualified this time – I’d love to have on my CV that one win.

“I don’t know how long I’ve got left. I don’t know if I’m going to qualify again.

“You just don’t know in darts. But I try my best in everything.

“We don’t go up there to make numbers. We try our best and hopefully one of the ladies will do it.”