Fallon’s sorrow at BDO withdrawal

FALLON SHERROCK has spoken of her anguish at pulling out of the BDO World Championship.

She was due to open her crusade for a maiden ladies’ world title against Aussie pal Corrine Hammond at the Indigo in London’s O2 today.

But the first woman to beat male opposition at a world championship – Sherrock’s stunning wins against Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic at the rival PDC event earned her international celebrity status – withdrew after the BDO slashed their prize fund by nearly 60 per cent.

Sherrock, 25, said: “It was very hard to make that decision, there were so many reasons for it.

“I’m still quite upset about it. But it was just the short space of time they changed stuff.

“I really wanted to play in it but I can’t justify everything. That’s why I have done it.”

Sherrock’s withdrawal could be the death knell for a tournament which has produced its fair share of classic finals.

The decision to switch the event from the Lakeside in Frimley Green – the BDO’s spiritual home for 33 years – to the Indigo has been a commercial disaster.

Ticket sales are only 15 per cent of capacity, TV income is insufficient and with no title sponsor this could be the last championship after existing in its current form for 42 years.

The shambles of decimated prize money – Sherrock would earn just £8,000 for winning the women’s world title, only £500 more than she was paid for winning a single game at Ally Pally – has reduced the competition’s credibility. Yet