An Interview with Trina Gulliver, The Golden Girl
Who is Trina "Golden Girl" Gulliver? She's simply one of the most amazing European professional woman darters in today's world. Trina Gulliver is the only woman to win SEVEN TIMES, The Embassy/Lakeside Ladies Darts World Championship!About Trina Gulliver: Trina was born in Warneford Hospital, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, UK and grew up in Southam, Warwickshire. She has two sisters Denise and Jeanette, and two brothers Steve and Andy. Her parents are Muriel and Geoff.In January, 2008, her story was published under the title "Golden Girl: The Autobiography of the Greatest Ever Ladies' Darts Player" and is available for order at: amazon.com. Her story was written as a collaborative effort with England's Patrick Chaplin, Ph.D., AKA Dr. Darts, as ghost writer extraordinaire. Here is the synopsis of her autobiography as published on the amazon.co.uk website...
At 16 Trina went to college and became a fully qualified carpenter and joiner.
She started playing darts for Warwickshire County Youth at the age of 14 and turned professional in 1996. Trina took part in a darts roadshow called 'Beauties & The Beast' with fellow player Kevin Painter and Master of Ceremonies Martin Fitzmaurice. The roadshows became very popular which in turn gave Trina the opportunity to turn professional.
She will always be grateful to Mel Simpson, Kevin's manager for giving her that opportunity.
Golden Girl: The Autobiography of the Greatest Ever Ladies' Darts Player by Trina Gulliver
Book Synopsis from Amazon.co.uk:
"Professional to the core, Trina works as hard as the top male players on her game, and is a role model to women in the sport. "Golden Girl" is the story of a woman whose talent, grit and determination saw her realize her dream. Heart-warming and inspirational, this book will appeal to darts lovers and anyone interested in a story of success against the odds."
Courtesy of Charis Mutschler and Patrick Chaplin, Ph.D., AKA Dr. Darts...
Proudly, The Passionate Darter website has been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to present here, for the 1st time in the English language, an original interview written in English and translated to German, for publication on the German website Darts1.de, conducted by Charis Mutschler. Without further ado and great honor, and with copywrite permission granted to "The Passionate Darter" website from Patrick Chaplin, AKA Dr. Darts, here is Charis Mutschler's interview with Trina "Golden Girl" Gulliver! My special thanks to both Charis Mutschler and Patrick Chaplin, Ph.D., AKA Dr. Darts!
Trina "Golden Girl" Gulliver - Interview Conducted by Charis Mutschler (www.darts1.de, Germany)
When and why did you start playing darts?
I first had a dart put into my hand at the age of two years old by a customer in my parent's pub in Southam, Warwickshire.
Are you a well known person, a VIP perhaps?
I am very well known in the world of darts and in my home town of Southam but unfortunately women's darts does not have the high profile of the men's game and so is not featured on TV very much. I think you need to be seen on world wide TV to become really famous.
Did you have or do you still have role models?
My greatest influences in my sport have been two former number one English lady darts players, Deta Hedman and Mandy Solomons. Deta helped me at international events and both helped me to cope with the big occasion which gave me the confidence I needed to become a champion.
What's your favorite tournament?
It has to be the Embassy/Lakeside World Professional Women's Darts Championship which, to date, I have won seven times out of seven.
Do you like playing on stage and why (or why not)?
I love playing on stage. It is what I do. I love performing well for my fans.
How important are spectators and fans for you? How much do you discern them at all?
I think spectators and fans are very important. Darts players would be nowhere without them. I always take time out to talk to them and sign autographs and I thank them for their continuing support.
What's for you most important in darts? What fascinates you most?
Most important to me is to play well and to win. That is what the fans want to see. What fascinates me most at the moment is the high level of play being achieved by the young up and coming female darts players.
Did it always fascinate you the same or were there times you would have preferred another job?
My original trade was that of a carpenter/joiner. That is what I trained for after I left school and it is something I can go back to if I ever decide to give up darts. I am moving into a new house soon and will be undertaking a lot of the work to the house myself. When I started playing darts seriously I simply wanted to play better and better and there came a point when I knew I could become a great player.
What would you say is you special strength? And what your weakness?
