The proud parents of darts star Beau Greaves have shared how she first picked up a set of arrows at the age of 10 and was already defeating world champions by the time she was 15. Beau, nicknamed 'Beau 'n' Arrow,' made history on Monday by becoming the first woman to win a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) ranking title. She defeated former world champion Michael Smith 8-7 in the final of the Player's Championship 11 in Milton Keynes.
A Stunning Victory
In a thrilling deciding leg, Beau checked out with a 142 to seal the victory. Overwhelmed with emotion, she said: 'I've had a great year, but I never thought I'd win one of these, never ever.' Her triumph has been hailed as a landmark moment for women in darts.
Early Beginnings
Beau's parents, Tracy and David, recalled how their daughter started playing at their home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, while still in primary school. Her older brother Taylor, seven years her senior, was playing darts in his bedroom when Beau picked up his big brass darts and stunned him with her accuracy. Taylor rushed downstairs to tell his parents, but David admitted they were initially skeptical.
'She could hit a sixpence with those big brass darts,' David said. 'I am so chuffed for her. I expected her to get this far. It was only a matter of time. It has just happened sooner than expected.' He added that Beau rarely practices for long, saying: 'She practices for 15 minutes a day and maybe an hour with a competition coming up. She says, 'Dad I have been practising for 12 years.' She is a natural.'
Rapid Rise
Beau soon began competing in a local pub league and by the age of 15 was beating much older world champions such as Lisa Ashton and Anastasia Dobromyslova. Her mother Tracy, 58, said: 'She only got her tour card in January. She is now playing the best male players in the world. It's incredible.'
Despite her growing success, Beau kept her darts career a secret from her schoolmates. 'She never told a soul,' Tracy revealed. It was only when she was selected to represent England that her teachers learned of her talent. 'At home you cannot shut her up. But she does not like to be in the spotlight and never used to talk at school.'
International Tours
Beau's darts career has taken her across Europe, Australia, and most recently Japan. Her father David, a retired window cleaner, noted that her first professional set of darts were designed by English player Mervyn King, whom she recently defeated in a tournament. She now designs her own darts with long points.
Historic Run
On her way to the Milton Keynes final, Beau, already a three-time WDF Women's World Champion, defeated two more former world champions: Rob Cross 6-5 in the quarter-finals and Gary Anderson 7-1 in the semi-finals. After lifting the title, she fought back tears as she said: 'Today I played really well. I'm so happy, I can't even describe the way I feel. I feel so proud of myself. I beat Gary Anderson - I can't believe it. Even beating Michael - I'm beating players I watched growing up. Hopefully I can kick on and keep doing it.'
She added: 'Aside from winning Lakeside, this is my best ever achievement, and hopefully I can kick on now and do well on the television. I'm absolutely chuffed!'
