Oxfordshire county player Deta Hedman admits she could hardly have a tougher first-round clash in the BDO World Championship when she faces her conqueror in last year’s women’s final, Lisa Ashton, at Lakeside today.

Hedman is the No 1 seed for the fourth consecutive year after an impressive 2014, which saw her win nine ranking tournaments, including retaining the International Open, British Classic and British Open titles.

But if the 55-year-old is to fulfil her dream of becoming world champion at Frimley Green she must first overcome fellow England international Ashton, who is unseeded, having not won so many ranking events, in front of the BBC cameras, this afternoon.

The Lancashire star has proved Hedman’s nemesis for the past two years, having also knocked her out in the first round in 2013.

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Twelve months ago, the Dark Destroyer led 2-0 and was 2-1 ahead in the third set of the final only for Ashton to stage a dramatic fightback to snatch the crown 3-2 and leave the Jamaican-born ace as runner-up for a second time.

Reflecting on her opening tie in a competition, which has been expanded to 16 players, and last year’s heartbreaking final, Hedman said: “It’s a very tough draw for both of us.

“I knew I had been in a great match, but I was gutted.

“I had a mega-hot flush, sweats and nausea. I think your lady readers of a certain age will know what I mean.

“It reaffirmed to me that darts can be a cruel game.

“I will be trying 100 per cent to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Although Bolton-based Ashton has beaten her in each of the last two years, Hedman doesn’t feel her opponent has the Indian sign on her and believes she can take encouragement from their respective records.

“No she hasn’t,” she said. “Lisa won at Lakeside and three others events, but I have won five or six times this season.”

Hedman is the 4-1 second favourite behind Anastasia Dobromyslova.

And she added: “Personally I feel there are about six ladies who can win it of which Anastasia is one, but in fairness there are 16 champions appearing at Lakeside.”

Hedman, a postal worker who lives at Witham, in Essex, will again have strong support from Oxfordshire.

“I have had a loads of texts, emails and facebook messsges and a few of the county are going to Lakeside,” she said.

 

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