My 'special strength' is my determination to win; my ability to stay focussed on the job in hand which is to win tournaments. My only weakness is that I sometimes cannot shut out particular events in my life that are important to me and these sometimes (but not very often) can affect my darts play.
What do you think makes the difference between a mediocre and a real good dart player?
Determination, dedication to the sport of darts and a strict practice regime are vitally important for sustained success. If a player does not stay focussed, he or she will fail and remain mediocre.
What advice would you give an adamant beginner?
Buy only quality darts equipment (such as that provided by my sponsor the WINMAU Dartboard Co.), and set up a darts oche in a safe place at home and practice, practice, practice. Also buy a darts training book so as to learn how best to play the sport.
Which darts do you play with? Did you always play the same brand and weight?
I have my own 'name' darts which are manufactured by my sponsor WINMAU. They are 'Trina Gulliver' 80% tungsten darts and my weight of dart is 25g. However, the darts are also available in the heavier weight of 27 grams.
Have you got some kind of practice schedule?
I practice every day for as long as I can. I also practice against other world-class darts players and, of course, down my local pub. I also still play County darts for my county of Warwickshire.
Do you somehow keep record of your practice achievements?
I do not keep specific records of my practice achievements although I know instinctively if things are going according to plan.
How do you prepare for a tournament?
I normally go to bed early the night before so that I awake fresh and ready to play at my best. I then ensure that I have enough practice both at home and at the venue to enable me to play my best possible game.
Do you do something to improve your fitness and do you think fitness is essential?
Fitness is absolutely essential in any sport. I have a small multi-gym at home which was given to be by one of my sponsors and regularly work out.
How do you manage disagreeable or unfair opponents?
I try to deal with them in a professional manner. That is to say I tolerate their poor behavior or attitude but make absolutely sure that it does not affect my game.
What do you do to put a defeat behind you?
I take a short break so that I can consider what went wrong and then try and correct it in time for the next match.
Do you think darts is a mental game?
Absolutely. In darts it is you against the dartboard. Players must have the mental ability to focus solely upon the task of winning to the exclusion of everything else that is going on around you.
Do you do some kind of mental practice, for example visualizing?
I tend to go over my game plan in my head before a game. I tell myself that I am world champion and that I am the one they must beat. I keep that thought in my mind as I play the board.
What do you do to withstand the pressure? Is it something, you just get used to? Or something you can learn?
The more games you play the more confident a player becomes and this enables you deal with pressure. It is very difficult at times to deal with pressures from within one's personal life but the skill is not allowing such things to affect your darts. 2007 has been a very difficult year for me personally and this has shown itself in some major tournaments I have played in.
Is it possible for a female player to earn your living playing darts?
I am able to make a living in darts because I have a number of sponsors who cover most of my expenses. As I have written in my autobiography 'Golden Girl' it took a very long time for me to secure sponsors. There were times when I thought I might have to give up darts but I made it. I am sure that other female players could make a living from the sport but not without sponsors.
The female sport of darts also needs to attract more TV and thus more sponsors so that more prize money is available in order to make going professional worthwhile and financially rewarding.
Why do you think female darters are much less appreciated than the male darters?
Darts has always been associated with the English pub and therefore it is always regarded as a men's sport. Hopefully, now with the Ladies Darts Association this will change. There is certainly no physical reason why female players should not be as good - if not better - than the men.
What was for you the biggest problem in being a female darter?
Obtaining sponsorship and making people take our sport seriously.
Are the male darters behaving scornfully or is it more that the spectators are not interested in female darters?
People who appreciate good darts do so whether it is a woman or a man playing. However, there will always be people who think that women's darts are not as good as the men's game. What I say is 'Give us ladies a real chance to show the men what we can do'. With more TV exposure I am sure people will begin to realize how good female darts players can be.
Do you think that female darters are less competitive than the men?
No. They are as equally competitive perhaps more so!
Would you think after your long experience that female darters can't keep up with the men?
No. Often the averages in the Women's World Championship finals have been higher than the Men's!
Do you prefer all ladies tournaments or would you prefer to be able to compete with the men?
While I prefer to play in all-female competitions, I also play darts with the men, for example in the English Pentathlon and I do very well against them. I have also played super league darts in Warwickshire where I was the only woman player in amongst a whole team of men. I would love to be able to play in more open competitions against the men.
