There are three ladies performances that stand out internationally above some other very good ones. The first was in 1985 when Lillian Barnett won the Winmau Women’s World Masters in England. Second is Jill MacDonald winning the World Dart Federation’s world cup singles held in Holland in 1991. The New Zealand ladies team received the overall award that year as well. The third was when Noeline Gear won the World Dart Federation’s world cup singles in Perth in 1997. NZ has not fielded a team in World Cups for a while so the ladies have not had as much opportunity to excel in that arena as they once did. Hopefully the New Zealand Dart Council will be in a position to send a men’s and ladies team to the World Cup in Japan when it comes up later this year. Finances have been what has stopped regular participation in the World Cup and Asia Pacific Cup in recent year’s. I do not blame the NZDC for being prudent in this regard. If you have not got it you cannot spend it. Japan is a little less expensive to get to than some other recent venues so might be in the range of what can be allowed for. To it’s credit the NZDC has done a lot for players in recent years who wish to play internationally helping the leading ones financially. That has been great for the player’s and as a result we have seen more travel and perform in major tournaments in England and Australia. I do know that for any NZ player to make a World Cup team, attend and play in a World Cup with that silver fern on their chest would be a very proud moment and a career highlight. I hope it can be achieved again.
