Echuca’s Joanne Hadley is once again one of the queens of darts after claiming the Australian Ladies Doubles title at the national championships this week.
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Competing alongside fellow Victorian Tori Kewish, the pair blitzed the field, winning each of their first four matches without dropping a single leg.
Then in the final, Hadley — Australia’s sixth-ranked female darts player — and Kewish — Australia’s number one — defeated the team of Jackie Marks and Maureen Homer five legs to one to defend their crown.
Hadley said there was no stopping herself and Kewish on the day.
“It was so exciting. It didn’t feel like we were going to miss a beat all day, we only lost one leg for the day,” Hadley said.
“We were in the zone. We knew what we had to do. It was just a matter of focus, we didn’t let anything get to us. Our mind was on the board and that was all we worried about.”
It was the second ladies national title in a row for Hadley and Kewish, who also won the crown back in 2019. It was Hadley’s third ladies double championship win overall, winning back in 2006 with Janine Cassar.
Hadley has been a stalwart of the Australian darts community, representing Victoria for almost two decades at the Australian championships during her 42-year career.
“I feel very satisfied to still be winning at my age after all the years I have been playing,” Hadley said.
“This is my 19th year representing Victoria, it’s nice to know I have still got it.
“I love the competitiveness and I love seeing what I can achieve on the board. I love the Victorian team, I love Victorian darts, and I will never play for another state.”
For Hadley’s partner Kewish, this is just the latest title in her illustrious young career.
The 25-year-old has already won 25 World Darts Federation titles in Australia, not including her most recent crown, and she reached the quarter-finals at the 2022 WDF World Darts Championship in England earlier this year.
Hadley and Kewish competed for Victoria in the Peter McMenamin Cup teams event at the national championships, as well as the mixed doubles. They will both compete in the Australian team events and the singles.