WINNING IS NAME OF THE GAME FOR FALLON
THERE’S only one Elvis, one Elton, one Britney – and now there’s only one Fallon.
Ever since she became Queen of the Palace, Fallon Sherrock has been one of a kind. She’s the woman who keeps taking on the big beasts of the oche – and beating them.
After her Alexandra Palace debut two years ago, when she knocked Ted Evetts and No.11 seed Mensur Suljovic out of the William Hill PDC World Championship, Sherrock received VIP messages from Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker and tennis hero Billie Jean King.
She has since reached the Nordic Darts Masters Final, scaring the life out of former world No.1 Michael van Gerwen before going down 11-7, shocked former World Matchplay champion Dimitri van den Bergh and reached the Grand Slam quarter-finals.
Next in Sherrock’s firing line is former Lakeside world champion Steve Beaton in the first round on Sunday night.
Mischievously, Sky Sports have scheduled Sherrock against BBC Sports Personality of the Year favourite Emma Raducanu – but either way, it’s going to be ladies’ night.
As a schoolgirl, Sherrock would complain her given name was conspicuous because of its singularity, but now she’s grateful it gives her instant recognition.
“I remember being at school wondering, ‘Why don’t I have a normal name?’ No one could say it, no one could spell it,” said Sherrock.
“Now I love my name because it stands out. I have never met another Fallon, but when you play sport and go high up in it, or where the world starts talking and someone says ‘Fallon’, they say ‘that’s the darts player’. That is cool.”
Despite her encouraging form over the past six months, Sherrock remains a distant 200-1 outsider with the title sponsor to be crowned champion at Ally Pally on January 3.
Sherrock, 27, has grown close to practice partner Cameron Menzies, a 32-year-old Scot who plays in the WDF Lakeside version of the world championship in the New Year.
She said: “Cameron proper pushes me. He will be like, ‘Go practice’ – even when I am tired. He is always pushing me.”