Darts: Williams targets Aussie tournament

Rotorua's Yvonne Williams has been named in a New Zealand darts team to play against Australia. Photo / Stephen Parker

When Yvonne Williams started throwing darts a few years ago her main target was simply to have a good time down at the RSA.

Now she is among New Zealand's top female darts players and will represent the country in Australia next month for the first time.

Williams, who works full time and is a mother of three, said she only realised last year how good she could be at the sport.

"For me it was about the social side of things and getting to know people and enjoying yourself, that is where it extended from and as time went by I got better and better at it," she said.

"It was probably only last year when I figured out my darts were pretty good. It was more the consistency of my darts over a long time."

During the season just ended she moved her way up the national rankings during various tournaments around the country, and earned a spot in the Dart Players New Zealand (DPNZ) team to play a test against Australia near Sydney next month. She said a lot of hard work had gone into making the team.

"It has had its ups and downs, probably more downs, but you just throw one dart at a time ... and I'm a firm believer in hard work."

She said one of her strengths, and something she had worked on with her husband, was the mental side of the game. She said you could not be fazed by one day of "dumb darts" and had to believe in your ability.

"Even when you are trailing by 300 the game is not over until the doubles are in."

She said her husband, Len Williams, took her down to the Rotorua RSA for a game a few years ago and that's where it all started.

"My husband got me into it. I was a full-time mum at home and had full-time work so it was basically work and family, and he thought 'well, she needs a night out'. For a beginner I did really well and I enjoyed the social side as well."

Williams said until she started playing darts she did not realise how competitive she could be. "Now I know I am very competitive and at times a force to be reckoned with," she said with a laugh.

She said the Auckland Darts Masters next month would help lift the profile of the sport in New Zealand, with the best players in the world attending. Darts has a huge following in Europe with big crowds at tournaments.

"The sport's growing ... everyone can throw a dart and I think it will spread, it's great fun."

Williams said she wanted to try and win the tournament in Australia but also wanted to evolve her game. Her long-term goal is to win a national title.

Williams plays her darts at the Rotorua Dart Club, based at the Arawa Park Racecourse. They hold club nights every Thursday from 7pm.

She thanked her sponsors for their support, including Concord Security, which is funding the travel portion of her trip.