Do you thinks there's something in darts where women are superior to the men or where they really are less capable than men?
Of course I would say that there is! But I guess we are about equal. We all lose our tempers from time to time but perhaps women are better at containing any anger!
Why do you think the PDC is not interested in promoting ladies darts?
It is not a question of the PDC not being interested in promoting ladies darts.
The PDC exists to promote darts tournaments for ALL professional darts players who sign up and join the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA). Anyone - male or female - can join but few women actually do.
Would you say that even the BDO with the Women World Championship is a little bit patronizing looking at the number of participants, the format and the prize money?
There is not enough space here to go over the matter in detail. My view on this issue is dealt with in my book 'Golden Girl'. However, I know that some female players think the format is restrictive.
Have you got any idea how one could promote ladies darts so that the females are treated more equal and are more accepted as it is for example in tennis?
We need to organize ourselves better and somehow raise the profile of ladies' darts. I am hopeful that this can be done through the Ladies Darts Association (LDA) but only time will tell. I sincerely believe that if female darts can attract one main sponsor for a major televised ladies tournament (in addition to the Lakeside World Championships) and we play to the best of our ability, this could get the ball rolling.
Do you think (I've heard that too) that women don't take the sport as serious as men?
In any sport, those who want to succeed will take their sport very seriously, as I have. Of course, there are those in it for a laugh or simply the social side of the game. They probably have no intention of ever becoming a professional player.
Will the Ladies Darts Association help in any way?
See my previous answers about the involvement of the LDA.
You didn't play as many tournaments recently as you used to do. Do you plan to retire?
I have not played in so many tournaments over the past year because of some personal difficulties and of course spending much time writing my autobiography. I am also moving house which everyone knows can place a lot of stress on you. I have no plans to retire in the foreseeable future so I hope to remain a strong force in ladies darts for some time to come.
I do know from Bob Anderson that he really likes exhibitions. Do you like this part of your work as well?
I love exhibitions and would like to do more of that kind of work. They are great and enable me to go out and meet the fans and have a super fun night out where entertainment is more important than who wins.
Have you ever been to Germany or is there a chance we'll see you here with an exhibition?
I have played in Germany in the past and would very much like to play exhibitions there. All I need is an invitation!
As Dartoid told us there'll be a Trina Gulliver biography...Is it finished already and when will it be published?Yes. I have been working with Patrick Chaplin (www.patrickchaplin.com ) the Darts Historian on my autobiography. (Patrick had previously worked with three-times World Champion John Lowe on his life story.) We began working together on my book in September 2005 and it was completed early in 2007. (Editor's Note: Published January, '2008 and available from www.amazon.com or www.amazon.co.uk.)
My life has not always been easy and my journey to the top of women's darts has been tough. I think I have written a very honest book about my life and hope that everyone will learn a lot about the difficulties and problems of becoming a top woman darts player and maintaining that success against the odds.
My book is titled 'Golden Girl - The Autobiography of the Greatest Ever Ladies' Darts Player' and is published in London on 7th January, '2008 by John Blake Publishing and can be ordered via Amazon.com. I will also be signing copies at the Lakeside during the World Championships.
You mentioned Dartoid. Well, he has recently published a very positive review of my book and I hope that everyone reading this interview will buy it and enjoy it as much as he obviously has.
Website Links:
| Web Address | Description |
|---|---|
| www.TrinaGulliver.net | Trina "Golden Girl" Gulliver's Professional Website |
| www.amazon.com | To Order Trina's Book: "Golden Girl: The Autobiography of the Greatest Ever Ladies' Darts Player |
| Read About Deta Hedman | Woman Darter Admired by Trina Gulliver |
| LDA | Ladies Darts Association |
| Red Dragon Darts | Sponsor & Maker of Trina Gulliver's Signature Darts |
| WDF | World Darts Federation |
Interview Author Website Links:
Please visit the websites below as these passionate darters have (thankfully) been responsible for providing this interview for publication on The Passionate Darter website. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
| Web Address | Description |
|---|---|
| www.Darts1.de | Charis Mutschler, Interview Author of German Website darts1.de |
| www.PatrickChaplin.com | Patrick Chaplin, Ph.D., AKA Dr. Darts - The Authoritative Darts Historian |
