South Holland ace Claire Brookin has qualified for the BDO Lakeside World Darts Championship – but has been handed one of the toughest possible draws in round one.
The Lutton lady has been paired with ten-time world champion Trina Gulliver at the annual event, which gets under way on January 7 and will benefit from TV coverage by Channel 4. They will clash at 2.15pm on day one.
It’s the first time that Brookin has qualified for the BDO’s blue riband event – and is the culmination of 12 years of hard graft in the local leagues.
Brookin is a regular for Rose and Crown in the Grays of Holbeach Spalding and District League, while also representing Riverside (Surfleet) in the Pinchbeck and District League.
She plays in the Cambridgeshire Super League at March on a Thursday nights, too.
Local darts legend Ian Tilley, who has been a strong supporter of Brookin’s career, said: “I said five years ago that Claire would be on the Lakeside oche one day.
“I have been associated with Claire’s darts journey since she was 17 years – and it’s been a lot of hard work for her.
“But she is now playing against the best in the game. However, she has played Trina before and beaten her.”
